Talk:Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

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I just edited Earle Page's tenure of 1923-39 to 1923-29 since the ALP was in power in 1929-32 and the Country Party was not in Coalition with the UAP in its first term in government of 1932-34. The list is not complete since Ted Theodore was deputy in the Scullin Government and John Latham was deputy in the first term of the Lyons Government. --The Shadow Treasurer 28 June 2005 05:00 (UTC)

The article states that the Deputy is the second highest office. At the moment however, it seems as if Peter Costello, the Treasurer, has the second highest office. Costello is also tipped to succeed Howard if he ever decides to leave. Also, the media has also made it out that Treasurer is the most prominent position after the Prime Minister. Could someone please explain this to me?

The Deputy PM is the second highest ministerial office in terms of precedence. In terms of cabinet, the treasurer and minister for foreign affairs have historically jostled for most important position after the Prime Minister. However, with the centralising of power in the Prime Minister ("presidentialisation", even), much of the responsibility for foreign affairs has been usurped by the PM thus leaving the treasurer more powerful than the minister for foreign affairs. Remember, in Coalition governments, Deputy PM is a position reserved for the Nationals, thus giving it less significance than it would in a Labor government. I think...--Cyberjunkie | Talk 11:16, 14 November 2005 (UTC)

Contra Cyberjunkie, I think the Treasurer has always been the second most important position in the federal government. Few Foreign Ministers have been regarded as the real No 2 in a government or as heir-apparent to the PM. I would think Evatt under Chifley was the last, and that was because Chifley was his own Treasurer. Spender and Casey under Menzies had ambitions, but it was Treasurer Holt who was the long-term heir. Ditto Howard under Fraser and Keating under Hawke. Cyber is right about the decline in the prestige of the Deputy PM in Coalition governments, since this is a function of the decline of the Nationals vis-a-vis the Liberals. Anyone who can recall the clout of McEwen or Anthony compared with Vaile's position today will know that. Adam 12:39, 14 November 2005 (UTC)