Can a senator move to the House of Representatives and become Prime Minister?
Thanks for your question, Mel. The short answer to both parts of your question is ‘yes’!
A senator can become a member of the House of Representatives but only after they first resign from the Senate. They can then stand for election to the House of Representatives.
If they are elected to the House and become leader of the party or coalition of parties with the support of the majority of members in the House, they would become Prime Minister. By convention – tradition – the Prime Minister is always a member of the House of Representatives.
In 1968, following the death of Prime Minister Harold Holt, Senator John Gorton became the first and only senator to be appointed Prime Minister. After being sworn-in as Prime Minister, Mr Gorton resigned from the Senate and stood in and won the by-election for Mr Holt’s former seat in the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives.
DPS Auspic
The House of Representatives.
DPS Auspic
Description
This image is of a large room with green furnishings. The seats are arranged around a large central table. There is a large chair at the open end of the U-shaped seats that is elevated above the other chairs. There are people sitting in the seats and papers on the desks.
Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.