In God they trust?

The righteous straighteners

• Joseph Cook (Commonwealth Liberal: 1913-14)
• W. M. (Billy) Hughes (Labor: 1915-16; National Labor: 1916-17; Nationalist: 1917-23)
• John Howard (Liberal: 1996-2007)

All three of these men were theologically orthodox. But they held a determinedly

Old Testament view of the world. These were tough, resourceful characters who rose from hard-scrabble, lower-middle class origins and expected others to do the same. They did not readily feel pity. Unloved by many of their colleagues and despised by their opponents, they commanded respect and clung doggedly to power. Though mostly upright in their personal conduct, they understood the darker side of the Australian character – and were not above exploiting it. They waged war. Both Cook and Howard moved away from the kindly brand of Methodism to which they had been exposed in their youth. Only Hughes had a discernible sense of humour – though of a sardonic, biting sort.

The more-than-tribal Catholics

• Ben Chifley (Labor: 1945-49)
• Paul Keating (Labor: 1991-96)

The parallels between Chifley and Keating are striking. Both were raised in devout Irish-Catholic families and attended modestly-endowed Catholic schools. Both joined the workforce in their mid-teens. Both advanced by hard work and wide reading, before devoting themselves to the Labor movement. Both served long and distinguished stints as federal Treasurer under a strong Labor leader (Curtin, Hawke), before assuming the top job. Both secured one famous election victory in their own right (1946, 1993) before suffering a heavy and galling defeat the next time around – to men who would become a Liberal Party icon (Menzies in 1949, Howard in 1996). Both are too frequently dismissed as mere "tribal" or "cultural" Catholics. The weight of the evidence establishes that both of them were deeply religious. If Tony Abbott ever reaches the Lodge, he will belong fairly and squarely in this category.

The enigmatic Presbyterians

• George Reid (Free Trade: 1904-05)
• Robert Menzies (United Australia Party: 1939-41; Liberal: 1949-66)
• Malcolm Fraser (Liberal: 1975-83)

All three of these men were born into proudly Presbyterian families. However, none wore his heart on his sleeve – in public, at least. Down the years questions have been raised as to the nature and sincerity of their personal faith. It has been frequently charged or hinted at, especially by critics from the left, that they were mere "formal" Christians and essentially areligious. In Menzies' case, in my view, this notion is quite wrong. Reid and Fraser are more complicated studies. Interestingly, Fraser's grandfather, Sir Simon Fraser (1832-1919), was Reid's closest and most reliable personal friend.

Labor's lapsed?

• John Curtin (Labor: 1941-45)
• Bob Hawke (Labor: 1983-91)
• Julia Gillard (Labor: 2010-13)