Australia/Prime Minister

Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

Australia/Prime Minister link (Prime Minister)
Start	1 January 1901
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
Abbreviation	AU/PM
Website	http://www.pm.gov.au/

The Australian Prime Minister, according to convention, is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party of the Australian House of Representatives. However, there is no requirement that the prime minister sit in the House of Representatives, or even be a member of parliament.

War powers

The Prime Minster can send Australian troops overseas without parliamentary approval. There is no requirement to debate the decision before it is announced. The power is part of the executive power laid out in section 61 of the Constitution.

Freemasonry

Several Australian Prime Minsters have been freemasons. The list is probably incomplete for recent Prime Ministers.

• Sir Edmund Barton GCMG, KC (1849-1920), 1^st Australian Prime Minister (1901-1903). Initiated into Australian Lodge of Harmony No 555 English Constitution on 13 March 1878.
• Sir George Reid GCB, GCMG, KC (1845-1918), 4^th Prime Minister of Australia, Lodge Centennial No. 169, UGL of NSW on 16 Nov 1896 ,
• Sir Joseph Cook GCMG (1860-1947) 6^th Prime Minister of Australia. Initiated into Lodge Independent No 8 UGLNSW 12 Feb 1892.
• Viscount Stanley Melbourne Bruce (1883- 1967) 8^th Prime Minister of Australia. Only Prime Minister to lose his seat at an election in 1929. First Australian to sit in the House of Lords. Initiated at Old Melbournians Lodge No 317 UGLV on 12 June 1925. Resigned 1960.
• Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page GCMG, CH (1880-1961) 11th Prime Minister of Australia . Initiated at Lodge Prince Leopold No 87 UGLNSW on 4 Dec 1917
• Sir Robert Gordon Menzies KT AK CH FAA FRS QC (1894-1978), 12th Prime Minister of Australia, Initiated into Austral Temple Lodge No 110, UGLV on 10 March 1920. Received a 50 Year Jewel.
• Sir Arthur William Fadden GCMG (1894-1972) 13th Prime Minister of Australia . Initiated into Freemasonry at Caledonia Lodge No 737 Scottish Constitution in Queensland on 20 July 1915
• Sir John McEwen GCMG, CH (1900-1980) 18^th Prime Minister of Australia. Initiated into Freemasonry at Lauderdale Lodge No 361 UGLV on 28 July 1926, Master that Lodge 1936, conferred PSGD 1939
• Sir John Grey Gorton (1911-2002) 19^th Prime Minister of Australia. Initiated into Freemasonry at Kerrang Lodge No 100 UGLV on 5 Feb 1948. Resigned 1990
• Sir William McMahon GCMG, AC, CH (1908-1988) 20^th Prime Minister of Australia. Initiated at Lodge University of Sydney No 544 UGLNSW on 22 March 1974.