Lance Herbert Barnard AO (1 May 1919 – 6 August 1997) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as the third deputy prime minister of Australia from 1972 to 1974.

He was the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1967 to 1974 and held senior ministerial offices in the Whitlam government.

After an initial "duumvirate" in which he and Whitlam both held multiple portfolios, Barnard was appointed Minister for Defence.

He resigned from parliament in 1975 to become ambassador to Norway, Finland and Sweden, triggering a by-election that resulted in the loss of his seat to the Liberal Party.

[4] Following the ALP's defeat at the 1966 federal election, Arthur Calwell resigned as party leader and was succeeded by his deputy Gough Whitlam.

Barnard was then elected deputy leader with the endorsement of Whitlam, defeating Jim Cairns by 35 votes to 33 on the final ballot following the elimination of Frank Crean.

He personally ensured the recommendations of the Jess Committee and new Defense Force Retirements Benefits Scheme was implemented in 1972.

[10] In June 1975, Whitlam announced that Barnard would leave politics to become Australia's resident ambassador to Sweden, with accreditation also to Finland and Norway.

[1] The following year he won ALP preselection to recontest his old seat of Bass,[13] but withdrew four months later for health reasons.

[1] In response Gough Whitlam stated that "My partnership with Lance Barnard was the most satisfying and significant of my political life.