How is the Prime Minister chosen?

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives. Other members are sitting behind him.

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives.

DPS Auspic

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives. Other members are sitting behind him.

DPS Auspic

Description

The Prime Minister stands and speaks at a box with a microphone in the House of Representatives. There are books on the table in front of him and people sitting on green benches in the background.

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.

Thanks for your question Soph.

The Australian people do not vote directly for the Prime Minister – rather, the Prime Minister is a member of the House of Representatives who leads the parliamentary party or coalition of parties with the support of the majority of members in the House. Each political party has its own arrangements for choosing, as well as changing, its leader.

This way of choosing the Prime Minister is a convention – tradition – that comes from the British Parliament. Another convention in the Australian Parliament is that the Prime Minister is always a member of the House of Representatives, not a senator.