Forde ministry

Frank Forde

Ben Chifley

Date formed6 July 1945Date dissolved13 July 1945People and organisationsMonarchGeorge VIGovernor-GeneralThe Duke of GloucesterPrime MinisterFrank FordeNo. of ministers18Member partyLaborStatus in legislatureMajority governmentOpposition partyLiberal–Country coalitionOpposition leaderRobert MenziesHistoryLegislature term(s)17thPredecessorSecond Curtin ministrySuccessorFirst Chifley ministry

The Forde ministry (Labor) was the 31st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 15th prime minister, Frank Forde. The Forde Ministry succeeded the Second Curtin ministry, which dissolved on 6 July 1945 following the death of former prime minister John Curtin - the second of three occasions where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since Forde was the deputy Labor leader, it was a caretaker ministry until the Labor caucus could elect a new leader. Treasurer Ben Chifley was ultimately elected over Forde on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.^[1]

Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the Forde Ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, the Curtin government, and the First Chifley ministry.

Ministry

	Minister	Portfolio
Labor	Rt Hon Frank Forde (1890–1983) MP for Capricornia (1922–1946)	Prime Minister Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for the Army
	Hon Ben Chifley (1885–1951) MP for Macquarie (1940–1951)	Leader of the Labor Party (from 12 July 1945) Treasurer
	Rt Hon Dr H. V. Evatt KC (1894–1965) MP for Barton (1940–1958)	Attorney-General Minister for External Affairs
	Hon Jack Beasley (1895–1949) MP for West Sydney (1928–1946)	Vice-President of the Executive Council Minister for Defence
	Hon Norman Makin (1889–1982) MP for Hindmarsh (1919–1946)	Minister for the Navy Minister for Munitions Minister for Aircraft Production
	Hon Richard Keane (1881–1946) Senator for Victoria (1938–1946)	Minister for Trade and Customs Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Hon Jack Holloway (1875–1967) MP for Melbourne Ports (1931–1951)	Minister for Labour and National Service
	Hon Arthur Drakeford (1878–1957) MP for Maribyrnong (1934–1955)	Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation
	Hon William Scully (1883–1966) MP for Gwydir (1937–1949)	Minister for Commerce and Agriculture
	Hon Bill Ashley (1881–1958) Senator for New South Wales (1937–1958)	Minister for Supply and Shipping
	Hon John Dedman (1896–1973) MP for Corio (1940–1949)	Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Minister for Postwar Reconstruction
	Hon Joe Collings (1865–1955) Senator for Queensland (1932–1950)	Minister for the Interior
	Hon Eddie Ward (1899–1963) MP for East Sydney (1932–1963)	Minister for Transport Minister for External Territories
	Hon James Fraser (1889–1961) Senator for Western Australia (1938–1959)	Minister for Health Minister for Social Services
	Hon Charles Frost (1882–1964) MP for Franklin (1934–1946)	Minister for Repatriation Minister in charge of War Service Homes
	Hon Bert Lazzarini (1884–1952) MP for Werriwa (1934–1952)	Minister for Home Security Minister for Works
	Hon Don Cameron (1878–1962) Senator for Victoria (1938–1962)	Postmaster-General
	Hon Arthur Calwell (1896–1973) MP for Melbourne (1940–1972)	Minister for Information

References

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