Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory

Deputy Chief Minister of Australian Capital Territory
Incumbent Simon Corbell
Style	The Honourable
Appointer	Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
Term length	At the Governor's pleasure
Formation	16 May 1989
First holder	Paul Whalan

The Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the second-most senior officer in the Government of the Australian Capital Territory. The Deputy Chief Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since its establishment in 1989. Unlike in other states and territories, the Deputy Chief Minister of the ACT is not nominally appointed by an Administrator or Vice-Regal, but by the Chief Minister.

The current Deputy Chief Minister is the Australian Labor Party's Simon Corbell, who took over from former Labor Deputy leader Andrew Barr on 11 December 2014, following Barr's appointment as Chief Minister.

History and duties

The office of Deputy Chief Minister was created in May 1989, for Paul Whalan, the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party, following the formation of the first government of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. The duties of the Deputy Chief Minister are to act on behalf of the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The Deputy Chief Minister has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Chief Minister, but this has never happened).

If the Chief Minister were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Assembly would normally elect the Deputy Chief Minister as Chief Minister. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Chief Minister.

For a short period, between 29 May 1991 and 18 June 1991, there was no Deputy Chief Minister as the Chief Minister, Trevor Kaine, has assumed all ministerial responsibilities.

Gary Humphries, Katy Gallagher and Andrew Barr are the only Deputy Chief Ministers who have gone on to become Chief Minister. Trevor Kaine is the only Chief Minister who has taken a 'backward' step to become Deputy Chief Minister.

List of Deputy Chief Ministers of the Australian Capital Territory

#	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Timespan	Party	Notes
1	Paul Whalan	16 May 1989	13 December 1989		Labor	1
2	Bernard Collaery	13 December 1989	29 May 1991		Residents Rally	2
3	Wayne Berry	18 June 1991	13 April 1994		Labor
4	David Lamont	13 April 1994	15 March 1995		Labor
5	Tony De Domenico	15 March 1995	9 January 1997		Liberal
6	Gary Humphries	9 January 1997	31 January 1997		Liberal
7	Trevor Kaine	31 January 1997	17 February 1997		Liberal
8	Gary Humphries	17 February 1997	9 October 2000		Liberal
9	Brendan Smyth	9 October 2000	13 November 2000		Liberal
10	Ted Quinlan	13 November 2000	20 April 2006		Labor
11	Katy Gallagher	20 April 2006	16 May 2011		Labor
12	Andrew Barr	16 May 2011	11 December 2014		Labor
13	Simon Corbell	11 December 2014	incumbent		Labor

¹ Despite Labor Chief Minister, Follett, losing a no confidence vote in the Assembly on 5 December 1989, Labor's Whalan remained Deputy Chief Minister for eight days under Liberal Chief Minister, Trevor Kaine, until Kaine announced his Alliance ministry with Residents Rally on 13 December 1989.
² Bernard Collaery resigned all Ministerial responsibilities on 29 May 1991, losing confidence in Kaine led Alliance government with Residents Rally, due to unpopular decisions to close schools, close the Royal Canberra Hospital and amend planning laws.

See also

• Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
• Australian Capital Territory ministries