McEwen ministry

43rd ministry of government of Australia

McEwen ministry

43rd Ministry of Australia
Governor-General Lord Casey with the newly sworn in McEwen ministry
Date formed19 December 1967
Date dissolved10 January 1968
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralLord Casey
Prime MinisterJohn McEwen
No. of ministers25
Member partyCountryLiberal coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderGough Whitlam
History
Legislature term(s)26th
PredecessorSecond Holt ministry
SuccessorFirst Gorton ministry

The McEwen ministry (CountryLiberal Coalition) was the 43rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 18th prime minister, John McEwen. The McEwen ministry succeeded the Second Holt ministry, which dissolved on 19 December 1967 following the disappearance of former prime minister Harold Holt – the third and most recent occasion where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since McEwen was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the Liberal Party, could elect a new leader. John Gorton was ultimately elected on 9 January 1968, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.[1]

As of 20 December 2020, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the McEwen ministry. James Forbes, who died in 2019, was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

Cabinet

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Rt Hon John McEwen
(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
Liberal Hon Allen Fairhall
(1909–2006)

MP for Paterson
(1949–1969)

  • Minister for Defence
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 John Gorton
(1911–2002)

Senator for Victoria
(1950–1968)

Liberal Hon Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)

  • Minister for Labour and National Service
Country Hon Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)

Country Hon Ian Sinclair
(1929–)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)

  • Minister for Social Services
  • Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry

Outer ministry

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

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)

Liberal Hon Gordon Freeth
(1914–2001)

MP for Forrest
(1949–1969)

  • Minister for Shipping and Transport
Liberal Hon Reginald Swartz MBE
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)

  • Minister for Civil Aviation
Liberal Hon Billy Snedden QC
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)

  • Minister for Immigration
  • Leader of the House
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
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer
Liberal Hon Ken Anderson
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975)

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 Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983)

  • Minister for the Army
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
  • Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry
Liberal Hon Bert Kelly
(1912–1997)

MP for Wakefield
(1958–1977)

  • Minister for Works
Country Hon Peter Nixon
(1928–)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)

See also

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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