A political family of Australia (also called a political dynasty) is a family in which multiple members are involved in Australian politics, particularly electoral politics. Members may be related by blood or marriage; often several generations or multiple siblings may be involved.
Sir Howard Beale (1898–1983) – federal member for Parramatta (1946–1958), and at various times held the Transport, Supply, and Defense Production ministries. He later became the ambassador to the United States (1958–1964)
Bill Shorten (born 1967) – federal Leader of the Opposition (2013–2019) and member for Maribyrnong (2007–present). In addition to holding several ministries in the Rudd and Gillard governments he was also the Victorian state president of the Labor Party (2005–2008) and the Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (2001–2007). Son-in-law of Julian from his first marriage
Walkinshaw Cowan (1808–1888), private secretary to Western Australian Governors John Hutt, Andrew Clarke and Frederick Irwin
Thomas Brown (1803–1863), Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council (1850s)
Edith Cowan (1861–1932), Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia (12 March 1921 – 22 March 1924). Granddaughter of Thomas Brown and Daughter-in-Law of Walkinshaw Cowan.
Edward Wittenoom (1854–1936), Member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia (30 May 1883 – 23 January 1884 and 25 June 1885 – 6 November 1886) First cousin of Edith Cowan
Hendy Cowan (born 25 April 1943) is a former deputy premier of Western Australia. Grandson of Walkinshaw Cowan and nephew of Edith Cowan
Sir Henry Gullett (1878–1940) was the nephew of the New South Wales politician of the same name. He won the Victorian seat of Henty of the House of Representatives and held it from 1925 till his death in 1940 in a plane crash, at which time he was a government minister.
Lucy & Ben Hood are siblings who are known for contesting the 2022 South Australian state election representing different parties in different electorates.
John Francis Hughes was also an MLC, serving from 1895 until 1912. He also served as NSW Minister for Justice and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Their brother in-law,
John Lane Mullins, husband of Jane Hughes; sister of Sir Thomas and John Hughes, was also an MLC from 1917 until 1934. Their grandson and his great-nephew,
Bob Katter, state member for Flinders 1974–1992, federal member for Kennedy 1992–present. Bob Katter is also an uncle of Alex Douglas (see Douglas family above).
Brian Littleproud, (1941 – ), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly 1983 – 2001, and his son:
David Littleproud, (1976 – ), Member of the Australian House of Representativies 2016 – present. minister in the Turnbull and Morrison governments and leader of the Nationals 2022-present.
The Playford family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement.
George Hill (1802–1883), Mayor of Sydney (1850), alderman of the City of Sydney (1842–1851) and (1857–1858),[11] and member of the NSW Legislative Council (1848–1849) and (1856–1861), great grandfather of W. C. Wentworth IV, his daughter, Mary Jane being the wife of Fitzwilliam, the son of W. C. Wentworth I
Richard Hill (1810–1895). Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (1868–1877), member of the Legislative Council (1880–1895), brother of George Hill, and whose wife, Henrietta Cox, was the sister of Sarah, the wife of W. C. Wentworth I
William Charles Hill (1838–1919), member of the NSW Legislative Council (1900–1919), son of Richard Hill
Sir Daniel Cooper, 1st Baronet (1821–1902), member of the NSW Legislative Council (1849–1851) and (1855–1856), member of the NSW Legislative Assembly (1856–1860) and the Assembly's first Speaker, his wife Elizabeth being the sister of George Hill and Richard Hill
Sir Keith Wilson was Senator for South Australia from 1938 to 1944 and MHR for Sturt from 1949–1954 and 1955–1966. His son
Ian represented Sturt from 1966–1969 and 1972–1993 and was a minister in the Fraser government. Ian was also great-grandson of Sir John Langdon Bonython MHR for South Australia 1901–1906 and great-great grandson of Sir John Cox Bray, the first native born premier of South Australia
Martin Basedow was a member for Barossa in the South Australian Legislative Assembly from 1890 to 1902; his son Herbert Basedow was a member for the same seat from 1927 to 1930.
George Booth was a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 1925–1960, while his son, Ken Booth was a member from 1960 to 1988.
Carol Brown is a Senator for Tasmania since 2005 and the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport since 2022. Her niece Allison Ritchie was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 2001 to 2009. Another niece Meg Brown is a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Franklin since 2024.
Max Bushby was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass from 1961–1986 and a Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. His son David Bushby was a Senator for Tasmania from 2007–2019 and his daughter Wendy Askew is a Senator for Tasmania since 2019 replacing her brother.
Bert Cremean and his brother Jack Cremean were both Labor members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Clifton Hill. Jack replaced his brother in a by-election after Bert died of peritonitis following surgery. The family (on their mother's side) was very active in local government Labor politics in the City of Richmond.
Mary Delahunty was a Labor member for Northcote in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2006, and was Minister for Education (1999–2002); the Arts (1999 to 2006); Women's Affairs (2002–2006) and Planning (2002–2005). Her brother, Hugh Delahunty, was the National Party member for Lowan (2002–2014); and previously Wimmera (1999–2002) and was a minister in the Victorian Government.
Ray Groom was a Member of the House of Representatives 1975–1984, a Minister in the Fraser government, a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly 1986–2001, then Premier of Tasmania 1992–1996; his son, Matthew Groom was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in 2010 and has been a minister in the Tasmanian Government since 2014.
James Guy was an ALP Senator for Tasmania from 1914 to 1920 and his son James Allan Guy was ALP and later Nationalist Member for Bass and a Senator for Tasmania. George McElwee, Member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1940 to 1946, was James Guy's brother-in-law.[13]
Eric Harrison was a Member of the House of Representatives seat of Wentworth from 1931 to 1956, the first Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (1944 to 1956) and held several major portfolios. His daughter Shirley Walters was Liberal Party Senator for Tasmania from 1975 to 1993.
Alan Hunt was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1961–1992. His son, Greg Hunt, is the federal member for Flinders, was Minister for the Environment in the Abbott and Turnbull governments and is currently Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science.
Rowley James was the Member for Hunter, New South Wales 1924–1958, while his son, Bertie James was Member for the same seat 1960–1980.
John Lemmon was the Labor member for Williamstown in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1955—at nearly 51 years, the longest term in the Victorian parliament's history. His son, Nelson Lemmon, was a federal Labor MP for the seats of Forrest (WA; 1943–1949) and St George (NSW; 1954–1955), and a minister in the Chifley government.
Justin O'Byrne was a member of the Senate for Tasmania 1947–81, President of the Senate 1974–75, and Father of the Senate 1971–75; his distant cousin Michelle O'Byrne was Member for Bass 1998–2004, and Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2006; her brother, David O'Byrne, was Member for Franklin in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 2010 to 2014.
Noel Padgham-Purich was a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Tiwi 1977–1983; Koolpinyah 1983–1990; and Nelson 1990–1997. Her daughter, Kezia Purick, has been member for Goyder since 2008.
Sir Earle Page was Prime Minister of Australia in 1939 and a Country Party Member of the House of Representatives from 1919 to 1961. His grandson Donald Page was a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 2015 and a minister in the NSW Government from 2011 to 2014.
Michael Polley was a member for Wilmot/Lyons from 1972-2014 and a Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. His sister Helen Polley is a Senator for Tasmania from 2005.
Bess Price (Country Liberal Party) defeated her nephew, Labor MLA Karl Hampton, in the 2012 Northern Territory election and succeeded him as the member for Sturt in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly until 2016. She was a minister in the NT Government. Karl held the seat from 2006 to 2012 and was also a minister in the NT Government.
Philip Ruddock was MP for Parramatta from 1973 until 1977, for Dundas from 1977 until 1993 and for Berowra from 1993 until 2016, was Immigration Minister 1996–2003 and Attorney-General 2003–2007 in the Howard government and was Father of the Australian Parliament from 1998 until 2016. His father, Max Ruddock was Member of the New South Wales state parliament from 1962 to 1976 and a minister in the NSW Government.
Marie Tehan was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1987 to 1992 and of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1999. She was a minister in the Victorian Government. Her son Dan Tehan has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2010.
Lindsay Thompson was a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1955 to 1970 and of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1970 to 1982. He was the 40th Premier of Victoria. His son Murray Thompson has been a Liberal Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1992.
Kelvin Thomson was an MP in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1988–1995 and was MHR for Wills in the Australian Parliament from 1996 until his retirement in 2016. His ex-wife Marsha Thomson was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council (1999–2006) and has represented Footscray in the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2006. She was the first Jewish woman to be a minister in any Australian Government serving in the Bracks and Brumby cabinets.
Michael Wooldridge was a Member of the House of Representatives, and Minister for Health 1996–2001 in the Howard government. His sister, Mary Wooldridge, has been a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2006 and a minister in the Victorian Government.
^Glover, Gareth – Ed (2006). A Life Guardsman in Spain, France and at Waterloo, the memoirs of Sergeant Major Thomas Playford 2nd Life Guards 1810–30. Ken Trotman Publishing. ISBN1-905074-46-8.
^Cockburn, Stewart (1991). Playford: Benevolent Despot. Axiom Publishing. ISBN0-9594164-4-7