Vice-President of the Executive Council


In the Australian political system, at the federal level, the Vice-President of the Executive Council is the minister in the Government of Australia who acts as the presiding officer of meetings of the Federal Executive Council when the Governor-General is absent. The Vice-President of the Executive Council is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia, and serves at the Governor-General's pleasure. The Vice-President is usually a senior minister in Cabinet, and may summon executive councillors and preside at council meetings when the Governor-General is not present. However, the Vice-President cannot sign Executive Council documents on behalf of the Governor-General.
Senator Mathias Cormann was appointed to the office on 20 December 2017 and served until 23 August 2018, when he resigned from the Turnbull Ministry as part of the Liberal Party leadership challenge. Cormann was again appointed to the office on 28 August 2018 by the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Duties and history

As the duties of the post are not rigorous, it is usually given to a Member of the Cabinet, and thus no additional salary or allowance is paid. In this sense, it is usually not a 'Minister without portfolio', such as the equivalent position Lord President of the Council, is in the United Kingdom. The position has at times been held by persons who did not hold a Ministerial portfolio—such as Enid Lyons in the Fourth Menzies Ministry and James Killen in the Third Fraser Ministry.
A small Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council existed from 22 March to 31 May 1971, during the prime ministership of William McMahon. It was administered by Alan Hulme, who was also Postmaster-General.
The department was recreated in 1982 and James Killen was controversially appointed to administer the office. Killen held no other Ministerial portfolio, but was nevertheless considered a member of the Fraser Ministry by virtue only of this office. The appointment was controversial because it was seen as a sinecure given that Killen held no Ministerial portfolio, as the cabinet appointment entitled him to receive a ministerial salary. The Department was abolished in 1983 by incoming Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Colonial and state governments

Prior to the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, colonial and state governments also appointed a Vice-President of the Executive Council, and some have kept the title. The Colony of New South Wales was the first to appoint a Vice-President of the Executive Council, on 3 October 1856, in the Parker ministry of the first elected colonial government. The New South Wales government currently retains the title for a senior government minister, who since 30 January 2017 has been Don Harwin.
The Executive Council of Victoria is made up of the Premier and his or her Ministers who have been sworn into that office by the Governor, usually immediately after they have been sworn in as Ministers. The Governor usually attends and presides at meetings of the Executive Council, though he or she is not a member.

List of Vice-Presidents of the Executive Council

The following individuals have been appointed as Vice-President of the Executive Council: