Leader of the Government in the Senate (Australia) explained

The Leader of the Government in the Senate (historically also known as the Leader of the Senate) is the government's most senior cabinet minister in the Australian Senate and the main government spokesperson in the Senate.^{[1] [2]} The position's Opposition counterpart is the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.^[3]

The current Leader of the Government in the Senate is Penny Wong, elected unanimously to the position on 23 May 2022, replacing Simon Birmingham. The current Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate is Don Farrell.

Role and history

According to constitutional convention, the government is formed in the House of Representatives and the Prime Minister is a member of that chamber and the Prime Minister is the leader of the Government in the House of Representatives. The Leader of the Government in the Senate has duties and privileges that parallel those of the Prime Minister, in that he or she has overarching responsibility for all policy areas and acts as the government's principal spokesperson in the upper house. He or she is also entitled to sit at the table of the Senate, and has priority in gaining recognition from the President of the Senate during debate. Another similarity is that the leader typically announces changes to government officeholders in the Senate, including ministers, leadership and whips. The leader also has some responsibility for appointing government senators to committees, a role filled in the House of Representatives by the Leader of the House.^[4]

The position of Leader of the Government in the Senate does not have a constitutional basis, but has existed since the first parliament in 1901 through longstanding parliamentary convention. Although it has similarities to the Senate Majority Leader in the United States and the Leader of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, it was not based on either of those, but rather on the position of Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council found in Australia's colonial parliaments. Because government is formed in the House rather than the Senate, there is no guarantee that the Leader of the Government will be drawn from the largest party in the Senate. Unlike the Prime Minister, there is no requirement for the Leader of the Government to command the confidence of the chamber. It is not a cabinet post in its own right, and the holder of the office has always held at least one ministerial portfolio (though sometimes only the mostly honorific Vice-Presidency of the Executive Council).

The longest-serving Leader of the Government in the Senate was George Pearce, who held the position for a cumulative total of 15 years in three separate terms between 1914 and 1937. Uniquely, from 10 January to 1 February 1968, the positions of Prime Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate were held by the same person, John Gorton. After the disappearance of Harold Holt, Gorton – a senator – was elected leader of the Liberal Party and thus ascended to the prime ministership. In line with constitutional convention, he resigned from the Senate to contest a by-election to the House of Representatives.

List of Leaders of the Government in the Senate

Leader		Term began	Term ended	width=140	Portfolio	Party	Prime Minister	Term in office	Deputy
		9 May 1901[5] [6]	24 September 1903	V-P Exec. Council	Protectionist	Barton	align=right		James Drake
	24 September 1903[7]	27 April 1904	V-P Exec. Council	Protectionist	Deakin	align=right
			27 April 1904[8]	18 August 1904	V-P Exec. Council	Labor	Watson	align=right		Anderson Dawson
			18 August 1904[9]	5 July 1905	Attorney-General	Free Trade	Reid	align=right		James Drake
		5 July 1905[10] [11]	31 December 1906	Defence	Protectionist	Deakin	align=right		John Keating
	20 February 1907[12] [13]	13 November 1908	V-P Exec. Council	Protectionist	align=right
			13 November 1908[14] [15]	2 June 1909	V-P Exec. Council	Labor	Fisher	align=right		George Pearce
			2 June 1909[16]	29 April 1910	V-P Exec. Council	Commonwealth Liberal	Deakin	align=right		Robert Best
			29 April 1910[17] [18]	24 June 1913	V-P Exec. Council	Labor	Fisher	align=right		George Pearce
			24 June 1913[19]	17 September 1914	Defence	Commonwealth Liberal	Cook	align=right		James McColl
		17 September 1914[20] [21]	17 February 1917	Defence	Labor	Fisher		Albert Gardiner
Hughes
							National Labor	Patrick Lynch
				17 February 1917[22]	9 February 1923	V-P Exec. Council Repatriation (from Sep 1917)	Nationalist	align=right		George Pearce
			9 February 1923[23] [24]	19 October 1929	Home and Territories (to 1926) V-P Exec. Council (from 1926)	Nationalist	Bruce	align=right		Victor Wilson
		22 October 1929[25]	3 March 1931	V-P Exec. Council Defence (Feb–Mar 1931)	Labor	Scullin	align=right
	3 March 1931[26]	6 January 1932	V-P Exec. Council	Labor	align=right
		6 January 1932[27]	29 November 1937	Defence (to 1934) Home Affairs (from 1934) Territories (from 1934)	United Australia	Lyons	align=right
	29 November 1937[28]	7 November 1938	Postmaster-General	United Australia	align=right
	8 November 1938[29]	7 October 1941	V-P Exec. Council (to 1939) Commerce (1939 – Mar 1940) Trade and Customs (Mar–Oct 1940) Postmaster-General (Oct 1940–41) Repatriation (Oct 1940–41) V-P Exec. Council (from 1941) Supply and Development (from Jun 1941)	United Australia
					Page
					height=50px	Menzies
					Fadden
		7 October 1941[30] [31]	20 September 1943	Interior	Labor	Curtin	align=right
	20 September 1943[32]	26 April 1946	Trade and Customs	Labor	align=right rowspan=3
Forde
Chifley
		17 June 1946[33]	19 December 1949	Supply and Shipping Shipping and Fuel	Labor	align=right
		21 February 1950[34]	8 December 1958	Trade and Customs (to Jan 1956) the Navy (Jan–Oct 1956) Attorney-General (from Aug 1956) V-P Exec. Council (from Oct 1956)	Liberal	Menzies	align=right
	8 December 1958[35]	2 June 1964[36]	V-P Exec. Council National Development	Liberal	align=right			Shane Paltridge
	10 June 1964[37]	19 January 1966[38]	Defence	Liberal	align=right			Denham Henty
	26 January 1966[39]	16 October 1967	Supply	Liberal	Holt	align=right		John Gorton
	16 October 1967	1 February 1968	Education and Science Prime Minister (from 10 Jan. 1968)	Liberal			Denham Henty
					McEwen
					Himself
	28 February 1968	5 December 1972	Supply (to 1971) Health	Liberal	Gorton
						Annabelle Rankin
					McMahon
						Reg Wright
		19 December 1972[40]	9 February 1975	Attorney-General Custom and Excise	Labor	Whitlam	align=right
	10 February 1975[41]	11 November 1975	Agriculture (to Oct 1975) Minerals and Energy (from Oct 1975)	Labor	align=right
		12 November 1975[42]	7 August 1978[43]	V-P Exec. Council[44] Administrative Services	Liberal	Fraser	align=right
	7 August 1978[45]	11 March 1983	V-P Exec. Council (to 1982) Education (to 1979) National Development (from 1979)	Liberal	align=right
		11 March 1983[46]	24 March 1993	Industry, Technology and Commerce[47]	Labor	Hawke
Keating
	24 March 1993[48]	6 February 1996[49]	Foreign Affairs	Labor	align=right
		11 March 1996[50]	20 January 2006	Environment and Heritage (to 2001)[51] Defence	Liberal	Howard	align=right		Nick Minchin
	27 January 2006[52]	3 December 2007	V-P Exec. Council Finance and Administration	Liberal	align=right			Helen Coonan
		12 December 2007[53] [54]	4 February 2013	Immigration and Citizenship (to 2010) Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations (from 2010)[55]	Labor	height=30px	Rudd		Stephen Conroy
Gillard
	4 February 2013[56] [57]	26 June 2013	Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy	Labor	align=right		Penny Wong
	26 June 2013[58] [59]	18 September 2013	Finance and Deregulation	Labor	Rudd	align=right		Jacinta Collins
		18 September 2013[60] [61]	21 September 2015	Employment	Liberal	Abbott	align=right		George Brandis
		21 September 2015	20 December 2017	Attorney-General V-P Exec. Council	Liberal	Turnbull	align=right		Mathias Cormann
		20 December 2017	30 October 2020	Finance and the Public Service V-P Exec. Council	Liberal			Mitch Fifield Simon Birmingham
					Liberal	Morrison
	Simon Birmingham	30 October 2020	23 May 2022	Finance Trade, Tourism and Investment (to Dec 2020) V-P Exec. Council	Liberal		align=right		Michaelia Cash
			1 June 2022	Incumbent	Foreign Affairs	Labor	Albanese	align=right		Don Farrell

See also

• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Australia)
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate

Notes and References

1. Web site: Senate Office Holders . 2020-10-25 . www.aph.gov.au . en-AU . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211112/https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Senators/Senate_Office_Holders . live .
2. Web site: Who's who in the current Parliament - Parliamentary Education Office. 2020-10-25. peo.gov.au. en. 28 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028214720/https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/parliament-and-its-people/people-in-parliament/whos-who-in-the-current-parliament/. live.
3. Web site: Leadership in Parliament . Fact Sheets . Parliamentary Education Office . 24 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130917123232/http://www.peo.gov.au/students/fact_sheets/leadership_parliament.html . 17 September 2013 . dead .
4. Book: 6. Senators: Parties and party leaders . Odger's Australian Senate Practice . 13th . 23 August 2013 . http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/odgers13?file=chapter06&section=08 . 21 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130721011349/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/odgers13?file=chapter06&section=08 . live .
5. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 29 May 1901 . . 6 . The Commonwealth . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015313/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56079418 . live .
6. Commonwealth of Australia . Senate . 13 August 1903 . 3512 . Richard O'Connor . Leader of the Senate . Standing Orders .
7. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 2 September 1903 . . 3 . Political Notes . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015321/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97400364 . live .
8. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 27 April 1904 . . 7 . Federal Politics: Mr. Watson Forms a Cabinet . Trove .
9. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 20 August 1904 . . 2 . Latest Messages—Federal Parliament: The New Ministry . Trove .
10. Commonwealth of Australia . Senate . 7 July 1905 . 142 . Henry Dobson . New Administration: special adjournment .
11. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 11 July 1905 . . 5 . Senator Keating and Other Ministers . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015342/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38790467 . live .
12. Book: Parliamentary Handbook . Ministries and Cabinets . Australian Parliamentary Library . 32nd . 6 September 2013 . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015832/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;db=HANDBOOK;id=handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2011-10-13%2F0063;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=parliamentary%2Bhandbook%20SearchCategory_Phrase%3A%22publications%22;rec=14;resCount=Default . live .
13. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 21 February 1907 . . 6 . The Commonwealth Parliament: First Day's Proceedings . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015833/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56967204 . live .
14. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 13 November 1908 . . 5 . Members of New Cabinet: Representation of States . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015828/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90483319 . live .
15. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 13 November 1908 . . 3 . Federal Labor Ministry Sworn in Today . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015837/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/76838535 . live .
16. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 8 June 1909 . . 36 . Formation of the Cabinet: The New Ministers . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015959/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/33280607 . live .
17. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 30 April 1910 . . 5 . New Labor Ministry: Mr Fisher's Team Sworn In . Trove .
18. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 17 October 1910 . . 6 . Federal Land Tax: The Property Owners . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015831/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103905050 . live .
19. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 18 September 1913 . . 3 . The Cook Cabinet: Personnel of the New Team . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829015830/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/113861238 . live .
20. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 18 September 1914 . . 6 . The New Ministry: Result of the Ballot . Trove .
21. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 24 September 1914 . . 6 . Fourth Commonwealth Labour Government . Trove .
22. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 19 February 1917 . . 6 . "Win-the-War" Ministry: Portfolios Allotted . Trove .
23. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 10 February 1923 . . 9 . Federal Ministry Sworn In . Trove .
24. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 12 February 1923 . . 6 . The Federal Government . Trove .
25. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 25 October 1929 . . 2 . The Federal Ministry: Members Sworn In . Trove .
26. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 4 May 1931 . . 7 . Allocation of Federal Portfolios . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020448/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/67705304 . live .
27. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 8 January 1932 . . 16 . The Federal Sphere: New Ministry Sworn In . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020454/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37228991 . live .
28. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 30 November 1937 . . 17 . Federal Cabinet: The New Ministers—Surprise Changes . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020450/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41593853 . live .
29. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 8 November 1938 . . 7 . Health Portfolio—Senator Foll . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020454/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25565724 . live .
30. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 6 October 1941 . . 2 . Election of Cabinet: Labor Party to Assemble in Canberra Today . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020454/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25925770 . live .
31. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 8 October 1941 . . 8 . New Ministers Sworn In, Canberra Ceremony . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020455/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17767903 . live .
32. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 21 September 1943 . . 3 . Ballot for Labor Cabinet: Fourteen Ministers Elected in First Count . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020458/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48767880 . live .
33. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 18 June 1946 . . 1 . Sen. McKenna Appointed to Fedl. Cabinet . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020451/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50252583 . live .
34. Web site: 6 September 2014 . 22 February 1950 . 2 . . Dr. Evatt Survives a Challenge, Mr. E. J. Ward Beaten For Labour Party Post . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020958/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47830741 . live .
35. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 9 December 1958 . . 1 . 5 New Men in Federal Ministry, Dr. Allen Fairhall Omitted . Trove .
36. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 3 June 1964 . . 1 . Spooner Resigns from Cabinet: Government Solves One Problem, Finds Another . Trove .
37. Web site: Trove . P.M. Fills Vacancies in Cabinet Reshuffle: Anderson and Howson New Ministers . . 11 June 1964 . 1 . 1 August 2013 . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829020959/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105765392 . live .
38. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 20 January 1966 . . 1 . Paltridge Resigns Defence Portfoliio . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829021003/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105883010 . live .
39. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 26 January 1966 . . 1 . Bury in Cabinet: Holt chooses woman Minister in reshuffle . Trove .
40. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 20 December 1972 . . 1 . Full Labor Ministry sworn in . Trove .
41. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 11 February 1975 . . 1 . Mr Enderby Made Attorney-General . Trove .
42. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 13 November 1975 . . 1 . Fraser Caretaker Cabinet . Trove .
43. Web site: 6 September 2013 . 8 August 1978 . . 1 . PM sacks Withers, Durack gets post . Trove .
44. Withers was appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council the day after the Dismissal as part of Fraser's Caretaker Cabinet, but he continued in that office for his entire tenure as Leader of the Government. On the same date, he was appointed caretaker the Capital Territory, Special Minister of State, Minister for the Media, and Tourism and Recreation. He served in those offices until 22 December, when Fraser's first full Cabinet was sworn in. The Senate did not meet during the period 12 November to 22 December 1975 (indeed it was dissolved for most of that time). Withers gained the Administrative Services portfolio as part of 22 December reshuffle.
45. Web site: Person Details: Hon Sir John Leslie Carrick KCMG, AC . National Archives of Australia . 4 September 2013.
46. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Button, John (1933–2008) . Trove .
47. Minister for Industry and Commerce 1983–1984.
48. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Evans, Gareth (1944–) . Trove .
49. Resigned to contest (successfully) the lower house seat of Holt.
50. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Hill, Robert (1946–) . Trove .
51. Minister for Environment 1996–98.
52. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Minchin, Nick (1953–) . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022241/https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/1309675?c=people . live .
53. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Evans, Chris, (Christopher Vaughan) (1958–) . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022119/https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/511959?c=people . live .
54. AX5 . Former Senator Christopher Evans . 2021-11-06.
55. Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research 2011–13.
56. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Conroy, Stephen Michael, (the Hon) (1963–) . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022119/https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/1471888?c=people . live .
57. 3L6 . Former Senator Stephen Conroy . 2021-11-06.
58. Web site: 6 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Wong, Penelope Ying-Yen . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/484408?c=people . live .
59. 00AOU . Senator the Hon. Penny Wong . 2021-11-06.
60. Web site: 8 September 2013 . Australian Parliamentary Library . Abetz, Eric . Trove . 29 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240829022120/https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/537579?c=people . live .
61. N26 . Senator the Hon Eric Abetz . 2021-11-06.