The Prime Minister must sit in the House of Representatives. Can the Deputy Prime Minister be a senator?
Role of the Prime Minister in Australia
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
Role of the Prime Minister in Australia
Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)
Description
The Prime Minister is:
- the most senior minister in the Australian Government
- the key spokesperson for Australia
- the head of Cabinet
- the leader of the government.
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Hi Janet, thanks for your question about the role of Deputy Prime Minister.
As you stated, the Prime Minister is always a member of the House of Representatives. This is by convention – tradition – ; there is no rule that the Prime Minister can not be a senator. However, the Prime Minister, as the leader of the government, would want to be a member of the House of Representatives because this is where government is formed.
The Deputy Prime Minister is also always a member of the House of Representatives. This means that if the Prime Minister is unable to fulfil their duties, the Deputy Prime Minister can act in their place.