Australian Government Trivia

1. Who was Australia's first Prime Minister?

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministerial Trivia

Answer: Edmund Barton

Sir Edmund "Toby" Barton served as the first Prime Minister of Australia from 1901 to 1903. He resigned in 1903 and become a founding member of the High Court of Australia, on which he served until his death.

From Quiz Enemy at the Gates

Answer: Liberal/National coalition

Traditionally, Australian federal elections have been fought between two parties: the centre-left Australian Labor party (Labor) and the centre-right Liberal/National Party coalition (Coalition). Over successive elections both parties have fought for the middle ground (the centre) where most of the swing votes lie. This 'fight for the centre' has resulted in very little ideological differences between the two parties.

From Quiz Australia's Colourful Prime Ministers

Answer: Toby Tosspot

Although Australia had been settled by Europeans since 1788, Edmund Barton was the first Prime Minister of the country, after the six separate British colonies existing here at this time united to form the Commonwealth of Australia on the 1st of January 1901. Barton (1849-1920) had been a member of the New South Wales colony since 1879, so was more than qualified on paper for the job of leading the new country. Or so it seemed. However, this sterling leader drank way too much for his own good, leading one of his peers to describe him as being in the "habit of taking so much to drink that he becomes slow of comprehension and expression" (pie-eyed in other words) and earning himself the unflattering nickname of Toby Tosspot as a result. Barton was also an out and out racist who worked with a follow up PM on the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which resulted in the legalisation of the White Australia Policy aimed squarely at keeping would be Asian immigrants out of the country. Barton described them as "These races are, in comparison with the white races - I think no one wants convincing of this fact - unequal and inferior". He has also gone on record as stating that "I do not think that the doctrine of the equality of man was really ever intended to include racial equality". One can only imagine his opinion of the Australian aboriginal people who had existed here for some 40,000 years prior to the arrival of the Europeans. Barton didn't really enjoy the job of leading the newly formed country though, and resigned as soon as he could, in 1903, to become one of the founding judges on Australia's newly established High Court. He died from a massive heart attack in 1920, while holidaying at the lovely and historic Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath, New South Wales. Still, he was our newly formed country's first leader so we owe him some respect for that. So, ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses and drink a hearty toast to Australia's first Prime Minister - the one and only Toby Tosspot.

From Quiz Oz Polly Bobs

Answer: Bob Brown

Before moving to Tasmania in 1972, "outing" his gay relationship and becoming a member of Australia's first "green" party (the United Tasmania Group) Robert James "Bob" Brown was a New South Welshman. He was born in Oberon in 1944 and trained as a medical doctor at Sydney University. In 1976 he fasted for a week atop Mt Wellington protesting against the nuclear-powered warship USS Enterprise entering Hobart; and, in 1983, after spending nineteen days in jail for preventing the construction of the Franklin Dam, he was elected member for Denison in Tasmania's House of Assembly. In the 1996 federal election he was elected to represent Tasmania in the Australian Senate as a member of the Australian Greens. He remained in office until 13 April 2012 when he resigned not only his Senate seat but also his leadership of the Party.

From Quiz The Things They Say - Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: Gough Whitlam

When the opposition blocked supply through the Senate the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, terminated Whitlam's position as Prime Minister. Whitlam, known for his memorable speeches, continued to say "The Proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General's Official Secretary was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's cur".

From Quiz It's a Paul Keating insults quiz, scumbags!

Answer: Criticism from Liberal Leader John Hewson

Mild-mannered Dr John Hewson led the Liberals to the 1993 election against Keating's Labor government. At the centre of Hewson's policy proposals was an agenda for economic reform including a Goods and Services Tax (a broad-based consumption tax). Unfortunately for the Liberals, Hewson's careful, academic approach to selling his ideas and debating his opponents was no match for Keating's verbal sparring skills.

From Quiz It's My Party

Answer: Australian Labor Party

Julia Gillard was born in Wales and migrated to Australia with her family at the age of four. She joined the Australian Labor Party in her second year of university and after working as an industrial lawyer entered federal parliament in 1998 as the new Member for Lalor. Gillard became Deputy Prime Minister when Labor swept John Howard's Coalition government from power in November 2007. Less than three years later she successfully challenged Prime Minister Rudd for the party leadership and became Australia's first female Prime Minister.

From Quiz Australian Federal Elections: the vanquished

Answer: Tony Abbott

In Australian politics, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party who controls a majority in the House of Representatives. As a result of the 2010 election Labor held 72 seats, the Liberal/National coalition held 72 seats and the remaining 6 seats were held by crossbenchers: Adam Bandt from the Australian Greens, Tony Crook from the National Party of Western Australia, and independents Andrew Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter. After three weeks of intense negotiations between the crossbench and leaders of both major parties, Bandt, Wilkie, Oakeshott and Windsor opted to support the Labor Party, making Julia Gillard the Prime Minister.

From Quiz A chronology of Australian PMs: 1901-2012

Answer: Retired to become a judge

The first Prime Minister of Australia was a member of the Protectionist Party, which didn't get enough votes to form government in its own right, but formed an agreement with the Labor Party. Barton didn't go on to serve his full term because he had ambitions of serving as a judge. He went on to be one of the first judges on Australia's High Court, where he served for a further 17 years before his death in 1920.

From Quiz Australian Federal Elections: Rules and Customs

Answer: No more than 3 years and 140 days apart

The timing of elections is determined by the need to elect a new House of Representatives. After an election each House meets for a maximum of 3 years, and a new House must meet within 140 days of the previous House being dissolved. The Prime Minister can ask the Governor-General to dissolve the House of Representatives at any point in its term before the 3 year limit is reached. In practice, then, elections are usually held less than 3 years apart as the Prime Minister tries to choose the most advantageous time for his or her party to seek re-election. As the limit approaches everyone keeps a close eye on the Governor-General's house in case the Prime Minister decides to make a surprise visit.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: Protectionist Party

The Protectionist Party existed from 1889 to 1909. The Party was based around the argument that Australia need protective tariffs to develop. Sir Edmund Barton was one of the three justices to sit on the High Court of Australia when it was formed in October 1903 (he resigned from parliament a month earlier).

From Quiz No, Prime Minister!

Answer: Bob Hawke

As a young Rhodes Scholar, Bob Hawke held the world record for downing a yard glass of beer (in 11 seconds). Before running for PM he claimed to have beaten the bottle.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: Edmund Barton

Edmund Barton held the office of Australian Prime Minister from the federation's formation on 1st January 1901 to 24th September 1903.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: New South Wales

Sir Edmund Barton was the first Australian Prime Minister from 1st January 1901 to 24th September 1903. He was the member for the seat for Hunter (in New South Wales) in the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Protectionist Party. The first parliament had 75 members (exactly half the number it would have 100 years later). The Protectionist Party won office with 31 seats. During this time Australia had a three party system (Protectionist Party, Free Trade Party and the Australian Labor Party).

From Quiz Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister

Answer: 11

His mother Margaret was evicted from their farm following her husband's death, and the family briefly slept in a car before finding accommodation. Margaret later trained as a nurse to support the family.

From Quiz 2007 Australian Federal Election

Answer: Sunrise

"Sunrise" helped lift Kevin Rudd's profile to the nation. In 2006, he and Joe walked the Kokoda Track as a part of the show's Anzac special. Another special was being planned in 2007 but this was canceled and the two men were forced to leave the show.

From Quiz Robert (Bob) Hawke, ex Australian Prime Minister

Answer: 8

Before being elected PM in March 1983, he was only in parliament for two years and only opposition leader for one month.

From Quiz Australian Referendums

Answer: A majority of all voters nationally, and a majority in at least 4 states

This is known as the 'double majority'. Five times throughout the 20th century, a majority 'yes' vote was recorded nationally, but a majority was achieved in less than 4 separate states.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: Sir Edmund Barton

Edmund Barton, a lawyer and one of the first graduates of the University of Sydney, played a key role in the campaign for Federation during the 1890's. He led the first federal government from 1901-1903, was knighted in 1902, and resigned to sit on the High Court in 1903.

From Quiz Prime Ministers Of Australia

Answer: Winston

He was named after the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Maybe it gave him ideas for his future career.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers - A Lighthearted Look

Answer: Malcolm Fraser

John Malcolm Fraser was Australia's Prime Minister from 1975 to 1983. In 1985 he represented Australia in a Commonwealth group formed to negotiate the peaceful dismantling of South Africa's Apartheid policy. However, on October 14, 1986, he lost his trousers, and a lot more, at the Admiral Benbow Inn in Memphis in circumstances which were widely reported yet never explained. It has been suggested he was slipped a Mickey Finn by the escort girl Rolex gang, whoever they were!

From Quiz Australian Political Leaders

Answer: Sir William Lyne & William Lyne & Sir Lyne & Lyne

Sir Lyne was the Premier of New South Wales and being the senior colony, he had the right to be Prime Minister. In the end, Edmund Barton became Prime Minister.

From Quiz Which Australian Prime Minister Said That?

Answer: Paul Keating

Paul Keating was one of Australia's youngest Parliamentarians, when he won the seat of Blaxland, he was only 25 years old. His quote referred to John Hewson, the Liberal Party leader, and a verbal attack Hewson had made upon Keating in Parliament. Paul Keating held office from 1991 to 1996 and was Australia's twenty-ninth Prime Minister.

From Quiz Oz Political History

Answer: United Australia and Country Parties

In his first stint as PM in 1938 Menzies was at the head of the UAP in coalition with the Country party. Menzies reorginized the UAP in to the Liberal party in the mid 1940s.

From Quiz Australian Politics and Political Leaders

Answer: Protectionist Party

Sir Edmund held the top job for two years and nine months.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministers

Answer: High Court Judge

Barton coined the phrase 'for the first time in the world's history there will be a nation for a continent, and a continent for a nation'.

From Quiz Early Australian Politics

Answer: Sir Edmund Barton

Barton was a lawyer before he entered parliament. He won power as leader of the Protectionist party and remained Prime Minister for 18 months before resigning to become a High Court judge.

From Quiz Australian Politics

Answer: Protectionist Party

The second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin, also belonged to the Protectionist Party.

From Quiz History of the Australian Labor Party

Answer: Australian Council of Trade Unions

The ACTU was set up to create peace and harmony between all the bickering unions after the disastrous 1891 general strike.

From Quiz Australian Prime Ministerial Trivia

Answer: Benedict

Ben Chifley was born Joseph Benedict Chifley on 22 September 1885 in Bathurst, New South Wales. He served as the 16th prime minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949.

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