Our Structure

The Organisational and Parliamentary wings of the Liberal Party each have clearly defined and separate roles. In the Liberal Party, the Organisational wing cannot dictate policy but consults with and advises the Parliamentary wing, particularly on the development of longer-term policies.

The Organisational Wing

The Organisational wing is based on the Party’s paid membership of supporters. Across Australia, the Liberal Party has more than 80,000 members in more than 2000 branches which are governed by their respective State Liberal Party structure – known as ‘Divisions’. It is responsible for:

• Party’s Platform – the broad statement of Liberal fundamental beliefs and intentions
• Pre-selection of the Party’s candidates for elections
• Management and conduct of election campaigns
• Fund-raising

The Parliamentary wing

The Parliamentary wing of the Liberal Party is made up of Federal and State Parliamentarians. It is responsible for:

• Representation of electorates held by Liberal Party Members of Parliament
• Liberal Party’s policies, strategies and parliamentary priorities guided by the principles contained in the Party Platform

The Liberal Party of Australia is a Federation of Divisions

There is one Division for each of the six states, as well as the Australian Capital Territory. The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is an affiliate of the Liberal Party.

Each of the Liberal Party’s seven Divisions is autonomous and has their own constitutions.

Each Division has its own Party headquarters to service the State Organisation, as well as the State Parliamentary Party. They also assist Members of Federal Parliament in their home electorates.

The constitution of each Division lays out the structure of the Party for that State or Territory and lays down the rules of membership, election of office-bearers, pre-selection of candidates for both State and Federal Parliaments, and the policy advisory process.

Each Division undertakes its own fund raising, its relations with other political parties, and the planning and conduct of its election campaigns, in conjunction with the Federal Secretariat.

The Federal Secretariat

The national headquarters of the Liberal Party is known as the Federal Secretariat. It is located in Canberra and provides professional support for both the Federal and State Organisations and the Parliamentary Party.

The Federal Director is responsible for the overall co-ordination of the Secretariat’s activities and liaison with the State Divisions.

The Secretariat is the Liberal Party’s national centre for administration, research and campaign planning. It offers assistance to the Divisions in State elections and is able to provide specialist support in such areas as policy development, research and strategic planning. It also co-ordinates the Liberal Party’s international relations. The Federal Secretariat is located at R.G. Menzies House in Canberra which was opened by the Party’s founder, Sir Robert Menzies in 1965.

Committees

The Federal Organisation has established a network of committees which contribute towards the maintenance and development of the Party’s Organisational objectives and policies and provides support to the Parliamentary party. These include:

• Staff Planning Committee
• Advisory Committee on Federal Policy
• Federal Finance Committee
• Federal Women’s Committee
• Federal Young Liberal Executive
• Federal Regional and Rural Committee
• Federal Secretariat staff also liaises with the Australian Liberal
  Students’ Federation and the Party’s overseas branches

Federal Council

At the national level, the coordinating body of the Liberal Party is called the Federal Council.

The Federal Council comprises 14 delegates from each State and the ACT – the State / Territory President, the State / Territory Parliamentary Leader, the President of the Young Liberal Movement, the President / Chairman of the Women’s Council and 10 other delegates.

Other members of the Federal Council include Federal Parliamentary Leaders and Federal Office bearers of the organisation.

The Federal Council is responsible for the Party’s Federal Constitution and Federal Platform. It is the Organisational wing’s highest forum for debating Federal policies. Views of the Federal Council are not binding on the Parliamentary party, but do carry considerable weight as the stated position of the organisation on a range of policy issues.

Federal Executive

Between meetings of Council, the management and control of the Party’s affairs are vested in the Federal Executive. The Executive, which is comprised of the Federal office bearers, the Divisional Presidents and the Federal Parliamentary Leadership Group, normally meets at least four times a year. The seven Divisions come together at the Federal level under a structure which draws together the self-contained Divisions into a national body and supports and services the needs of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party.

Federal President, The Hon. John Olsen AO

John Olsen was elected as the Liberal Party’s 19th Federal President at a meeting of the Party’s Federal Executive in August 2020.

John is Chairman of the American Australian Association Ltd, Chairman of the Perth USAsia Centre at The University of Western Australia, and board member of the United States Studies Centre at The University of Sydney.

He is also Deputy Chairman of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority.

John spent almost seven years in the United States, as Consul-General in New York (2006-2009), and as Consul-General in Los Angeles (2002-2006).

John pioneered G’Day USA in 2004, a week-long programme showcasing the best of Australia. The programme expanded to New York in 2007 and became the largest single annual foreign country promotion in the United States.

Prior to his diplomatic postings, he was Premier of South Australia (1996-2001), capping a long and distinguished career in the political arena, including as Minister for Multicultural Affairs (1996-2001), Minister for Infrastructure and Industry (1993-1996), Senator for South Australia (1990-1992), and State Opposition Leader (1982-1990).

He served as President of the Liberal Party SA Division (1976-1979 and 2017-2020) and Mayor of Kadina (1974-1977).

John was Chairman of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority 2014-2018 and Deputy during the redevelopment of the Stadium. He served as Chairman of the South Australian National Football League 2010-2020.

He was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2007 for his outstanding contribution to the South Australian Parliament.

Past Federal Presidents

• Nick Greiner (2017 – 2020)
• Richard Alston (2014 – 2017)
• Alan Stockdale (2008 – 2014)
• Chris McDiven (2005 – 2008)
• Shane Stone (1999 – 2005)
• Tony Staley (1993 – 1999)
• Ashley Goldsworthy (1990 – 1993)
• John Elliott (1987 – 1990)
• John Valder (1985 – 1987)
• Dr A.J. Forbes (1982 – 1985)
• John Atwill (1975 – 1982)
• Robert Southey (1970 – 1975)
• E. Pagan (1965 – 1970)
• Philip McBride (1960 – 1965)
• Lyle Moore (1956 – 1960)
• H. Anderson (1951 – 1956)
• Richard Casey (1947 – 1950)
• Malcolm Ritchie (1945-47, 1950-51)

Honorary Federal Treasurer, Charlie Taylor

Charlie is a former Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company, where he worked in the Sydney office for 20 years, with over 10 years in overseas offices including New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta.

Charlie has extensive experience across a wide range of business sectors, as well as supporting not-for-profit organisations.

Past Party Treasurers

• Andrew Burnes (2015 – 2019)
• Philip Higginson (2011 – 2015)
• Michael Yabsley (2008 – 2011)
• Mark Bethwaite (2006 – 2008)
• John Calvert-Jones (2003 – 2006)
• Malcolm Turnbull (2002 – 2003)
• Ronald Walker (1989 – 2002)
• David Clarke (1987 – 1989)
• John Elliot (1985 – 1987)
• Sir Robert Crichton-Brown (1974 – 1985)
• Sir Charles McGrath (1968 – 1974)
• Sir William Anderson (1962 – 1968)
• F. Utz (1956 – 1962)
• F. Dargan (1949 – 1956)

Federal Director, Andrew Hirst

Andrew Hirst is the Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Andrew has worked for four leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia – John Howard, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott.

As well as holding adviser roles for successive Liberal leaders, Andrew served for two years as Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Andrew also previously worked as the Liberal Party’s Director of Communications and was a Director at campaigns and strategy company C|T Group prior to his appointment as Federal Director.

Past Party Directors

• Tony Nutt (2015 – 2017)
• Brian Loughnane (2003 – 2015)
• Lynton Crosby (1997 – 2002)
• Andrew Robb (1990 – 1997)
• Tony Eggleton (1975 – 1990)
• Dr Timothy Pascoe (1974 – 1975)
• Bede Hartcher (1969 – 1974)
• Robert Willoughby (1951 – 1969)
• Donald Cleland (1945 – 1951)