“Under our present form of Parliamentary Government there must be an Opposition, and that Opposition has a high and important duty to perform. It has the duty of watching vigilantly and criticising freely the doings of the Executive Government” – George Reid, 1901

Our Prime Facts series of short information leaflets has proved a highly popular feature of the museum and its website. The series is constantly expanding; in addition to covering the 27 people who have been Prime Minister, there are fact sheets on Australia’s system of government, elections, Deputy Prime Ministers, Governors-General, the Prime Ministers’ wives and more.

Sixteen new Prime Facts are now available on our website introducing the lives and achievements of those Leaders of the Opposition who never became Prime Minister. These include such men as Matthew Charlton, John Latham, Doc Evatt, Arthur Calwell, John Hewson and Kim Beazley. Their stories are as interesting as those of the men and women who made it to the top job.

Learn which Leader of the Opposition:

• was more interested in talking about hats than about politics
• bought a horse with a member of The Seekers
• represented Australia in an international lacrosse match
• was a Papal Knight
• suffered polio as a child
• had an extreme fear of flying

… and much more.

Read the new Prime Facts or visit the research library at the museum to pick up free printed copies. You can also visit or contact the library to learn more about these remarkable people and the political, social and parliamentary history of Australia.