List of female heads of government in Australia

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A total of fourteen women have served, or are serving, as the head of an Australian government. Of these, one has served as the prime minister of Australia, eight as the premier of a state and five as the chief minister of a territory. Twenty women have also served, or are serving, as the deputy head of government in Australian states and territories; one has served as the deputy prime minister of the country, thirteen as the deputy premier of a state, and six as the deputy chief minister of a territory.

The first female head of government in Australia, was Rosemary Follett in 1989, who was the 1st Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. Carmen Lawrence became the first female premier of a state in 1990, by serving as the 25th Premier of Western Australia. In 2010, Julia Gillard became the first, and to date, only female Prime Minister of Australia.

Today, every Australian state and territory has had at least one female head of government, except for South Australia; the Australian Capital Territory has had the most, with three serving throughout its 35-year history; Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Northern Territory have each had a second female head of government serving in their respective jurisdiction. The most female heads to serve concurrently was four, during the 315 days between 16 May 2011 and 26 March 2012. Annastacia Palaszczuk, who served as the 39th Premier of Queensland from 2015 to 2023, had the longest tenure of any female head of government in Australia. The shortest tenure belongs to Kristina Keneally, who served as the 42nd Premier of New South Wales for a little over a year from 2009 to 2011.

There are currently two serving female heads of government in Australia: Jacinta Allan (49th Premier of Victoria) who was appointed on 27 September 2023, and Eva Lawler (13th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory) who was appointed on 21 December 2023.

In addition, four women currently serve as deputy heads of government in Australia; Yvette Berry (Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory) since 31 October 2016; Susan Close (Deputy Premier of South Australia) since 21 March 2022; Prue Car (Deputy Premier of New South Wales) since 28 March 2023; and Rita Saffioti (Deputy Premier of Western Australia) since 8 June 2023.

The tenures of these incumbents are accurate as of 19 April 2024.

Female heads of government[edit]

Heads[edit]

Portrait Title Name
(birth–death) 		State or territory Term start Term end Elections Duration Party Notes
Chief Minister Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948) 		Australian Capital Territory 11 May 1989 5 December 1989 1989
1992
1995 		4 years, 122 days   Labor [a]
6 June 1991 2 March 1995  
Premier Carmen Lawrence
(b. 1948) 		Western Australia 12 February 1990 16 February 1993 1993 3 years, 4 days   Labor [b]
Premier Joan Kirner
(1938–2015) 		Victoria 10 August 1990 6 October 1992 1992 2 years, 57 days   Labor [c]
Chief Minister Kate Carnell
(b. 1955) 		Australian Capital Territory 2 March 1995 18 October 2000 1995
1998 		5 years, 230 days   Liberal [d]
Chief Minister Clare Martin
(b. 1952) 		Northern Territory 18 August 2001 26 November 2007 2001
2005 		6 years, 100 days   Labor [e]
Premier Anna Bligh
(b. 1960) 		Queensland 13 September 2007 26 March 2012 2009
2012 		4 years, 195 days   Labor [f]
Premier Kristina Keneally
(b. 1968) 		New South Wales 4 December 2009 28 March 2011 2011 1 year, 114 days   Labor [g]
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
(b. 1961) 		Australia
(Federal) 		24 June 2010 27 June 2013 2010 3 years, 3 days   Labor [h]
Premier Lara Giddings
(b. 1972) 		Tasmania 24 January 2011 31 March 2014 2014 3 years, 66 days   Labor [i]
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher
(b. 1970) 		Australian Capital Territory 16 May 2011 11 December 2014 2012 3 years, 209 days   Labor [j]
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
(b. 1969) 		Queensland 14 February 2015 15 December 2023 2015
2017
2020 		8 years, 304 days   Labor [k]
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
(b. 1970) 		New South Wales 23 January 2017 5 October 2021 2019 4 years, 255 days   Liberal [l]
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles
(b. 1978) 		Northern Territory 13 May 2022 21 December 2023 — 1 year, 222 days   Labor [m]
Premier Jacinta Allan
(b. 1973) 		Victoria 27 September 2023 Incumbent — 205 days   Labor [n]
Chief Minister Eva Lawler Northern Territory 21 December 2023 Incumbent — 120 days   Labor [o]

Deputy heads[edit]

Name State/
territory 		Party Head of government Term start Term end Duration
Joan Kirner Victoria   Labor John Cain II 7 February 1989 10 August 1990 1 year, 184 days
Joan Sheldon Queensland   Liberal Rob Borbidge 19 February 1996 26 June 1998 2 years, 127 days
Sue Napier Tasmania   Liberal Tony Rundle 18 March 1996 14 September 1998 2 years, 180 days
Anna Bligh Queensland   Labor Peter Beattie 28 July 2005 13 September 2007 2 years, 47 days
Katy Gallagher Australian Capital Territory   Labor Jon Stanhope 20 April 2006 16 May 2011 5 years, 26 days
Marion Scrymgour Northern Territory   Labor Paul Henderson 26 November 2007 8 February 2009 1 year, 74 days
Julia Gillard Australia   Labor Kevin Rudd 3 December 2007 24 June 2010 2 years, 203 days
Lara Giddings Tasmania   Labor David Bartlett 26 May 2008 24 January 2011 2 years, 243 days
Carmel Tebbutt New South Wales   Labor Nathan Rees
Kristina Keneally		 5 September 2008 28 March 2011 2 years, 204 days
Delia Lawrie Northern Territory   Labor Paul Henderson 9 February 2009 29 August 2012 3 years, 202 days
Robyn Lambley Northern Territory   Country Liberal Terry Mills 29 August 2012 6 April 2013 251 days
Jackie Trad Queensland   Labor Annastacia Palaszczuk 14 February 2015 10 May 2020 5 years, 86 days
Liza Harvey Western Australia   Liberal Colin Barnett 16 February 2016 17 March 2017 1 year, 29 days[23]
Nicole Manison Northern Territory   Labor Michael Gunner
Natasha Fyles		 12 September 2016 21 December 2023 7 years, 100 days
Yvette Berry Australian Capital Territory   Labor Andrew Barr 31 October 2016 Incumbent 7 years, 171 days[24]
Vickie Chapman South Australia   Liberal Steven Marshall 19 March 2018 22 November 2021 3 years, 248 days[25]
Susan Close South Australia   Labor Peter Malinauskas 21 March 2022 Incumbent 2 years, 29 days[26]
Jacinta Allan Victoria   Labor Daniel Andrews 27 June 2022 27 September 2023 1 year, 92 days[27]
Prue Car New South Wales   Labor Chris Minns 28 March 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 22 days
Rita Saffioti Western Australia   Labor Roger Cook 8 June 2023 Incumbent 316 days

Female opposition leaders[edit]

Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		State or territory Term start Term end Elections Duration Party Notes
Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948) 		Australian Capital Territory 5 December 1989 6 June 1991 1 year, 183 days   Labor
Joan Kirner
(1938–2015) 		Victoria 6 October 1992 22 March 1993 167 days   Labor
Carmen Lawrence
(b. 1948) 		Western Australia 16 February 1993 7 February 1994 356 days   Labor [p]
Kate Carnell
(b. 1955) 		Australian Capital Territory 21 April 1993 9 March 1995 1995 1 year, 322 days   Liberal
Rosemary Follett
(b. 1948) 		Australian Capital Territory 9 March 1995 5 March 1996 362 days   Labor
Maggie Hickey
(b. 1946) 		Northern Territory 16 April 1996 2 February 1999 1997 2 years, 292 days   Labor
Kerry Chikarovski
(b. 1956) 		New South Wales 8 December 1998 28 March 2002 1999 3 years, 110 days   Liberal [q]
Clare Martin
(b. 1952) 		Northern Territory 2 February 1999 27 August 2001 2001 2 years, 206 days   Labor
Sue Napier
(1948–2010) 		Tasmania 2 July 1999 20 August 2001 2 years, 49 days   Liberal [r]
Jodeen Carney
(b. 1965) 		Northern Territory 18 June 2005 29 January 2008 2 years, 225 days   Country Liberal [s]
Isobel Redmond
(b. 1953) 		South Australia 8 July 2009 31 January 2013 2010 3 years, 207 days   Liberal
Annastacia Palaszczuk
(b. 1969) 		Queensland 28 March 2012 14 February 2015 2015 2 years, 323 days   Labor
Delia Lawrie
(b. 1966) 		Northern Territory 29 August 2012 20 April 2015 2 years, 234 days   Labor [t]
Rebecca White
(b. 1983) 		Tasmania 17 March 2017 15 May 2021 2018
2021 		4 years, 59 days   Labor [u]
7 July 2021 Incumbent 2 years, 287 days  
Deb Frecklington
(b. 1971) 		Queensland 12 December 2017 12 November 2020 2020 2 years, 336 days   Liberal National [v]
Liza Harvey
(b. 1966) 		Western Australia 13 June 2019 24 November 2020 1 year, 194 days   Liberal
Jodi McKay
(b. 1969) 		New South Wales 29 June 2019 28 May 2021 1 year, 333 days   Labor
Lia Finocchiaro
(b. 1984) 		Northern Territory 1 February 2020 Incumbent 4 years, 78 days   Country Liberal
Elizabeth Lee
(b. 1979) 		Australian Capital Territory 27 October 2020 Incumbent 3 years, 175 days   Liberal
Mia Davies
(b. 1978) 		Western Australia 14 April 2021 30 January 2023 1 year, 291 days   National

Timeline[edit]

Heads[edit]

Eva LawlerJacinta AllanNatasha FylesGladys BerejiklianAnnastacia PalaszczukKaty GallagherLara GiddingsJulia GillardKristina KeneallyAnna BlighClare MartinKate CarnellRosemary FollettJoan KirnerCarmen LawrenceRosemary Follett

Red represents members of the Australian Labor Party, blue represents members of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Deputy heads[edit]

Rita SaffiotiPrue CarJacinta AllanSusan CloseVickie ChapmanYvette BerryNicole ManisonLiza HarveyJackie TradRobyn LambleyDelia LawrieCarmel TebbuttLara GiddingsJulia GillardMarion ScrymgourKaty GallagherAnna BlighSue NapierJoan SheldonJoan Kirner

Red represents members of the Australian Labor Party, blue represents members of the Liberal Party of Australia and orange represents the Country Liberal Party.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Elected 1st Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in May 1989, after her party formed government following the inaugural general election in March 1989. Defeated in a vote-of-no-confidence in December 1989, to Trevor Kaine. Returned to power in June 1991, following a vote-of-no-confidence against Kaine. Led Labor to victory at the 1992 general election. Defeated by the Liberals under Kate Carnell at the 1995 general election. First woman to become Chief Minister of a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia. Only female government head to serve non-consecutive terms.[1]
  2. ^ Appointed 25th Premier of Western Australia in February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding. Defeated at the state election in February 1993, by Richard Court (Liberal). First woman to become Premier of Western Australia, and hence, of a State within the Commonwealth of Australia.
  3. ^ Appointed 42nd Premier of Victoria in August 1990, following the resignation of John Cain II. Defeated at the state election in October 1992, by Jeff Kennett (Liberal). First, and to date, only woman Premier of Victoria.[2]
  4. ^ Elected 3rd Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in March 1995, after defeating Labor under Rosemary Follett at the general election. Led the Liberals to victory at the 1998 general election. Resigned in October 2000.[3]
  5. ^ Elected 7th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in August 2001, after defeating the Country Liberal Party under Denis Burke at the general election. Led Labor to victory at the 2005 general election. Resigned in November 2007. First woman Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.[4]
  6. ^ Appointed 37th Premier of Queensland in September 2007, following the retirement of Peter Beattie. Led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election. Defeated at the 2012 state election in March 2012, by Campbell Newman (Liberal). First woman Premier of Queensland.[5][6]
  7. ^ Appointed 42nd Premier of New South Wales in December 2009, following a Labor Party leadership challenge against Nathan Rees. Defeated at the state election in March 2011, by Barry O'Farrell (Liberal). First woman Premier of New South Wales.[7]
  8. ^ Appointed 27th Prime Minister of Australia in June 2010, following a Labor Party leadership challenge against Kevin Rudd. Led Labor to victory at the 2010 federal election. Defeated in a leadership challenge by Rudd, in June 2013. First, and to date, only woman Prime Minister of Australia.[8]
  9. ^ Appointed 44th Premier of Tasmania in January 2011, following the resignation of David Bartlett. Defeated at the state election, in March 2014. First, and to date, only woman Premier of Tasmania.[9][10][11]
  10. ^ Appointed 6th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in May 2011, following the resignation of Jon Stanhope. Led Labor to victory at the 2012 general election. Resigned in December 2014.[12]
  11. ^ Elected 39th Premier of Queensland in February 2015, after defeating the Liberals under Campbell Newman at the state election.[13][14] Led Labor to victory at the 2017 state election[15] and the 2020 state election.[16] Resigned in December 2023.[17] Only woman head of government to win three elections.
  12. ^ Appointed 45th Premier of New South Wales in January 2017, following the resignation of Mike Baird. Led the Liberals to victory at the 2019 state election.[18] Resigned in October 2021.
  13. ^ Appointed 12th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on 13 May 2022, after the resignation of Michael Gunner.[19] Resigned in December 2023.[20]
  14. ^ Appointed 49th Premier of Victoria on 27 September 2023, after the resignation of Daniel Andrews.[21]
  15. ^ Appointed 13th Chief Minister of the Northern Territory on 21 December 2023, after the resignation of Natasha Fyles.[22]
  16. ^ Resigned in order to enter federal politics at the 1994 Fremantle by-election.
  17. ^ Challenged for the leadership by John Brogden, lost by one vote.
  18. ^ Challenged for the leadership by Bob Cheek.
  19. ^ Challenged for the leadership by Terry Mills. Resigned in favour of Mills after vote was tied.
  20. ^ Resigned as leader following a successful spill motion.
  21. ^ Resigned as leader following electoral defeat.
  22. ^ Resigned as leader following electoral defeat.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Profile. womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  2. ^ Wallace, Rick (1 June 2015). "Joan Kirner, first female premier of Victoria, dies aged 76". The Australian. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Carnell, Anne Katherine – profile". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. 1 August 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  4. ^ Murdoch, Lindsay. "Clare Martin and deputy quit". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  5. ^ Koren Helbig; Sarah Vogler (25 March 2012). "Anna Bligh quits: 'Labor cannot rebuild with me in its ranks'". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Bligh resigns after election wipe-out". ABC News. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Keneally sworn in as state's first female premier". Herald Sun. 4 December 2009.
  8. ^ "The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Member for Lalor (Vic)". Australian House of Representatives. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Bartlett confirms resignation on Facebook". ABC News. Australia. 23 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Tasmanian premier to resign". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 23 January 2011.
  11. ^ Atherton, Ben (15 March 2014). "Liberals swept to power in Tasmania, Labor hopeful of clinging to power in South Australia". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Katy Gallagher resigns as Chief Minister, declares for Senate". The Canberra Times. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  13. ^ Robertson, Joshua (13 February 2015). "Annastacia Palaszczuk new premier of Queensland after Labor wins 44 seats". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Queensland election 2015: Annastacia Palaszczuk sworn in as Premier". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (14 February 2015). 14 February 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Queensland election: Labor's Annastacia Palaszczuk claims victory with at least 47 seats". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (8 December 2017). 8 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  16. ^ Beaumont, Adrian (31 October 2020). "Labor wins Queensland election, as Greens could win up to four seats". The Conversation. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ^ Rebgetz, Louisa (10 December 2023). "Annastacia Palaszczuk, the 'accidental premier' who became a Labor legend and trailblazer for women". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  18. ^ Blumer, Clare. (23 January 2017). "Gladys Berejiklian is Premier of New South Wales, replacing Mike Baird". ABC. Retrieved 23 January 2017
  19. ^ Vivian, Steve, Gibson, Jano, and Perera, Alicia. (13 May 2022). "Natasha Fyles sworn in as Northern Territory Chief Minister, replacing Michael Gunner". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  20. ^ Hislop, Jack and Morgan, Thomas. (19 December 2023). "Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles resigns amid mounting pressure over leadership". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  21. ^ Kolovos, Benita and Ore, Adeshola. (27 September 2023). "Jacinta Allan named as new premier of Victoria". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  22. ^ Brissenden, Neve. (20 December 2023). "NT Treasurer Eva Lawler set for Chief Minister’s job". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  23. ^ AAP. (13 March 2017). "WA election: Alannah MacTiernan seeks cabinet role in McGowan government". The Australian. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  24. ^ Lawson, Kirsten. (17 October 2016). "ACT election 2016: Yvette Berry backed for Labor deputy as Greens weigh up coalition or crossbench". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  25. ^ Dayman, Isabel (22 November 2021). "Vickie Chapman steps down as SA Deputy Premier and aside from ministerial roles pending ombudsman investigation". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  26. ^ "SA election 2022: Liberal minister Corey Wingard set to lose seat, One Nation could gain in upper house". ABC News. 20 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Victorian Labor endorses Jacinta Allan as deputy premier after mass ministerial resignations". ABC News. 25 June 2022.

External links[edit]

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