Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
PostChief Minister
Bodythe
Australian Capital Territory
InsigniaCoat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
Insigniasize120px
InsigniacaptionCoat of arms of the Australian Capital Territory
IncumbentAndrew Barr
Incumbentsince11 December 2014
DepartmentChief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
StyleThe Honourable
StatusHead of government
AbbreviationCM
Member ofACT Cabinet (Barr IV)
National Cabinet
Reports toLegislative Assembly
Seat1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra
AppointerAustralian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Constituting instrumentAustralian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth), section 40
Formation11 May 1989
FirstRosemary Follett
DeputyDeputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
SalaryA$404,406[1]

The chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The leader of the party with the largest number of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role. Unlike other states and territories, the chief minister is not appointed by a governor or administrator, but elected directly by the Assembly.[2]

The chief minister is the rough equivalent of the state premiers, and has been a member of the National Cabinet since its creation in 2020.[3] The chief minister previously also represented the ACT on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).[4] Since there are no local governments in the territory, the chief minister's role is also similar to that of the mayor of a local government area. The chief minister sits on the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors.[5]

The current chief minister is Andrew Barr of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), who was first elected by the Assembly on 11 December 2014 following the resignation of Katy Gallagher.[6] Barr is also the longest serving Chief Minister in the ACT.

List of officeholders

No.PortraitName
Electorate
(Birth–death)		ElectionTerm of office[7]Political partyMinistry
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
style="background:; | 1Rosemary Follett
MLA
(born 1948)		198911 May
1989		5 December
1989		0LaborFollett I
style="background:; color:white | 2Trevor Kaine
MLA
(1928–2008)		—5 December
1989		6 June
1991		1LiberalKaine
rowspan="2" style="background:; | (1)Rosemary Follett
MLA
(born 1948)		—6 June
1991		2 March
1995		3LaborFollett II
1992Follett III
rowspan="2" style="background:; color:white | 3Kate Carnell
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1955)		19952 March
1995		18 October
2000		5LiberalCarnell I
1998Carnell II
style="background:; color:white | 4Gary Humphries
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1958)		—18 October
2000		5 November
2001		1LiberalHumphries
rowspan="3" style="background:; | 5Jon Stanhope
MLA for Ginninderra
(born 1951)		20015 November
2001		12 May
2011		9LaborStanhope I
2004Stanhope II
2008Stanhope III
rowspan="2" style="background:; | 6Katy Gallagher
MLA for Molonglo
(born 1970)		—16 May
2011		11 December
2014		3LaborGallagher I
2012Gallagher II
rowspan="4" style="background:; | 7Andrew Barr
MLA for Kurrajong
(born 1973)		—11 December
2014		Incumbent11LaborBarr I
2016Barr II
2020Barr III
2024Barr IV

Rank by time in office

This is a list of chief ministers of the Australian Capital Territory by time in office. The basis of the list is the inclusive number of days between dates.

Parties
RankPortraitOfficeholderPartyDistrictAssumed
office		Left
office		Time in office
(term)		Time in office
(total)		Election
wins
 1.Andrew Barr
(1973–)		LaborMLA for Molonglo
(2006–2016)
MLA for Kurrajong
(2016- )		11 December 2014Incumbent11[8]2016
2020
2024
 2.Jon Stanhope
(1951–)
AO		LaborMLA for Ginninderra
(1998–2011)		12 November 200112 May 201192001
2004
2008
 3.Kate Carnell
(1955–)
AO		LiberalMLA for Molonglo
(1992–2000)		9 March 199517 October 200051995
1998
 4.Rosemary Follett
(1948–)
AO		LaborMLA for Molonglo
(1995–1996)		11 May 19895 December 198904 years, 122 days1989
1992
6 June 19919 March 19953
 5.Katy Gallagher
(1970–)		LaborMLA for Molonglo
(2001–2014)		16 May 201110 December 201432012
 6.Trevor Kaine
(1928–2008)		LiberalMLA for Brindabella
(1995–2001)		5 December 19896 June 19911
 7.Gary Humphries
(1958–)		LiberalMLA for Molonglo
(1995–2002)		18 October 200012 November 20011

Total time in office of political parties in Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory Assembly – days as of

Labor

  • ' days as of .

Liberal

  • days.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Determination 4 of 2025 Members of the Legislative Assembly". Parliament.act.gov.au. 31 March 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Assembly Debate". ACT Hansard. ACT Legislative Assembly. 11 May 1989. p. 4. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  3. ^ "Advice on coronavirus". Prime Minister of Australia. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. ^ "COAG Members". Council of Australian Governments. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Canberra". Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Andrew Barr elected ACT Chief Minister, seventh in history". ABC News. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Chief Ministers". ABC News. 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  8. ^ Andrew Barr's time in office as of