Vice-President of the Executive Council
# Vice-President of the Executive Council

The Vice-President of the Executive Council is the minister in the Government of Australia who acts as the presiding officer of meetings of the Federal Executive Council when the Governor-General is absent. The Vice-President of the Executive Council is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia, and serves at the Governor-General's pleasure. The Vice-President is usually a senior minister in Cabinet, who may summon executive councillors and preside at council meetings when the Governor-General is not present. However, the Vice-President cannot sign Executive Council documents on behalf of the Governor-General.

The current Vice President of the Executive Council is Senator Katy Gallagher, who was appointed on 23 May 2022.

## Duties and history

The duties of the Vice-President of the Executive Council are not rigorous, and the position is usually held by a Member of the Cabinet, who is not paid additional salary or allowance.

The position is usually not held by a 'Minister without portfolio', but the position has at times been held by persons who did not hold a Ministerial portfolio—such as Enid Lyons (1949–1951) in the Fourth Menzies Ministry and James Killen (1982–1983) in the Third Fraser Ministry. A small Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council existed from 22 March to 31 May 1971, during the prime ministership of William McMahon. It was administered by Alan Hulme, who was also Postmaster-General. The department was recreated in 1982 and James Killen was controversially appointed to administer the office. Killen held no other Ministerial portfolio, but was nevertheless considered a member of the Fraser Ministry by virtue only of this office. The appointment was controversial because it was seen as a sinecure given that Killen held no Ministerial portfolio, as the cabinet appointment entitled him to receive a ministerial salary. The Department was again abolished in 1983 by incoming Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

During the Turnbull government in 2015, the Leader of the Government in the Senate has been the Vice-President. This practice was continued by the Morrison government. Under the Albanese Government, the roles are separated though the Vice-President remains a senator.

### Colonial and state governments

Prior to the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, colonial and state governments also appointed a Vice-President of the Executive Council, and some have kept the title. The Colony of New South Wales was the first to appoint a Vice-President of the Executive Council (New South Wales), on 3 October 1856, in the Parker ministry of the first elected colonial government. The New South Wales government currently retains the title for a senior government minister, who since 30 October 2020 has been Damien Tudehope, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.

The Executive Council of Victoria is made up of the Premier and his or her Ministers who have been sworn into that office by the Governor, usually immediately after they have been sworn in as Ministers. While not a member, the Governor usually attends and presides at meetings of the Executive Council.

## List of vice-presidents

The following individuals have been appointed as Vice-President of the Executive Council:

| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Substantive portfolios | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Senator Richard O'Connor | Protectionist | Barton | – | 1 January 1901 (1901-01-01) | 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) | 2 years, 266 days |
| 2 | Senator Thomas Playford | Protectionist | Deakin | – | 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) | 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) | 216 days |
| 3 | Senator Gregor McGregor | Labor | Watson | – | 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) | 17 August 1904 (1904-08-17) | 112 days |
| 4 | Senator James Drake | Protectionist | Reid | – | 17 August 1904 (1904-08-17) | 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) | 322 days |
| 5 | Thomas Ewing | Protectionist | Deakin | – | 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) | 12 October 1906 (1906-10-12) | 1 year, 99 days |
| 6 | Senator John Keating | Protectionist | Deakin | Home Affairs | 12 October 1906 (1906-10-12) | 30 July 1907 (1907-07-30) | 291 days |
| 7 | Senator Robert Best | Protectionist | Deakin | – | 30 July 1907 (1907-07-30) | 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) | 1 year, 106 days |
| n/a | Senator Gregor McGregor | Labor | Fisher | – | 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) | 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) | 201 days |
| 8 | Senator Edward Millen | Commonwealth Liberal | Deakin | – | 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) | 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) | 331 days |
| n/a | Senator Gregor McGregor | Labor | Fisher | – | 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) | 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) | 3 years, 56 days |
| 9 | Senator James McColl | Commonwealth Liberal | Cook | – | 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) | 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) | 1 year, 85 days |
| 10 | Senator Albert Gardiner | Labor | Fisher | – | 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) | 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) | 2 years, 40 days |
| 10 | Senator Albert Gardiner | Labor | Hughes | – | 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) | 27 October 1916 (1916-10-27) | 2 years, 40 days |
| 11 | William Spence | National Labor | Hughes | – | 14 November 1916 (1916-11-14) | 17 February 1917 (1917-02-17) | 95 days |
| n/a | Senator Edward Millen | Nationalist | Hughes | Repatriation | 17 February 1917 (1917-02-17) | 10 January 1918 (1918-01-10) | 327 days |
| 12 | Littleton Groom | Nationalist | Hughes | – | 10 January 1918 (1918-01-10) | 27 March 1918 (1918-03-27) | 76 days |
| 13 | Senator Edward Russell | Nationalist | Hughes | – | 27 March 1918 (1918-03-27) | 21 December 1921 (1921-12-21) | 3 years, 269 days |
| 14 | Senator John Earle | Nationalist | Hughes | – | 21 December 1921 (1921-12-21) | 5 February 1923 (1923-02-05) | 1 year, 46 days |
| 15 | Llewellyn Atkinson | Country | Bruce | – | 5 February 1923 (1923-02-05) | 18 June 1926 (1926-06-18) | 3 years, 133 days |
| 16 | Senator George Pearce | Nationalist | Bruce | – | 18 June 1926 (1926-06-18) | 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) | 3 years, 126 days |
| 17 | Senator John Daly | Labor | Scullin | Defence (4 February 1931 (1931-02-04)–3 March 1931 (1931-03-03)) | 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) | 3 March 1931 (1931-03-03) | 1 year, 132 days |
| 18 | Senator John Barnes | Labor | Scullin | – | 3 March 1931 (1931-03-03) | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 309 days |
| 19 | Senator Alexander McLachlan | UAP | Lyons | Development and Scientific and Industrial Research | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 2 years, 279 days |
| 20 | Billy Hughes | UAP | Lyons | Health; Repatriation | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 6 November 1935 (1935-11-06) | 1 year, 25 days |
| 21 | Joseph Lyons | UAP | Lyons | Prime Minister | 6 November 1935 (1935-11-06) | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 2 years, 23 days |
| n/a | Billy Hughes | UAP | Lyons | External Affairs; Territories | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 7 November 1938 (1938-11-07) | 343 days |
| 22 | Senator George McLeay | UAP | Lyons | – | 7 November 1938 (1938-11-07) | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 170 days |
| 22 | Senator George McLeay | UAP | Page | – | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 170 days |
| 23 | James Fairbairn | UAP | Menzies | Civil Aviation (26 April 1939 (1939-04-26)–26 January 1940 (1940-01-26)); Air (13 November 1939 (1939-11-13)–26 January 1940 (1940-01-26)) | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 26 January 1940 (1940-01-26) | 275 days |
| 24 | Percy Spender | UAP | Menzies | – | 26 January 1940 (1940-01-26) | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 48 days |
| 25 | Henry Gullett | UAP | Menzies | Scientific and Industrial Research; War Service Homes | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 13 August 1940 (1940-08-13) | 152 days |
| 26 | Senator Herbert Collett | UAP | Menzies | Scientific and Industrial Research; War Service Homes | 14 August 1940 (1940-08-14) | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 75 days |
| 27 | Senator George McLeay | UAP | Menzies | Postmaster-General and Repatriation (28 October 1940 (1940-10-28)–14 June 1941 (1941-06-14)); Supply and Development (14 June 1941 (1941-06-14)–29 August 1941 (1941-08-29)) | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 344 days |
| 27 | Senator George McLeay | UAP | Fadden | Supply and Development | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 344 days |
| 28 | Senator Richard Keane | Labor | Curtin | Trade and Customs | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) | 1 year, 349 days |
| 29 | Senator Bill Ashley | Labor | Curtin | Postmaster-General | 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) | 2 February 1945 (1945-02-02) | 1 year, 134 days |
| 30 | Jack Beasley | Labor | Curtin | – | 2 February 1945 (1945-02-02) | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 161 days |
| 30 | Jack Beasley | Labor | Forde | Defence | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 161 days |
| 31 | Senator Joe Collings | Labor | Chifley | – | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 1 November 1946 (1946-11-01) | 1 year, 111 days |
| 32 | William Scully | Labor | Chifley | – | 1 November 1946 (1946-11-01) | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 3 years, 48 days |
| 33 | Enid Lyons | Liberal | Menzies | – | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 7 March 1951 (1951-03-07) | 1 year, 78 days |
| 34 | Robert Menzies | Liberal | Menzies | Prime Minister | 7 March 1951 (1951-03-07) | 11 May 1951 (1951-05-11) | 65 days |
| 35 | Eric Harrison | Liberal | Menzies | Defence Production; Army; Navy | 11 May 1951 (1951-05-11) | 24 October 1956 (1956-10-24) | 5 years, 166 days |
| 36 | Senator Neil O'Sullivan | Liberal | Menzies | Attorney-General | 24 October 1956 (1956-10-24) | 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) | 2 years, 47 days |
| 37 | Senator Bill Spooner | Liberal | Menzies | National Development | 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) | 10 June 1964 (1964-06-10) | 5 years, 183 days |
| 38 | William McMahon | Liberal | Menzies | Labour and National Service | 10 June 1964 (1964-06-10) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 1 year, 230 days |
| 39 | Alan Hulme | Liberal | Holt | Postmaster-General (Hulme was also the "Minister administering the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council", a department that was created and existed between 10 March 1971 and 30 May 1971.) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 6 years, 314 days |
| 39 | Alan Hulme | Liberal | McEwen | Postmaster-General (Hulme was also the "Minister administering the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council", a department that was created and existed between 10 March 1971 and 30 May 1971.) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 6 years, 314 days |
| 39 | Alan Hulme | Liberal | Gorton | Postmaster-General (Hulme was also the "Minister administering the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council", a department that was created and existed between 10 March 1971 and 30 May 1971.) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 6 years, 314 days |
| 39 | Alan Hulme | Liberal | McMahon | Postmaster-General (Hulme was also the "Minister administering the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council", a department that was created and existed between 10 March 1971 and 30 May 1971.) | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 6 years, 314 days |
| 40 | Senator Don Willesee | Labor | Whitlam | Special Minister of State; Foreign Affairs | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 30 November 1973 (1973-11-30) | 346 days |
| 41 | Frank Stewart | Labor | Whitlam | Tourism and Recreation | 30 November 1973 (1973-11-30) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 1 year, 346 days |
| 42 | Senator Reg Withers | Liberal | Fraser | Capital Territory; Media; Special Minister of State; Tourism and Recreation (11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)–22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)); Administrative Services (22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)–7 August 1978 (1978-08-07)) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 7 August 1978 (1978-08-07) | 2 years, 269 days |
| 43 | Senator John Carrick | Liberal | Fraser | Education (22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)–8 December 1979 (1979-12-08)); National Development and Energy (8 December 1979 (1979-12-08)–11 March 1983 (1983-03-11)) | 7 August 1978 (1978-08-07) | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 3 years, 273 days |
| 44 | James Killen | Liberal | Fraser | (Killen had no other portfolio, but the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council was created for him to administer.) | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 308 days |
| 45 | Mick Young | Labor | Hawke | Special Minister of State | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 14 July 1983 (1983-07-14) | 125 days |
| 46 | Lionel Bowen | Labor | Hawke | Deputy Prime Minister; Trade (11 March 1983 (1983-03-11)–13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)); Attorney-General (13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)–4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)) | 14 July 1983 (1983-07-14) | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 4 years, 10 days |
| n/a | Mick Young | Labor | Hawke | Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 12 February 1988 (1988-02-12) | 203 days |
| 47 | Kim Beazley | Labor | Hawke | Defence (13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)–4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)); Transport and Communications (4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)–9 December 1991 (1991-12-09)) | 12 February 1988 (1988-02-12) | 1 February 1991 (1991-02-01) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 48 | Senator Graham Richardson | Labor | Hawke | Social Security | 1 February 1991 (1991-02-01) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 1 year, 107 days |
| 48 | Senator Graham Richardson | Labor | Keating | Social Security (20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)–27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)); Transport and Communications (27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)–18 May 1992 (1992-05-18)) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 18 May 1992 (1992-05-18) | 1 year, 107 days |
| 49 | Ralph Willis | Labor | Keating | Finance | 27 May 1992 (1992-05-27) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 301 days |
| 50 | Frank Walker | Labor | Keating | Special Minister of State | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 1 year, 1 day |
| 51 | Gary Johns | Labor | Keating | Special Minister of State | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 1 year, 352 days |
| 52 | John Moore | Liberal | Howard | Industry, Science and Tourism | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 2 years, 224 days |
| 53 | David Kemp | Liberal | Howard | Education, Training and Youth Affairs; Assistant Treasurer (21 October 1998 (1998-10-21)–26 November 2001 (2001-11-26)); Environment and Heritage (26 November 2001 (2001-11-26)–18 July 2004 (2004-07-18)) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 5 years, 271 days |
| 54 | Senator Nick Minchin | Liberal | Howard | Finance and Administration | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 3 years, 138 days |
| 55 | Senator John Faulkner | Labor | Rudd | Special Minister of State (3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)–9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)); Defence (9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)–24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 55 | Senator John Faulkner | Labor | Gillard | Defence | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 56 | Robert McClelland | Labor | Gillard | Attorney-General (3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)–14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)); Housing, Homelessness and Emergency Management (14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)–5 March 2012 (2012-03-05)) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 1 year, 173 days |
| 57 | Tony Burke | Labor | Gillard | Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (15 September 2010 (2010-09-15)–1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)) | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 1 year, 197 days |
| 57 | Tony Burke | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship; Arts | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 1 year, 197 days |
| 58 | Senator George Brandis | Liberal | Abbott | Attorney-General Minister for the Arts | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 | 4 years, 93 days |
| 58 | Senator George Brandis | Liberal | Turnbull | Attorney-General | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 4 years, 93 days |
| 59 | Senator Mathias Cormann | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Finance Special Minister of State | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 23 August 2018 (2018-08-23) | 2 years, 315 days |
| 59 | Senator Mathias Cormann | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Finance and the Public Service (28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)–29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)) Minister for Finance (29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)–30 October 2020) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 30 October 2020 (2020-10-30) | 2 years, 315 days |
| 60 | Senator Simon Birmingham | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (30 October 2020 (2020-10-30)–22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)) Minister for Finance (30 October 2020 (2020-10-30)–22 May 2022) | 30 October 2020 (2020-10-30) | 22 May 2022 (2022-05-22) | 2 years, 270 days |
| 61 | Senator Katy Gallagher | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Finance Minister for the Public Service Minister for Women | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | Incumbent | 1 year, 65 days |
