The Ultimate Prime Ministers of Australia Quiz | Government

Answer: Sir William Lyne, New South Wales Premier

Although Lyne was the Premier of the senior colony in Australia, he had actually been a consistent opponent of Federation. At the 1898 referendum for Federation, he had declared himself in favour of the 'no' vote. Lyne approached prominent members including Alfred Deakin and Edmund Barton, all of whom refused to serve in a government with Lyne as leader.

The Governor-General was forced to offer the position to another person, acting on advice from the contenders.

Answer: William Morris (Billy) Hughes

Robert Menzies served as PM from April 1939 to August 1941 and then after World War II was re-elected, serving from December 1949 to January 1966. Alfred Deakin served three terms, September 1903 to April 1904, June 1905 to November 1908 and September 1914 to October 1915.

Andrew Fisher served November 1908 to June 1909, April 1910 to June 1913 and September 1914 to October 1915. Billy Hughes served from October 1915 to February 1923 as Prime Minister.

Answer: Joe Lyons

As well as being the first PM to be elected to three successive terms as Prime Minister, Lyons was the first PM to die in office. Lyons was elected PM at the December 1931 election, ousting the Scullen government. He was re-elected in 1934 and 1937.
Stanley Bruce replaced Billy Hughes as PM during the term of the 1922 parliament and was re-elected twice as PM. Andrew Fisher served in parliament for several terms, but only twice as PM. Robert Menzies was elected PM eight times, but after Lyons. In fact, Menzies replaced Lyons after Lyons died in office.

Answer: William Morris (Billy) Hughes

During the darkest days of World War I, Billy Hughes was an advocate of a greater war effort in Australia and Britain. He spent a great deal of time in Britain, from where he visited the front in France. He enjoyed being photographed with Australian troops to the extent he became known as "The Little Digger". "Digger" is a term for Australian troops.

Answer: Earl Page

Earl Page was caretaker Prime Minister for 20 days only following the death of PM Joe lyons. A few days prior to Joe Lyons death, his deputy Robert Menzies had resigned from the deputy Prime Minister role. The Governor-General appointed Page on the understanding he would step down as soon as the party had elected a new leader.

The party chose Menzies. Lyons died in April 1939 and Curtin in July 1945. Curtin had suffered a heart attack in November 1944, and Ben Chifley had been acting-PM. Harold Holt went missing, presumed drowned in December 1967; he was an enthusiastic but mediocre swimmer.

Answer: Stanley Melbourne Bruce

Stanley Brice lost his seat as PM in the October 1929 general election. Gough Whitlam was the only PM to be dismissed by the Governor-General. He fought and won his own seat, but the ALP was defeated at that election in 1975. Fraser's Liberal government was defeated at the 5th March 1983 election, yet Fraser held his own seat. On 31st March 1983 he resigned from parliament. John Gorton was removed as PM by a party-room coup in March 1971 (he was replaced by Billy McMahon).

Answer: Ford was an interim Prime Minister following the death of John Curtin.

Although he was deputy PM to Jim Scullin and later to John Curtin, Ford was not seen as the man for the leadership (PM) role. After Curtin's death on 5th July 1945, he was appointed PM, but only pending the Labor Party's election of a new leader. He was replaced by Ben Chifley on 13th July 1945. John McEwen and Earle Page are two other PMs who also served for a short interim period following the death of the Prime Minister.
Earle Page - from 7th to 26th 1939 following the death of Jospeh Lyons.
John McEwen - from 19th December 1967 to 10 January 1968 following the death of harold Holt.

Answer: Assassination

There has been no assassination of a PM in Australia. The closest was the attempt on the life of the (then) leader of the opposition Mr Arthur Calwell in 1966. Deakin, Reid, Fisher and Fadden were all defeated by hostile parliaments. Whitlam was dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, after the Senate refused to vote or consider the Supply Bill, meaning the government had no money.

Some PMs quit gracefully and did not to wait until removed by some other means e.g. Barton, Fisher, Page, Forde, McEwen and Menzies all left in this manner. Party-room coups and death are other manners in which PMs have left office.

Answer: John Gorton

After the death by drowning of Prime Minister Harold Holt in December 1967, Country Party leader John McEwen declared he and his party would not serve under Billy McMahon as PM (the Country Party and Liberal Party formed a coalition government). McMahon was the deputy PM and the natural choice to replace Holt.

There is a provision in the constitution which allows a person to hold the office of minister for three months without a seat in parliament. John Gorton stood for Holt's vacant seat and won it easily in February 1968.

Answer: Julia Gillard

All of these ladies held high profile positions as members of federal parliament, but Julia Gillard was the person to hold the position of PM; after a party room coup on 24th June 2010.