We take a look at Australia’s previous prime ministers and how they lost office.<\/p>\n
TONY ABBOTT<\/strong> – September 14, 2015 (Liberal): Lost in leadership spill to Malcolm Turnbull.<\/p>\n KEVIN RUDD<\/strong> – 2013 (Labor): Lost election to Tony Abbott, retired from politics.<\/p>\n JULIA GILLARD<\/strong> – 2010-2013 (Labor): Ousted by Rudd after she spilled the leadership, retired following the loss.<\/p>\n KEVIN RUDD<\/strong> – 2007-2013 (Labor): Resigned after Gillard challenged him for the leadership. Sat on the backbench until re-elected in 2013.<\/p>\n JOHN HOWARD<\/strong> – 1996-2007 (Liberal): Lost election and his seat in parliament to Rudd and Labor after successful “Kevin 07” campaign.<\/p>\n PAUL KEATING<\/strong> – 1991-1996 (Labor): Defeated by Howard in election, resigned from parliament.<\/p>\n BOB HAWKE<\/strong> – 1983-1991 (Labor): Defeated in leadership ballot by Keating 56-51. Stayed on briefly as a backbencher before retiring.<\/p>\n MALCOLM FRASER<\/strong> – 1975-1983 (Liberal): Defeated by Hawke in general election. Retired from parliament.<\/p>\n GOUGH WHITLAM<\/strong> – 1972-1975 (Labor) Dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr after the Senate delayed passage of appropriation bills. Lost subsequent election to Fraser<\/p>\n WILLIAM MCMAHON<\/strong> – 1971-1972 (Liberal): Lost election to Whitlam. Retired from parliament.<\/p>\n JOHN GORTON<\/strong> – 1968-1971 (Liberal): Lost to McMahon after calling a leadership spill.<\/p>\n JOHN MCEWEN<\/strong> – 1967-1968 (Country Party) Interim prime minister following death of Holt until Gorton was elected<\/p>\n HAROLD HOLT<\/strong> – 1966-1967 (Liberal): Disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria and presumed drowned. McEwen appointed interim prime minister.<\/p>\n ROBERT MENZIES<\/strong> – 1949-1966 (Liberal): Resigned from parliament, making him the last prime minister to leave office on his own terms. Former treasurer Holt took over leadership.<\/p>\n BEN CHIFLEY<\/strong> – 1945-1949 (Labor): Defeated by Menzies in election<\/p>\n FRANCIS FORDE<\/strong> – 1945 (Labor): Prime minister for eight days following Curtin’s death, until Labor elected Chifley.<\/p>\n JOHN CURTIN<\/strong> – 1941-1945 (Labor): Died from heart disease while in office. Forde appointed caretaker prime minister.<\/p>\n ARTHUR FADDEN<\/strong> – 1941 (Country Party:) Lost election to Curtin.<\/p>\n ROBERT MENZIES<\/strong> – 1939-1941 (United Australia Party): Resigned as prime minister handing over to Hughes, then Fadden. Live to fight another day.<\/p>\n EARLE PAGE<\/strong> – 1939 (Country Party): Caretaker prime minister. Lost leadership when UAP elected Menzies<\/p>\n JOSEPH LYONS<\/strong> – 1932-1939 (United Australia Party): Died suddenly of heart attack. Page was appointed caretaker prime minister.<\/p>\n JAMES SCULLIN<\/strong> – 1929-1932 (Labor): Defeated by Lyons in election.<\/p>\n STANLEY MELBOURNE BRUCE<\/strong> – 1923-1929 (Nationalist Party): Lost in election to Scullin. First prime minister to lose his seat in a general election<\/p>\n WILLIAM MORRIS HUGHES<\/strong> – 1915-1923 (Labor and then Nationalist Party): Nationalist Party displaced Hughes as prime minister and appointed Bruce.<\/p>\n ANDREW FISHER<\/strong> – 1914-1915 (Labor) Forced to resign as prime minister and replaced by Hughes who later jumped ship to the Nationalist Party.<\/p>\n JOSEPH COOK<\/strong> – 1913-1914 (Commonwealth Liberal Party): Lost double-dissolution election to Fisher.<\/p>\n ANDREW FISHER<\/strong> – 1910-1913 (Labor): Defeated in election by Cook who held a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n ALFRED DEAKIN<\/strong> – 1909-1910 (Commonwealth Liberal Party) Defeated in election by Fisher.<\/p>\n ANDREW FISHER<\/strong> – 1908-1909 (Labor): Ousted by Deakin when Fisher formed fusion of three non-Labor groups and gained majority.<\/p>\n ALFRED DEAKIN<\/strong> – 1905-1908 (Protectionist): Ousted when Labor withdrew support for his minority government, Fisher became prime minister.<\/p>\n GEORGE REID<\/strong> – 1904-1905 (The Free Trade Party): Protectionists and Labor joined to claim majority, forcing out his government.<\/p>\n CHRIS WATSON<\/strong> – 1904 (Labor): Resigned after failing to convince the governor-general to dissolve parliament. Reid took over as prime minister.<\/p>\n ALFRED DEAKIN<\/strong> – 1903-1904 (Protectionist) Resigned after Labor withdrew support. Watson look over as prime minister.<\/p>\n EDMUND BARTON<\/strong> – 1901-1903 (Protectionist) Resigned as prime minister to become a judge of the High Court of Australia. Deakin replaced him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former Australian Prime Ministers We take a look at Australia’s previous prime ministers and how they lost office. TONY ABBOTT – September 14, 2015 (Liberal): Lost in leadership spill to Malcolm Turnbull. KEVIN RUDD – 2013 (Labor): Lost election to Tony Abbott, retired from politics. JULIA GILLARD – 2010-2013 (Labor): Ousted by Rudd after she […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6940","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-articles"},"yoast_head":"\n