What happens if the current PM and ministers of the cabinet lose their seats in the next election?
A person can only be the Prime Minister or a minister if they are a member of parliament. If the Prime Minister or a minister lost their seat at the next election they would no longer be a member of parliament.
Ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister. If a minister lost their seat, the Prime Minister would need to appoint a new minister. If the Prime Minister lost their seat at the next election, their party would need to elect a new leader.
Since Federation in 1901 only two serving Prime Ministers have lost their seats at an election. The first was Stanley Melbourne Bruce in 1929 and in 2007 John Howard was not re-elected to his seat.
Counting ballot papers
Australian Electoral Commission
Counting ballot papers
Australian Electoral Commission
Description
A polling official counts a stack of green papers. These votes are for the House of Representatives.
Permission should be sought from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact the AEC email: media@aec.gov.au or phone: 13 23 26.