First Menzies ministry

25th ministry of the government of Australia

photograph of Menzies
Robert Menzies
photograph of Hughes
Billy Hughes
Date formed26 April 1939Date dissolved14 March 1940People and organisationsMonarchGeorge VIGovernor-GeneralLord GowriePrime MinisterRobert MenziesNo. of ministers16Member partyUnited AustraliaStatus in legislatureMinority governmentOpposition partyLaborOpposition leaderJohn CurtinHistoryLegislature term(s)15thPredecessorPage ministrySuccessorSecond Menzies ministry
This article is part of
a series about
Robert Menzies
  • Member for Kooyong (1934–1966)
  • 1938 Dalfram dispute
  • United Australia Party spills

Prime Minister of Australia

First term of government (1939–1941)

  • Liberal Party foundation

Second term of government (1949–1966)

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The First Menzies ministry (United Australia) was the 25th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The First Menzies ministry succeeded the Page ministry, which dissolved on 26 April 1939 following the election of Menzies as UAP leader after the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between caretaker Prime Minister Sir Earle Page and Menzies broke down, the First Menzies ministry was composed solely of UAP ministers, and was effectively a minority government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Menzies ministry on 14 March 1940 after Menzies took the Country Party back into his government - now led by Archie Cameron.[1]

Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the First Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the Second Menzies ministry, Third Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry.

Ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
  United Australia Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC
(1894–1978)

MP for Kooyong
(1934–1966)

  Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC
(1862–1952)

MP for North Sydney
(1922–1949)

  Hon Geoffrey Street MC
(1894–1940)

MP for Corangamite
(1934–1940)

  • Minister for Defence (to 13 November 1939)
  • Minister for the Army (from 13 November 1939)
  Hon Richard Casey DSO MC
(1890–1976)

MP for Corio
(1931–1940)

  Hon Sir Henry Gullett KCMG
(1878–1940)

MP for Henty
(1925–1940)

  • Minister for External Affairs
  • Minister for Information (from 12 September 1939)
  Hon George McLeay
(1892–1955)

Senator for South Australia
(1935–1947)

  • Minister for Commerce
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate
  Hon John Lawson
(1897–1956)

MP for Macquarie
(1931–1940)

  • Minister for Trade and Customs (to 23 February 1940)
  Hon Eric Harrison
(1892–1974)

MP for Wentworth
(1931–1956)

  • Postmaster-General
  • Minister for Repatriation
  Hon James Fairbairn
(1897–1940)

MP for Flinders
(1933–1940)

  Hon Sir Frederick Stewart
(1884–1961)

MP for Parramatta
(1931–1946)

  Hon Harry Foll
(1890–1977)

Senator for Queensland
(1917–1947)

  Hon Percy Spender KC
(1897–1985)

MP for Warringah
(1937–1951)

  Hon John Perkins
(1878–1954)

MP for Eden-Monaro
(1931–1943)

  Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD
(1877–1947)

Senator for Western Australia
(1933–1947)

  • Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes
  Hon Harold Holt
(1908–1967)

MP for Fawkner
(1935–1949)

  Hon Philip McBride
(1892–1982)

Senator for South Australia
(1937–1944)

  • Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce

Notes

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