Whitlam became Prime Minister on December 5, 1972. He and his deputy, Lance Barnard, governed as a duumvirate until December 19.
They were the only two-man government in Australia’s federal political history.
The government took office pending the finalisation of election results and the first meeting of the ALP Caucus at which the ministry was elected.
According to Cabinet papers released on January 1, 2003, no formal Cabinet meetings were held during this period. Lance Barnard has joked about making decisions when the two bumped into each other in the corridors of Parliament House.
The two-man government made a series of executive decisions. Some of these required the signature of the Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck, a former Liberal minister.
The two men held the following portfolios:
Gough Whitlam
- Prime Minister
- Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Treasurer
- Attorney-General
- Minister for Customs and Excise
- Minister for Trade and Industry
- Minister for Shipping and Transport
- Minister for Education and Science
- Minister for Civil Aviation
- Minister for Housing
- Minister for Works
- Minister for External Territories
- Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts
Lance Barnard – Deputy Prime Minister
- Minister for Defence
- Minister for Supply
- Minister for the Army
- Minister for the Navy
- Minister for Air
- Postmaster-General
- Minister for Labour and National Service
- Minister for Social Services
- Minister for Immigration
- Minister for the Interior
- Minister for Primary Industry
- Minister for Repatriation
- Minister for Health
- Minister for National Development
The Australian, December 6, 1972.
