List of Australian Prime Ministers 1901-2020

1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)

1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)

1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.


Harold returns from the Swim That Needs No Towel

1966: Harold Holt (Liberal)

1969: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1972: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1973: Billy Snedden (Liberal) [1]
1975: Bill Hayden (Labor) [2]
1978: Bill Hayden (Labor)
1981: John Howard (Liberal)[3]
1984: John Howard (Liberal)
1987: John Howard (Liberal)
1989: Paul Keating (Labor) [4]
1993: Alexander Downer (Liberal)
1996: Alexander Downer (Liberal) [5]
1998: Peter Costello (Liberal) [6]
2000: Simon Crean (Labor)
2003: Simon Crean (Labor)
2007: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)
2009: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)

[1] Holt retires mid-term on his 65th birthday.
[2] First Labor Prime Minister since 1949.
[3] Voted out of office due to his failure to react to the communist revolution in Indonesia. Howard pledges to join the US lead intervention and implement a number of free market reforms.
[4] Prime Minister Howard calls an early election to stave off multiple potential leadership challenges, but he narrowly loses to Labor under the direction of new leader Paul Keating, installed only four months before the 1989 poll.
[5] Downer shakes off his gaffe-prone image to successfully beat Paul Keating a second time in 1996. He uses the result of the 1996 election to introduce a 15% GST under treasurer John Hewson.
[6] Defeated Downer in a leadership challenge.
 
Actually, if I recall correctly Georgists were the main opposition to the Country Party in rural Australia between the wars.

Unless you're writing in a DBWI voice then you recall wrong. There was one Independent MP in the SA parliament during the thirties who was deeply influenced by George's land tax proposal, but apart from instilling in a young Clyde Cameron a lifelong fascination with Henry George socialism I don't think he ever achieved much. The heyday of Georgism in this country was really during the 1890s, after George himself had toured Australia.

Douglas creditism gained a small toehold in major party politics, in Tasmanian Labor, also in some Country Party circles in Victoria I think. Jack Lang's ideas were pretty compatible with Social Credit, but he was too much of an egotist to style his movement after the manifesto of any other person.


I have to say I only read this after I wrote my first paragraph above, but to be honest this wiki entry grossly inflates the importance of the 'Single Tax League'. Both of the published works cited on the page are general histories of Independent and minor party politicians, so apparently there hasn't been a dedicated history of Australian George land taxers written, which goes to tell us how just important a movement it was.
 
Yeah, I knew something was off about what I was saying; must have gotten the 20s and 30s mixed up with the 1890s again, but I was really just throwing ideas out there.
 
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)

1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)

1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.


Harold returns from the Swim That Needs No Towel

1966: Harold Holt (Liberal)

1969: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1972: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1973: Billy Snedden (Liberal) [1]
1975: Bill Hayden (Labor) [2]
1978: Bill Hayden (Labor)
1981: John Howard (Liberal)[3]
1984: John Howard (Liberal)
1987: John Howard (Liberal)
1989: Paul Keating (Labor) [4]
1993: Alexander Downer (Liberal)
1996: Alexander Downer (Liberal) [5]
1998: Peter Costello (Liberal) [6]
2000: Simon Crean (Labor)
2003: Simon Crean (Labor)
2007: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)
2009: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)
2012: Greg Combet (Labour)

[1] Holt retires mid-term on his 65th birthday.
[2] First Labor Prime Minister since 1949.
[3] Voted out of office due to his failure to react to the communist revolution in Indonesia. Howard pledges to join the US lead intervention and implement a number of free market reforms.
[4] Prime Minister Howard calls an early election to stave off multiple potential leadership challenges, but he narrowly loses to Labor under the direction of new leader Paul Keating, installed only four months before the 1989 poll.
[5] Downer shakes off his gaffe-prone image to successfully beat Paul Keating a second time in 1996. He uses the result of the 1996 election to introduce a 15% GST under treasurer John Hewson.
[6] Defeated Downer in a leadership challenge.
 
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)

1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)

1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.


Harold returns from the Swim That Needs No Towel

1966: Harold Holt (Liberal)

1969: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1972: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1973: Billy Snedden (Liberal) [1]
1975: Bill Hayden (Labor) [2]
1978: Bill Hayden (Labor)
1981: John Howard (Liberal)[3]
1984: John Howard (Liberal)
1987: John Howard (Liberal)
1989: Paul Keating (Labor) [4]
1993: Alexander Downer (Liberal)
1996: Alexander Downer (Liberal) [5]
1998: Peter Costello (Liberal) [6]
2000: Simon Crean (Labor)
2003: Simon Crean (Labor)
2007: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)
2009: Kevin Rudd (Liberal)
2012: Greg Combet (Labor)
2015: Greg Combet (Labor)

[1] Holt retires mid-term on his 65th birthday.
[2] First Labor Prime Minister since 1949.
[3] Voted out of office due to his failure to react to the communist revolution in Indonesia. Howard pledges to join the US lead intervention and implement a number of free market reforms.
[4] Prime Minister Howard calls an early election to stave off multiple potential leadership challenges, but he narrowly loses to Labor under the direction of new leader Paul Keating, installed only four months before the 1989 poll.
[5] Downer shakes off his gaffe-prone image to successfully beat Paul Keating a second time in 1996. He uses the result of the 1996 election to introduce a 15% GST under treasurer John Hewson.
[6] Defeated Downer in a leadership challenge.
 
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)

1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)

1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]


[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the labour party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
 
Last edited:
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)

1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)

1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]


[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the labour party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.
 
OOC - And now the fun begins :D

1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)
1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)
1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]
1980: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country)

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the Labor party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.

New timeline in a parallel world (since Harold Holt's Swim appears to be finished)
Calwell in '61

1961: Arthur Calwell (Labor)
 
Last edited:
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)
1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)
1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]
1980: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country)
1985: Malcolm Turnbull (Democratic Labor Labour) [12]

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the Labor party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.
[12] After the 1974 debacle and trials, rump Labor parties in states other than NSW began to formally fuse with the Democratic Party. This process was not complete by 1985, and certainly not complete in NSW. The Joe government had removed the capacity of trade unions to cohere behind Labor, and some strong independent minded right wing unions affiliated directly with the Democratic Party prior to the fusions. Joe was unseated peacefully due to widespread structural failures in Australia's protected and regulated economy.

New timeline in a parallel world (since Harold Holt's Swim appears to be finished)
Calwell in '61

1961: Arthur Calwell (Labor)
1962: Arthur Calwell (Labor) [1]

[1] Double dissolution election.
 
Interesting. We've gone from our oldest Prime Minister (74 years old) to our youngest (31 years old) in TTL 1985....

Not questioning your choice of Turnbull but just pointing out a trivial curiousity.

1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)
1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)
1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]
1980: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country)
1985: Malcolm Turnbull (Democratic Labor Labour) [12]
1987: Lionel Bowen (Democratic Labor Labour) [13]

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the Labor party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.
[12] After the 1974 debacle and trials, rump Labor parties in states other than NSW began to formally fuse with the Democratic Party. This process was not complete by 1985, and certainly not complete in NSW. The Joe government had removed the capacity of trade unions to cohere behind Labor, and some strong independent minded right wing unions affiliated directly with the Democratic Party prior to the fusions. Joe was unseated peacefully due to widespread structural failures in Australia's protected and regulated economy.
[13] Turnbull resigns mid-term before he can be voted out in a party leadership ballot.

New timeline in a parallel world (since Harold Holt's Swim appears to be finished)
Calwell in '61

1961: Arthur Calwell (Labor)
1962: Arthur Calwell (Labor) [1]
1965: Paul Hasluck (Liberal-Country)

[1] Double dissolution election.
 
Interesting. We've gone from our oldest Prime Minister (74 years old) to our youngest (31 years old) in TTL 1985....

Not questioning your choice of Turnbull but just pointing out a trivial curiousity.

Tossing up Turnbull and Frazer. I think there'd be an "its time" vibe, but I think the government would significantly fail (no neo-liberal agenda, unlike Hawke-Keating). I think you're right to pick a leadership spill in an unsteady coalition/fusion without the strong union basis that acted as a keel for Labor.
 
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)
1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)
1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)
1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]
1980: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country)
1985: Malcolm Turnbull (Democratic Labor Labour) [12]
1987: Lionel Bowen (Democratic Labor Labour) [13]
1989: Mel Gibson (Conservative - Country)

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the Labor party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.
[12] After the 1974 debacle and trials, rump Labor parties in states other than NSW began to formally fuse with the Democratic Party. This process was not complete by 1985, and certainly not complete in NSW. The Joe government had removed the capacity of trade unions to cohere behind Labor, and some strong independent minded right wing unions affiliated directly with the Democratic Party prior to the fusions. Joe was unseated peacefully due to widespread structural failures in Australia's protected and regulated economy.
[13] Turnbull resigns mid-term before he can be voted out in a party leadership ballot.

New timeline in a parallel world (since Harold Holt's Swim appears to be finished)
Calwell in '61

1961: Arthur Calwell (Labor)
1962: Arthur Calwell (Labor) [1]
1965: Paul Hasluck (Liberal-Country)

[1] Double dissolution election.
 
Harold returns from the Swim That Needs No Towel

1966: Harold Holt (Liberal)

1969: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1972: Harold Holt (Liberal)
1973: Billy Snedden (Liberal) [1]
1975: Bill Hayden (Labor) [2]
1978: Bill Hayden (Labor)
1981: John Howard (Liberal)[3]
1984: John Howard (Liberal)
1987: John Howard (Liberal)
1989: Paul Keating (Labor) [4]
1993: Alexander Downer (Liberal)
1996: Alexander Downer (Liberal) [5]
1999: John Howard (Liberal) [6]

[1] Holt retires mid-term on his 65th birthday.
[2] First Labor Prime Minister since 1949.
[3] Voted out of office due to his failure to react to the communist revolution in Indonesia. Howard pledges to join the US lead intervention and implement a number of free market reforms.
[4] Prime Minister Howard calls an early election to stave off multiple potential leadership challenges, but he narrowly loses to Labor under the direction of new leader Paul Keating, installed only four months before the 1989 poll.
[5] Downer shakes off his gaffe-prone image to successfully beat Paul Keating a second time in 1996. He uses the result of the 1996 election to introduce a 15% GST under treasurer John Hewson.
[6] The gaffs get to be too much of a problem, Howard makes a successful bid for the leadership, again.
 
1901: Sir Edmund Barton (Protectionist)
1903: Alfred Deakin (Protectionist)

1907: George Reid (Free Trade)
1910: George Reid (Free Trade)
1913: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1918: Andrew Fisher (Labour)
1921: Sir Joseph Cook (Liberal Conservative)
1923: T.J. Ryan (Labour)
1926: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1928: William McWilliams (Country-Liberal Conservative)
1931: Jack Lang (Labour)
1933: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative-Country)[1]
1936: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1939: Keith Murdoch (Liberal Conservative- Country - Labour) [2]
1945: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour) [3]
1948: Herbert V "Doc" Evatt (Labour)
1951: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)
1954: Frank Packer (Liberal Conservative - Country)[4]
1957: Harold Holt (Liberal - Labour)[5]
1960: John McEwen (Country - Liberal Conservative)
1962: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour) [6]
1965: Harold Holt (Democratic - Labour)
1968: Doug Anthony (Country - Liberal Conservative) [7]
1969: Doug Anthony (Country - Conservative) [8][9]
1974a: Hung Parliament incapable of forming government to the satisfaction of the Governor General[10]
1975: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country) [11]
1980: Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen (Conservative - Country)
1985: Malcolm Turnbull (Democratic Labor Labour) [12]
1987: Lionel Bowen (Democratic Labor Labour) [13]
1989: Mel Gibson (Conservative - Country)
1994: Mel Gibson (Conservative - Country)

[1] The Lang Government botches Australia's recovery to the Great Depression and is voted out in a near unanamious landslide (7 of 90 house seats). Keith is Rupert's dad, for those not in the know.
[2] Labour leader Francis M. Forde joins the re-elected Murdoch government in an all-party ministry at the beginning of World War II.
[3] After over a decade of Conservative rule, labour wins the 1945 election after the disbandment of the wartime government. "Doc" Evatt is popular as he is seen as moderate compared to his more leftwing colleagues at a time when there is much fear about the spread of communism.
[4] Evatt's increasing paranoia as opposition leader and Packer's successful crusade against communism sees the LCP-CP government win the largest mandate in Australian history, winning 103 of the 120 seats in the newly expanded parliament.
[5] A schism between liberal and conservative factions in the Liberal Conservative Party results in an early election. The new Liberal Party wins a plurality of seats, and forms coalition with the Labour Party (who, having retained only 15 seats, are now officially relegated to minor party status) to make up a slim 4-seat majority. Labour enter the coalition on condition that Holt (known for his enlightened approach to industrial relations) becomes the leader.
[6] Liberal Party renamed Democratic Party to further distance itself from its past association with the Liberal Conservative Party.
[7] Prior to the election, tensions have arisen in the government over the Vietnam War (war-hawk Harold Holt strongly supports it, while the Labour Party grows increasingly anti-war) which threaten to destabilise the D-L coalition. Meanwhile, the C-LC coalition has looked far more disciplined and together by comparison, with recently-appointed Opposition Leader Doug Anthony perceived as a much stronger leader. The C-LC coalition under Anthony win with a respectable (though decidedly not landslide) majority of seats.
[8] Early election held in tandem with a referendum to amend the constitution, leading to legal recognition of indigenous Australians, five-year terms of parliament, the legislative transfer of powers from state government to federal government, and the establishment of new territories and states. All of the proposals pass except for the referendum on splitting the existing states.
[9] Liberal Conservative Party, the conservative rump of the party which split in 1957, formally renamed as the Australian Conservatives.
[10] A combination of labour market radicalism, combined with student radicalism, and an sense of Australian-Irish ("Catholics") as nationally repressed splinters the Labor party and sections of the Democratic Party. This is combined with inopportune infighting within the Country Party over simmering states rights issues. The breakdown of the post-war coalition is heightened by a left-wing bombing campaign (that this could occur was enabled by the systematic failure of the Labor Party outside of New South Wales).
[11] After another election is called, the charismatic and radical Queenslander Joh Bjelke-Petersen in order to solve the countries many problems.
[12] After the 1974 debacle and trials, rump Labor parties in states other than NSW began to formally fuse with the Democratic Party. This process was not complete by 1985, and certainly not complete in NSW. The Joe government had removed the capacity of trade unions to cohere behind Labor, and some strong independent minded right wing unions affiliated directly with the Democratic Party prior to the fusions. Joe was unseated peacefully due to widespread structural failures in Australia's protected and regulated economy.
[13] Turnbull resigns mid-term before he can be voted out in a party leadership ballot.
 
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