Historical rankings of prime ministers of Australia

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John Curtin and his immediate successor Ben Chifley are both often ranked as two of the greatest Australian Prime Ministers due to their leadership during World War II and its immediate aftermath.
2nd Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin is constantly ranked as one of the greatest due to his key role in establishing many of the country's national institutions.
Bob Hawke holds the record for the highest recorded approval rating among the public and is regularly ranked within the top tier of Australian Prime Ministers.
Despite his short tenure and his role in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, Gough Whitlam is nonetheless ranked highly because of his many reforms which included the establishment of a national health care system, free tertiary education, legal aid, and the abolishment of conscription.
John Howard, the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, is also highly ranked, with some polls ranking him the best Prime Minister of the 21st century.[1][2][3]

Several surveys of academics and the general public have been conducted to evaluate and rank the performance of the prime ministers of Australia.

According to Paul Strangio of Monash University, there has been little academic interest in ranking Australian prime ministers, unlike the numerous surveys conducted on American presidents and British prime ministers. The few surveys that have been conducted have been quite unscientific, with respondents chosen at random and no efforts made to measure personal biases. Strangio notes that "the dominant methodology for studying the nation's leaders has been individual-centered biographies [...] the relatively small number of collective anthologies have treated each prime minister discretely rather than undertaking comparative analysis of their leadership performance, let alone contemplating qualities of greatness in the office".[4]

Surveys of historians[edit]

The Canberra Times (1992)[edit]

In 1992, The Canberra Times asked "almost 300 political scientists and historians at every Australian university" to nominate the five greatest prime ministers in Australian history; 143 responded. Five points were awarded to the prime minister each respondent judged to be the greatest, and so on down to one point for the fifth-greatest prime minister; some respondents awarded half points. Ben Chifley received the most overall points in the survey (and was judged to be the overall winner), although Alfred Deakin was nominated as the greatest prime minister by the most respondents. The four shortest-serving prime ministers were excluded from consideration, as well as the serving prime minister, Paul Keating. The total number of points was not published for prime ministers ranked outside the ten (except for those who received no points), only the order.[5]

Prime Minister Total points "Greatest" votes
Ben Chifley 413.5 413.5
 
30
John Curtin 355.5 355.5
 
36
Alfred Deakin 351 351
 
43
Gough Whitlam 272 272
 
18
Robert Menzies 231.5 231.5
 
5
Billy Hughes 115 115
 
4
Bob Hawke 55.5 55.5
 
0
Andrew Fisher 51 51
 
4
Malcolm Fraser 36 36
 
0
James Scullin 30 30
 
2
Edmund Barton Not further specified
(1–29)
1
John Gorton 0
Joseph Lyons 0
Chris Watson 0
Stanley Bruce 0
Joseph Cook 0 0
Harold Holt 0 0
William McMahon 0 0
George Reid 0 0

The Australian Financial Review (2001)[edit]

In 2001, to commemorate the centenary of federation, The Australian Financial Review asked six historians to answer the question "who were the best five and who were the worst five prime ministers since 1901?". Five points were awarded to each historian's choice as the best and worst prime minister, and so on down to one point for the fifth-best and fifth-worst prime ministers. Alfred Deakin was a unanimous choice as Australia's best prime minister, winning full votes from each selector; Robert Menzies also appeared on every "best" list. No one prime minister appeared on all six "worst" lists, although William McMahon appeared on five and James Scullin on four. Several prime ministers appeared on both "best" and "worst" lists, sometimes from the same selector. Stuart Macintyre considered Menzies to be Australia's second-best prime minister for his 1949–66 term, but also the fifth-worst, for his 1939–41 term. Likewise, Humphrey McQueen considered Gough Whitlam to be both the fifth-best and the fourth-worst, describing him as a "curate's egg". Macintyre was the only respondent to award half-points, ranking Whitlam and Paul Keating as the equal fifth-best prime ministers. The three caretaker prime ministers were excluded from consideration, as well as the serving prime minister, John Howard.[6]

Prime Minister "Best" points "Worst" points
Alfred Deakin 30 30
 
0
Robert Menzies 19 19
 
1 1
 
John Curtin 14 14
 
0
Ben Chifley 9 9
 
0
Gough Whitlam 4.5 4.5
 
4 4
 
Stanley Bruce 4 4
 
6 6
 
Andrew Fisher 3 3
 
1 1
 
Billy Hughes 3 3
 
5 5
 
Bob Hawke 3 3
 
0
Paul Keating 0.5 0.5
 
4 4
 
Arthur Fadden 0 0
Malcolm Fraser 0 0
Edmund Barton 0 1 1
 
Joseph Lyons 0 1 1
 
Chris Watson 0 4 4
 
John Gorton 0 5 5
 
Harold Holt 0 7 7
 
Joseph Cook 0 8 8
 
James Scullin 0 12 12
 
George Reid 0 13 13
 
William McMahon 0 18 18
 

The participants in the survey were Geoffrey Bolton (ECU), Graeme Davison (Monash), Ian Hancock (ANU), Stuart Macintyre (Melbourne), Humphrey McQueen (freelance), and Clem Lloyd (Wollongong). Geoffrey Blainey was invited to participate, but declined.[6]

The Age (2004)[edit]

In 2004, The Age asked fifteen historians and political commentators to rank Australia's eleven prime ministers from John Curtin onwards (i.e., since 1941). Eleven points were awarded to the prime minister each respondent judged to be the greatest, and so on down to one point for the worst prime minister; some respondents awarded half points. John Curtin received the most overall points in the survey, as well as being named the greatest prime minister by the most respondents (exactly one-third of the total). William McMahon received the lowest possible ranking from all but one respondent. The two caretaker prime ministers during that time were excluded from consideration, but the serving prime minister, John Howard, was included.[7][8]

Prime Minister Total points "Greatest" votes
John Curtin 146 146
 
5
Robert Menzies 141.5 141.5
 
4.5
Bob Hawke 133.5 133.5
 
3
Ben Chifley 111.5 111.5
 
2.5
John Howard 110.5 110.5
 
0
Gough Whitlam 92.5 92.5
 
0
Paul Keating 73.5 73.5
 
0
Malcolm Fraser 73 73
 
0
John Gorton 55 55
 
0
Harold Holt 36 36
 
0
William McMahon 17 17
 
0

The participants in the survey were Judith Brett (La Trobe), Greg Craven (Curtin), David Day (La Trobe), Michael Duffy (freelance), Brian Galligan (Melbourne), Ian Hancock (ANU), John Hirst (La Trobe), Carol Johnson (Adelaide), Stuart Macintyre (Melbourne), Alistair Mant (freelance), Andrew Parkin (Flinders), Tom Stannage (Curtin), Paul Strangio (Monash), James Walter (Monash), and Patrick Weller (Griffith).[8] Geoffrey Blainey, Marian Simms, and several others were invited to participate, but declined.[7]

Monash University (2010)[edit]

In 2010, a team of researchers from Monash University asked "145 academics that were teaching or researching in the fields of Australian politics or history" to place Australia's prime ministers in five categories; 40 responded. Five points were awarded to prime ministers judged "outstanding", four for those considered "good", three for "average", two for "below average", and one for "failure". The three caretaker prime ministers —Earle Page, Frank Forde, and John McEwen— were excluded from consideration, as was the then–serving prime minister, Julia Gillard. John Curtin received the highest average rating, 4.78, and he was the only prime minister to whom no respondents gave a rating lower than "good".[4]

Rank Prime Minister Average score Political Party
1 John Curtin 4.78 4.78
 
Australian Labor Party
2 Bob Hawke 4.46 4.46
 
Australian Labor Party
3 Alfred Deakin 4.45 4.45
 
Commonwealth Liberal Party
Protectionist Party
4 Ben Chifley 4.41 4.41
 
Australian Labor Party
5 Robert Menzies 4.35 4.35
 
Liberal Party of Australia
6 Gough Whitlam 4.11 4.11
 
Australian Labor Party
7 Andrew Fisher 3.78 3.78
 
Australian Labor Party
8 Paul Keating 3.76 3.76
 
Australian Labor Party
9 John Howard 3.68 3.68
 
Liberal Party of Australia
10 Edmund Barton 3.35 3.35
 
Protectionist Party
11 Joseph Lyons 3.30 3.3
 
United Australia Party
12 Chris Watson 3.23 3.23
 
Australian Labor Party
13 Malcolm Fraser 3.19 3.19
 
Liberal Party of Australia
14 Billy Hughes 3.13 3.13
 
Australian Labor Party
National Labor Party
Nationalist Party (Australia)
15 Stanley Bruce 2.81 2.81
 
Nationalist Party (Australia)
16 John Gorton 2.76 2.76
 
Liberal Party of Australia
17 Kevin Rudd 2.73 2.73
 
Australian Labor Party
18 Harold Holt 2.62 2.62
 
Liberal Party of Australia
19 George Reid 2.60 2.6
 
Free Trade Party
20 James Scullin 2.51 2.51
 
Australian Labor Party
21 Joseph Cook 2.30 2.3
 
Commonwealth Liberal Party
22 Arthur Fadden 2.01 2.01
 
National Party of Australia
23 William McMahon 1.27 1.27
 
Liberal Party of Australia

Monash University (2020)[edit]

In 2020, researchers from Monash University replicated the 2010 survey, and asked 121 "scholars working in the fields of Australian politics/history" to place Australia's prime ministers in five categories; 66 participated. As with the previous survey, five points were awarded to prime ministers judged "outstanding", four for those considered "good", three for "average", two for "below average", and one for "failure". New additions to the survey included Julia Gillard, the second tenure of Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott, and Malcolm Turnbull. The three caretaker prime ministers were excluded from consideration, as was the then–serving prime minister, Scott Morrison. Arthur Fadden, who was prime minister for four months and was present in the 2010 survey, was omitted from this survey.[9] Of the 22 prime ministers ranked on both surveys, only four improved their standings (Keating, Watson, Reid, and Scullin) from 2010.[9]

Rank Prime Minister Average score Political Party Rank in 2010
1 John Curtin 4.69 4.69
 
Australian Labor Party 1 Steady
2 Bob Hawke 4.63 4.63
 
Australian Labor Party 2 Steady
3 Alfred Deakin 4.58 4.58
 
Commonwealth Liberal Party
Protectionist Party
3 Steady
4 Ben Chifley 4.44 4.44
 
Australian Labor Party 4 Steady
5= Robert Menzies 4.12 4.12
 
Liberal Party of Australia 5 Steady
5= Paul Keating 4.12 4.12
 
Australian Labor Party 8 Increase
7 Gough Whitlam 4.05 4.05
 
Australian Labor Party 6 Decrease
8 Andrew Fisher 3.96 3.96
 
Australian Labor Party 7 Decrease
9 John Howard 3.71 3.71
 
Liberal Party of Australia 9 Steady
10 Edmund Barton 3.51 3.51
 
Protectionist Party 10 Steady
11 Chris Watson 3.26 3.26
 
Australian Labor Party 12 Increase
12 Joseph Lyons 3.25 3.25
 
United Australia Party 11 Decrease
13 Julia Gillard 3.18 3.18
 
Australian Labor Party N/A Steady
14 Malcolm Fraser 3.15 3.15
 
Liberal Party of Australia 13 Decrease
15 Billy Hughes 3.00 3
 
Australian Labor Party
National Labor Party
Nationalist Party (Australia)
14 Decrease
16 George Reid 2.96 2.96
 
Free Trade Party 19 Increase
17 James Scullin 2.81 2.81
 
Australian Labor Party 20 Increase
18 Stanley Bruce 2.79 2.79
 
Nationalist Party (Australia) 15 Decrease
19 Harold Holt 2.74 2.74
 
Liberal Party of Australia 18 Decrease
20 John Gorton 2.63 2.63
 
Liberal Party of Australia 16 Decrease
21 Kevin Rudd 2.51 2.51
 
Australian Labor Party 17 Decrease
22 Joseph Cook 2.44 2.44
 
Commonwealth Liberal Party 21 Decrease
23 Malcolm Turnbull 2.15 2.15
 
Liberal Party of Australia N/A Steady
24 Tony Abbott 1.37 1.37
 
Liberal Party of Australia N/A Steady
25 William McMahon 1.35 1.35
 
Liberal Party of Australia 23 Decrease

Rankings by highest approval rating[edit]

It is possible to compare the highest approval ratings achieved by prime ministers in various opinion polls.

Nielsen Poll[edit]

According to the Nielsen Poll (available since 1972), Bob Hawke had the highest approval rating in November 1984,[10] with 75%, and the lowest was William McMahon, with a 34% approval rating.

Highest Nielsen Poll ratings for each prime minister since 1972:

  1. Bob Hawke – 75% (November 1984)
  2. Kevin Rudd – 74%[11] (March 2009)
  3. John Howard – 67% (January 2005)
  4. Gough Whitlam – 62% (February 1973)
  5. Malcolm Fraser – 56% (April 1976 and May 1978)
  6. Julia Gillard – 56% (July 2010)
  7. Tony Abbott – 47% (November 2013)
  8. Paul Keating – 40% (November 1994)
  9. William McMahon – 34% (November 1972)

William McMahon ended 1971 with an approval rating of 36.4%.[clarification needed] By the end of 1972, his popularity had sunk to 34%, and he was defeated by Gough Whitlam in the 1972 election.

Newspoll[edit]

Highest satisfaction rating[edit]

According to Newspoll (available since 1985), the highest satisfaction rating of any prime minister was Kevin Rudd's at 71% in August 2008, while Paul Keating has had the lowest high-mark satisfaction rating at 43%.[12]

Voters are asked the question: 'Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way -name- is doing his/her job as Prime Minister?'

  1. Kevin Rudd – 71% (18–20 April 2008)
  2. Scott Morrison - 68% (22–25 April 2020)
  3. John Howard – 67% (10–12 May 1996)
  4. Bob Hawke – 62% (24–26 January 1987)
  5. Anthony Albanese – 61% (27–30 July 2022)[13]
  6. Malcolm Turnbull – 60% (19–22 November 2015)
  7. Julia Gillard – 50% (18–20 February 2011)
  8. Tony Abbott – 47% (25–27 October 2013)
  9. Paul Keating – 43% (2–18 April 1993, 16–18 September 1994 & 18–20 November 1994)

Lowest satisfaction rating[edit]

Since Newspoll began in 1985, the lowest satisfaction rating of any prime minister is by far Paul Keating's at 17% in August 1993, with a 6% difference between Keating and the nearest low rating of Julia Gillard at 23% in September 2011.[12]

  1. Paul Keating – 17% (20–22 August 1993)
  2. Julia Gillard – 23% (2–4 September 2011)
  3. Tony Abbott – 24% (6–8 February 2015)
  4. Bob Hawke – 27% (29 November – 8 December 1991)
  5. John Howard – 28% (26–29 June 1998 & 9–11 March 2001)
  6. Malcolm Turnbull – 29% (20–23 October 2016 & 23–26 February 2017)
  7. Kevin Rudd – 32% (30 August – 1 September 2013)
  8. Scott Morrison – 37% (8–11 January 2020)

Public opinion polls[edit]

JWS research[edit]

In May 2011, John Scales of JWS research polled 2141 people in the 10 most marginal Labor seats and the 10 most marginal Coalition seats.

Asked "which, of the past five, had been the best government for Australia?",[14] responses were as follows:

  • 50% nominated the Howard government (1996–2007)
  • 13% for the Keating government (1991–1996)
  • 13% for the Hawke government (1983–1991)
  • 12% for the Rudd government (2007–2010)
  • 4% nominated the Gillard government (2010–2013)
  • 8% responded as "unsure"

In all, 50% of all respondents nominated a Liberal Party government, with 42% nominating the Labor Party. At the time of the survey, the federal government was led by the Labor Party.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Who was Australia's best prime minister? Experts rank the winners and dunces | Australian politics | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com.
  2. ^ "John Howard: The greatest PM of our time". ABC News. 1 March 2016 – via www.abc.net.au.
  3. ^ "Howard voted best PM in Newspoll". amp.smh.com.au.
  4. ^ a b Strangio, Paul (2013). "Evaluating Prime-Ministerial Performance: The Australian Experience". In Strangio, Paul; 't Hart, Paul; Walter, James (eds.). Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance: Comparative Perspectives. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199666423.
  5. ^ Abjorensen, Norman; Australia's Top 10 PMs, The Canberra Times, 5 December 1992. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. ^ a b Walker, Tony; Koutsoukis, Jason; "The good, the bad and the couldabeens", The Australian Financial Review, 3 January 2001.
  7. ^ a b Gordon, Michael; Grattan, Michelle, Curtin: our greatest PM, The Age, 18 December 2004. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  8. ^ a b Prime ministers' rank and file, The Age, 18 December 2004. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b Strangio, Paul (February 2022). "Prime-ministerial leadership rankings: the Australian experience". Australian Journal of Political Science. 57 (2): 180–198. doi:10.1080/10361146.2022.2040426. S2CID 247112944.
  10. ^ "Nielsen Australia - News - Press Releases - Latest ACNielsen Poll". Au.acnielsen.com. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Kevin Rudd rivals Bob Hawke in polls | Herald/Neilsen poll". Brisbanetimes.com.au. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Federal Newspoll Archive". Retrieved 3 July 2022 – via Infogram.
  13. ^ Benson, Simon (31 July 2022). "Record electoral satisfaction with PM: Newspoll". The Australian. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Polls Show Gillard/Labor In More Trouble". Smh.com.au. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2012.

Further reading[edit]

  • Strangio, Paul. Evaluating prime-ministerial performance: The Australian experience (Oxford University Press, 2013) online.
  • Strangio, Paul. "Prime-ministerial leadership rankings: the Australian experience." Australian Journal of Political Science (2022): 1-19.
  • Strangio, Paul, Paul'T. Hart, and James Walter. Settling the Office: The Australian Prime Ministership from Federation to Reconstruction (Melbourne Univ. Publishing, 2016).
  • Strangio, Paul, Paul'T. Hart, and James Walter. The pivot of power: Australian prime ministers and political leadership, 1949-2016 (Melbourne Univ. Publishing, 2017).

External links[edit]