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How much do you know about Australian Prime Ministers? | Quiz

This quiz covers some interesting facts about Australia's Prime Ministers, from Edmund Barton in 1901 to Kevin Rudd in 2010.

A multiple-choice quiz by Paul1405. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Paul1405

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
326,724

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
516

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 58 (8/10), callie_ross (1/10), Guest 99 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Edmund Barton, Australia's first Prime Minister was a member of which political party? Hint

Free Trade Party

Country Party

Australian Labor Party

Protectionist Party

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Question 2 of 10

2. When he retired, which PM became Australia's longest serving Prime Minister? Hint

Alfred Deakin

Robert Menzies

Billy Hughes

Bob Hawke

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which Prime Minister married Enid Muriel Burnell in 1915? Hint

Joseph Lyons

John Curtin

James Scullin

Ben Chifley

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these prime ministers was born in South Australia? Hint

Andrew Fisher

Bob Hawke

Joseph Cook

Malcom Fraser

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Question 5 of 10

5. With the death of John Curtin, who served as Australia's Prime Minister for only 8 days in July 1945? Hint

Earl Page

John McEwen

Arthur Fadden

Frank Forde

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Question 6 of 10

6. At the federal election held on 24th November 2007, Prime Minister John Howard lost his seat in Parliament; only the second PM to do so. Who was the first? Hint

Stanley Bruce

Earl Page

Billy Hughes

Gough Whitlam

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was Ben Chifley's occupation before becoming Prime Minister (before politics)? Hint

Coal Miner

Journalist

Teacher

Engine Driver

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these prime ministers were born in Scotland? Hint

Alfred Deakin and Stanley Bruce

George Reid and Andrew Fisher

Joseph Cook and James Scullin

Edmund Barton and Chris Watson

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which Prime Minister said "The recession we had to have."? Hint

Malcolm Fraser

Bob Hawke

Paul Keating

John Howard

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Question 10 of 10

10. Gough Whitlam was dismissed from the office of Prime Minister, by the Governor General John Kerr in 1975. On what day did this event take place? Hint

Australia Day

Valentine's Day

Remembrance Day

Empire Day

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 10 2024 : Guest 58: 8/10
Oct 03 2024 : callie_ross: 1/10
Sep 22 2024 : Guest 99: 5/10
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 120: 6/10
Sep 08 2024 : Guest 149: 3/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Edmund Barton, Australia's first Prime Minister was a member of which political party?

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).

2. When he retired, which PM became Australia's longest serving Prime Minister?

Answer: Robert Menzies

Robert Menzies was PM twice, 26th April 1939 to 28th August 1941 and again from 19th December 1949 to 26th January 1966. Menzies served a total of 18 years, 5 months and 12 days.

3. Which Prime Minister married Enid Muriel Burnell in 1915?

Answer: Joseph Lyons

Joe Lyons died in office on 7th April 1939. In 1943 his wife Dame Enid Lyons became Australia's first woman to elected to the House of Representatives (and subsequently the first woman to serve in federal cabinet. She was also the mother to 12 children.

4. Which of these prime ministers was born in South Australia?

Answer: Bob Hawke

Bob Hawke Australia's 23rd PM was born in the small South Australian town of Bordertown on 9th December 1928.

5. With the death of John Curtin, who served as Australia's Prime Minister for only 8 days in July 1945?

Answer: Frank Forde

As Deputy PM, and with the sudden death of Prime Minister Curtin, Forde became the new Prime Minister on 13th July 1945. Within the Labor Party a leadership ballot took place 8 days later, and Ben Chifley defeated Forde.

6. At the federal election held on 24th November 2007, Prime Minister John Howard lost his seat in Parliament; only the second PM to do so. Who was the first?

Answer: Stanley Bruce

At the 1929 federal election Stanley Bruce lost his seat of Flinders in a Labor landslide. Bruce was able to win the seat back at the elections of 1931.

7. What was Ben Chifley's occupation before becoming Prime Minister (before politics)?

Answer: Engine Driver

Ben Chifley hailed from Bathurst, New South Wales, working as an engine driver. He was one of the founders of the AFULE (The Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen).

8. Which of these prime ministers were born in Scotland?

Answer: George Reid and Andrew Fisher

George Reid (PM from September 1904 to August 1905, Australia's 4th PM), born 25th February 1845 in Johnstone Renfrewshire.
Andrew Fisher (PM from November 1908 to June 1909), born 29th August 1862, Kilmaurs East Ayrshire.

9. Which Prime Minister said "The recession we had to have."?

Answer: Paul Keating

He utterred those words, as Federal Treasurer, on 29th November 1990, a year before he became PM. Paul Keating was a long serving Federal Parliamentarian, being the member for Blaxland from 25th October 1969 to 15th June 1996. Keating was PM from 1991 to 1996.

10. Gough Whitlam was dismissed from the office of Prime Minister, by the Governor General John Kerr in 1975. On what day did this event take place?

Answer: Remembrance Day

Elected Prime Minister on 5th December 1972 Gough Whitlam became the first Labor PM since Ben Chifley in 1949. Whitlam held office for 2 years 11 months and 7 days, until dismissed "in controversial circumstances" on 11th November 1975.

Source: Author Paul1405

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