Deputy Premier of Victoria

The deputy premier of Victoria is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Victoria. The deputy premier position was created in May 1932, with Robert Menzies being the first person to hold the position. The deputy premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the premier. The deputy premier is usually also a minister in the government.

Deputy Premier of Victoria
Victorian Coat of arms
Flag of Victoria
Incumbent
Ben Carroll
since 2 October 2023
Department of Premier and Cabinet
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPremier of Victoria
Seat1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
NominatorPremier of Victoria
AppointerGovernor of Victoria
on the advice of the premier
Term lengthAt the Governor's pleasure
contingent on serving as deputy leader of party or coalition commanding a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly
Formation19 May 1932
First holderRobert Menzies
SalaryAU$395,738 (from 1 July 2022)[1]

When the Labor Party forms government, the deputy leader of the Labor parliamentary party typically becomes the deputy premier. The same was the case when the Liberal Party formed government on its own. When the Liberal-National coalition is in government, the deputy premier is usually the leader of the junior coalition partner, the Nationals (or its predecessor, the Country Party). The current deputy premier is Ben Carroll of the Labor Party, who has held the position since 2 October 2023.

Duties

The duties of the deputy premier are to act on behalf of the premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The deputy premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Premier, but this has never happened).

If the premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the deputy premier as acting Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.

List of deputy premiers of Victoria
No. Name Portrait Term of office Affiliation
1 Robert Menzies 19 May 1932 31 July 1934 Nationalist
2 Ian Macfarlan 31 July 1934 12 March 1935 Nationalist
3 Albert Dunstan 15 March 1935 20 March 1935 Country
4 Wilfrid Kent Hughes 20 March 1935 2 April 1935 Nationalist
5 Murray Bourchier 2 April 1935 24 June 1936 Country
6 Francis Old 30 June 1936 14 October 1937 Country
7 Albert Lind 14 October 1937 14 September 1943 Country
8 Bert Cremean 14 September 1943 18 September 1943 Labor
9 Thomas Hollway 18 September 1943 2 October 1945 United Australia/Liberal
10 Thomas Maltby 2 October 1945 21 November 1945 Liberal
11 Frank Field 21 November 1945 20 November 1947 Labor
12 John McDonald 20 November 1947 3 December 1948 Country
(4) Wilfrid Kent Hughes 3 December 1948 28 October 1949 Liberal/Liberal and Country
13 Trevor Oldham 8 November 1949 27 June 1950 Liberal and Country
14 Keith Dodgshun 27 June 1950 28 October 1952 Country
15 Alexander Dennett 28 October 1952 31 October 1952 Electoral Reform
(14) Keith Dodgshun 31 October 1952 17 December 1952 Country
16 Bill Galvin 17 December 1952 7 June 1955 Labor
17 Sir Arthur Rylah 7 June 1955 5 March 1971 Liberal
18 Rupert Hamer 21 April 1971 23 August 1972 Liberal
19 Lindsay Thompson 23 August 1972 5 June 1981 Liberal
20 Bill Borthwick 5 June 1981 8 April 1982 Liberal
21 Robert Fordham 8 April 1982 31 January 1989 Labor
22 Joan Kirner 7 February 1989 10 August 1990 Labor
23 Jim Kennan 10 August 1990 6 October 1992 Labor
24 Pat McNamara 6 October 1992 21 October 1999 National
25 John Thwaites 21 October 1999 30 July 2007 Labor
26 Rob Hulls 30 July 2007 2 December 2010 Labor
27 Peter Ryan 2 December 2010 4 December 2014 National
28 James Merlino 4 December 2014 27 June 2022 Labor
29 Jacinta Allan 27 June 2022 27 September 2023 Labor
30 Ben Carroll 2 October 2023 Incumbent Labor

Notable careers

Among the most notable former deputy premiers of Victoria have been Robert Menzies (1932–1934) who went on to become the longest serving prime minister of Australia. One of Menzies' federal ministers was Wilfrid Kent Hughes who like Menzies had served as deputy premier of Victoria prior to switching to federal politics. Others include Albert Dunstan (1935) who subsequently became Premier for a then record of ten years, Rupert Hamer (1971–1972) who later became a long serving premier, Thomas Hollway (1943–1945) who was Premier on three occasions and Joan Kirner became the first female deputy premier in 1989 before becoming the first female premier in 1990.

See also

References
  1. Ilanbey, Sumeyya. "Pay rise cements Andrews' position as highest-paid state leader". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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