| Leader of the Opposition | |
|---|---|
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| Opposition of Australia Shadow Cabinet of Australia | |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Parliament |
| Term length | While leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government |
| Inaugural holder | George Reid |
| Formation | 1901 |
| Salary | $390,000 |
In Australian federal politics, the Leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, more commonly referred to as the Leader of the Opposition is an elected member of parliament (MP) in the Australian House of Representatives who leads the opposition. The Leader of the Opposition, by convention, is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.[1]
When in parliament, the opposition leader sits on the left-hand side of the centre table, in front of the opposition and opposite the prime minister. The opposition leader is elected by his or her party according to its rules. A new leader of the opposition may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system and is based on the Westminster model. The term "opposition" has a specific meaning in the parliamentary sense. It is an important component of the Westminster system, with the opposition directing criticism at the government and attempts to defeat and replace the Government. The opposition is therefore known as the "government in waiting" and it is a formal part of the parliamentary system. It is in opposition to the government, but not to the Crown; hence the term "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition".[2]
To date there have been 35 opposition leaders, 19 of whom also have served terms as prime minister.[3]
The current Leader of the Opposition is Peter Dutton of the Liberal Party, following a leadership election on 30 May 2022. The current Deputy Leader of the Opposition is Sussan Ley, who was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party on the same date.
- ^ "Chapter 2: House, Government and Opposition, the (official) Opposition". House of Representatives Practice. May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ Jaensch, Dean (1997). The Politics of Australia. Melbourne: MacMillan Education Australia. p. 100. ISBN 0-7329-4128-8.
- ^ "A House for the nation". Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.