Deputy Premier of Victoria

The deputy premier of Victoria is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Victoria, Australia. The deputy premier position was created in May 1932, with Robert Menzies being the first person to hold the position. The deputy premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the premier. The deputy premier is usually also a minister in the government.

When the Labor Party forms government, the deputy leader of the Labor parliamentary party typically becomes the deputy premier. The same was the case when the Liberal Party formed government on its own. When the Liberal-National coalition is in government, the deputy premier is usually the leader of the junior coalition partner, the Nationals (or its predecessor, the Country Party). The current deputy premier is Gabrielle Williams of the Labor Party, who has held the position since 28 July 2026.

Duties The duties of the deputy premier are to act on behalf of the premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The deputy premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Premier, but this has never happened).

If the premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the deputy premier as acting Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.

List of deputy premiers of Victoria No. Portrait NameElectoral district(Birth–death) Term of officePartyPremierTerm startTerm end1Robert MenziesMP for Nunawading(1894–1978)19 May193231 July1934United AustraliaSir Stanley ArgyleUnited Australia(1932–1935)2Ian MacfarlanMP for Brighton(1881–1964)31 July193412 March1935United Australia3Albert DunstanMP for Korong and Eaglehawk(1882–1950)12 March193520 March1935Country4Wilfrid Kent HughesMP for Kew(1895–1970)20 March19352 April1935United Australia5Murray BourchierMP for Goulbourn Valley(1881–1937)2 April193524 June1936United CountryAlbert DunstanUnited Country(1935–1943)6Francis OldMP for Swan Hill(1875–1950)30 June193614 October1937United Country7Albert LindMP for Gippsland East(1878–1964)14 October193714 September1943United Country8Bert CremeanMP for Clifton Hill(1900–1945)14 September194318 September1943LaborJohn Cain (Sr.)Labor(1943)9Thomas HollwayMP for Ballarat(1906–1971)18 September19432 October1945United Australia(until 1945)Albert DunstanUnited Country(1943–1945)Liberal(from 1945)10Thomas MaltbyMP for Ballarat(1890–1976)2 October194521 November1945LiberalIan MacfarlanLiberal(1945)11Frank FieldMP for Dandenong(1904–1985)21 November194520 November1947LaborJohn Cain (Sr.)Labor(1945–1947)12John McDonaldMP for Shepparton(1896–1977)20 November19473 December1948CountryThomas HollwayLiberal (until 1949)Liberal and Country (from 1949)(1947–1950)(4)Wilfrid Kent HughesMP for Kew(1895–1970)3 December194828 October1949Liberal(until 1949)Liberal and Country(from 1949)13Trevor OldhamMP for Malvern(1900–1953)8 November194927 June1950Liberal and Country14Keith DodgshunMP for Rainbow(1893–1971)27 June195028 October1952CountryJohn McDonaldCountry(1950–1952)15Alexander DennettMP for Caulfield(1894–1956)28 October195231 October1952Electoral ReformThomas HollwayElectoral Reform(1952)(14)Keith DodgshunMP for Rainbow(1893–1971)31 October195217 December1952CountryJohn McDonaldCountry(1952)16Bill GalvinMP for Bendigo(1903–1966)17 December19527 June1955LaborJohn Cain (Sr.)Labor(1952–1955)17Sir Arthur RylahMP for Kew(1909–1974)7 June19555 March1971Liberal and Country(until 1965)Sir Henry BolteLiberal and Country (until 1965)Liberal (from 1965)(1955–1972)Liberal(from 1965)18Rupert HamerMP for Kew(1916–2004)21 April197123 August1972Liberal19Lindsay ThompsonMP for Malvern(1923–2008)23 August19725 June1981LiberalRupert HamerLiberal(1972–1981)20Bill BorthwickMP for Monbulk(1924–2001)5 June19818 April1982LiberalLindsay ThompsonLiberal(1981–1982)21Robert FordhamMP for Footscray(born 1942)8 April198231 January1989LaborJohn Cain (Jr.)Labor(1982–1990)22Joan KirnerMP for Williamstown(1938–2015)7 February198910 August1990Labor23Jim KennanMP for Broadmeadows(1946–2010)10 August19906 October1992LaborJoan KirnerLabor(1990–1992)24Pat McNamaraMP for Benalla(born 1949)6 October199221 October1999NationalJeff KennettLiberal(1992–1999)25John ThwaitesMP for Albert Park(born 1955)21 October199930 July2007LaborSteve BracksLabor(1999–2007)26Rob HullsMP for Niddrie(born 1957)30 July20072 December2010LaborJohn BrumbyLabor(2007–2010)27Peter RyanMP for Gippsland South(born 1950)2 December20104 December2014NationalTed BaillieuLiberal(2010–2013)Denis NapthineLiberal(2013–2014)28James MerlinoMP for Monbulk(born 1972)4 December201427 June2022LaborDaniel AndrewsLabor(2014–2023)29Jacinta AllanMP for Bendigo East(born 1973)27 June202227 September2023Labor30Ben CarrollMP for Niddrie(born 1975)2 October202328 July2026LaborJacinta AllanLabor(2023–2026)31Gabrielle WilliamsMP for Dandenong(born 1982)28 July2026IncumbentLaborBen CarrollLabor(since 2026)

Notable careers Among the most notable former deputy premiers of Victoria have been Robert Menzies (1932–1934) who went on to become the longest serving prime minister of Australia. One of Menzies' federal ministers was Wilfrid Kent Hughes who like Menzies had served as deputy premier of Victoria prior to switching to federal politics. Others include Albert Dunstan (1935) who subsequently became Premier for a then record of ten years, Rupert Hamer (1971–1972) who later became a long serving premier, Thomas Hollway (1943–1945) who was Premier on three occasions and Joan Kirner became the first female deputy premier in 1989 before becoming the first female premier in 1990.

Deputy Premier of Victoria

Bron en licentie