The Prime Minister
Who is the Prime Minister?
 The Prime Minister is literally the ‘first
Minister’;
the head of the Australian Government. Traditionally, the
Governor-General appoints as Prime Minister the leader of the
political party or
group with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
What
does the Prime Minister do?
The Prime Minister has many duties
and responsibilities. He or she:
- provides political leadership for the party,
- provides direction and leadership for the Government,
and
- acts as the chief spokesperson for the Government in
both
the Parliament and the community.
The origins of the office of Prime Minister
 The office of Prime
Minister has its origins in English parliamentary history. The
first person to hold the title
was Sir Robert
Walpole in 1721, although the office was not officially
recognised in
Britain until 1905. Until the early eighteenth century,
executive government
in Britain consisted of the King and the Ministers of
his Privy Council. George I of Hanover, who became King
of England
in
1714, spoke no English and took little interest in the
business of government.
Running the country was left largely to his Ministers
who appointed Robert Walpole as their leader, or Prime
Minister.
Who was Australia’s first Prime Minister?
Australia’s first Prime Minister was Edmund Barton (Protectionist,
Hunter, NSW). He held office from 1 January 1901 to 24 September
1903.
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