Home > Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

The office of Deputy Prime Minister was created in January 1968, as an honour for John McEwen, the long-serving leader of the Country Party (predecessor of the National Party). Prior to that time the term was used unofficially for the second-highest ranking minister in the government.

1 List of Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia

1.1 Unofficial use

These four men were all leaders of the junior party in coalition governments.

Forde was Deputy Labor Leader under John CurtinJohn Curtin ( January 8 1885 July 5 1945), Australian politician and 14th Prime Minister of Australia, led Australia through the darkest period of its history: when the Australian mainland came under direct military threat during the Japanese advance in W, and then under Ben ChifleyJoseph Benedict Chifley ( September 22 1885 June 13 1951), Australian politician and 16th Prime Minister of Australia, was one of Australia's most influential Prime Ministers. Among his govenment's accomplishments were the post-war immigration scheme unde. He was briefly Prime Minister himself in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II: following the death of Curtin.

Evatt succeeded Forde as Deputy Leader of the Labor Party

McEwen was given the official title Deputy Prime Minister of Australia in January 1968. He was briefly Prime Minister himself in 1967-68 following the death of Harold Holt

1.2 Official use