First Gorton ministry

44th ministry of government of Australia

First Gorton ministry

44th Ministry of Australia
Governor-General Lord Casey with first arrangement of newly appointed ministers to the Gorton ministry
Date formed10 January 1968
Date dissolved12 November 1969
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralLord Casey
Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime MinisterJohn Gorton
Deputy Prime MinisterJohn McEwen
No. of ministers30
Member partyLiberal–Country coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderGough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election25 October 1969
Legislature term(s)26th
PredecessorMcEwen ministry
SuccessorSecond Gorton ministry
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John Gorton
  • Senator for Victoria (1950–1968)
  • Member for Higgins (1968–1975)

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The First Gorton ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 44th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The First Gorton ministry succeeded the McEwen ministry, which dissolved on 10 January 1968 following the election of Gorton as Liberal leader after the disappearance of former Prime Minister Harold Holt. The ministry was replaced by the Second Gorton ministry on 12 November 1969 following the 1969 federal election.[1]

As of 20 December 2020, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the First Gorton ministry. James Forbes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

Cabinet

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal Rt Hon John Gorton
(1911–2002)

Senator for Victoria
(1950–1968)

MP for Higgins
(1968–1975)

Country Rt Hon John McEwen (CH)
(1900–1980)

MP for Murray
(1949–1971)

Liberal Rt Hon William McMahon
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982)

Liberal Rt Hon Paul Hasluck
(1905–1993)

MP for Curtin
(1949–1969)

  • Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)
Liberal Hon Allen Fairhall
(1909–2006)

MP for Paterson
(1949–1969)

  • Minister for Defence
Country Hon Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)

Liberal Hon Denham Henty
(1903–1978)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1968)

Liberal Hon Alan Hulme
(1907–1989)

MP for Petrie
(1963–1972)

Liberal Hon David Fairbairn DFC
(1917–1994)

MP for Farrer
(1949–1975)

  • Minister for National Development
Liberal Hon Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)

  • Minister for Labour and National Service
Country Hon Ian Sinclair
(born 1929)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)

  • Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 28 February 1968)
  • Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry
Liberal Hon Ken Anderson
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Hon Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

  • Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister for Education and Science (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal Hon Gordon Freeth
(1914–2001)

MP for Forrest
(1949–1969) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)

  • Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister for Air (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969)
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969)
  • Minister for External Affairs (from 11 February 1969)

Outer ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Hon Charles Barnes
(1901–1998)

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)

Liberal Hon Reginald Swartz MBE
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)

  • Minister for Civil Aviation
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)
Liberal Hon Billy Snedden QC
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)

  • Minister for Immigration
  • Leader of the House (to February 1969)
Liberal Hon Dr James Forbes MC
(1923–2019)

MP for Barker
(1956–1975)

  • Minister for Health
Liberal Hon Peter Howson
(1919–2009)

MP for Fawkner
(1955–1969)

  • Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
Country Hon Colin McKellar
(1903–1970)

Senator for New South Wales
(1958–1970)

  • Minister for Repatriation
Liberal Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE
(1908–1986)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1971)

  • Minister for Housing
Liberal Hon Nigel Bowen QC
(1911–1994)

MP for Parramatta
(1964–1973)

Liberal Hon Don Chipp
(1925–2006)

MP for Higinbotham
(1960–1969)

  • Minister for the Navy (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 28 February 1968)
Liberal Hon Bert Kelly
(1912–1997)

MP for Wakefield
(1958–1977)

  • Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)
Country Hon Peter Nixon
(born 1928)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)

Liberal Hon Phillip Lynch
(1933–1984)

MP for Flinders
(1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

  • Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal Hon Malcolm Scott
(1911–1989)

Senator for Western Australia
(1950–1971) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Hon Bill Wentworth
(1907–2003)

MP for Mackellar
(1949–1977) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

  • Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1968)
  • Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal Hon Reg Wright
(1905–1990)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1978) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

  • Minister for Works (from 28 February 1968)
  • Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal Hon Dudley Erwin
(1917–1984)

MP for Ballaarat
(1955–1975) (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)

Notes

  1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
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