Deputy Premier of Victoria


The Deputy Premier of Victoria is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Victoria. The Deputy Premier position was created in March 1932, with Albert Dunstan being the first person to hold the position. The Deputy Premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier. The Deputy Premier is usually also a minister in the government.
When the Labor Party forms government, the deputy leader of the Labor parliamentary party typically becomes the Deputy Premier. The same was the case when the Liberal Party formed government on its own. When the Liberal-National coalition is in government, the Deputy Premier is usually the leader of the junior coalition partner, the Nationals. The current Deputy Premier is James Merlino of the Labor Party, who has held the position since 4 December 2014.

Duties

The duties of the Deputy Premier are to act on behalf of the Premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The Deputy Premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio.
If the Premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the Deputy Premier as acting Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.

List of Deputy Premiers of Victoria

Please note that this list may be incomplete due to lack of information

Living former Deputy Premiers

As of January 2016, there are five living former Deputy Premiers. The most recent Deputy Premier to die was Joan Kirner on 1 June 2015.
NameTerm of officeDate of birth
Robert Fordham1982–198910 February 1942
Pat McNamara1992–199911 August 1949
John Thwaites1999–200715 October 1955
Rob Hulls2007–201023 January 1957
Peter Ryan2010–201430 October 1950

Notable careers

Among the most notable former Deputy Premiers of Victoria have been Sir Robert Menzies who become the longest serving Prime Minister of Australia.
One of Menzies' federal ministers was Wilfrid Kent Hughes who like Menzies had served as Deputy Premier of Victoria prior to switching to federal politics. Others include Sir Albert Dunstan who later became Premier for a then record of eleven years, Sir Rupert Hamer who later became a long serving Premier, Thomas Hollway who was Premier on three occasions and Joan Kirner became the first female Deputy Premier in 1989 before becoming the first female Premier in 1990.