Since it is not in the Constitution, is the role of Prime Minister written into any other law?

It’s true – the Prime Minister is not mentioned in the Australian Constitution. There are some laws that outline parts of the Prime Minister’s role, but there is no law that defines the job entirely.

Instead of being set out in the Constitution or in law, many of the Prime Minister’s duties are shaped by traditions known as conventions. These conventions generally come from the British Westminster system. In both the Australian and British systems, the role of Prime Minister involves:

• leading the political party (or coalition of parties) that has the majority of seats in the lower house of Parliament
• managing Cabinet
• making major decisions
• speaking for the government in Parliament and to the public.

The Australian Parliament has made laws that refer to the Prime Minister when describing specific powers or responsibilities. For example, the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 gives the Prime Minister the power to decide whether a national emergency declaration should be made.