Page ministry

24th ministry of government of Australia

photograph of Page
Earle Page
photograph of Hughes
Billy Hughes
Date formed7 April 1939Date dissolved26 April 1939People and organisationsMonarchGeorge VIGovernor-GeneralLord GowriePrime MinisterSir Earle PageNo. of ministers13Member partyCountry–United Australia coalitionStatus in legislatureMajority governmentOpposition partyLaborOpposition leaderJohn CurtinHistoryLegislature term(s)15thPredecessorFourth Lyons ministrySuccessorFirst Menzies ministry

The Page ministry (Country–United Australia Coalition) was the 24th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 11th Prime Minister, Sir Earle Page. The Page ministry succeeded the Fourth Lyons ministry, which dissolved on 7 April 1939 following the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons - the first of three occasions where a sitting Prime Minister died in office. Since Page was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the United Australia Party, could elect a new leader. Former Attorney-General Robert Menzies was ultimately elected on 18 April 1939. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between Page and Menzies broke down, Menzies along with his ministry was not sworn in until 26 April 1939.[1]

John McEwen, who died in 1980, was the last surviving member of the Page ministry; McEwen was also the last surviving member of the Fourth Lyons ministry. Robert Menzies was the last surviving UAP minister.

Ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Rt Hon Sir Earle Page GCMG
(1880–1961)

MP for Cowper
(1919–1961)

United Australia Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC
(1862–1952)

MP for North Sydney
(1922–1949)

United Australia Hon Richard Casey DSO MC
(1890–1976)

MP for Corio
(1931–1940)

Country Hon Harold Thorby
(1888–1973)

MP for Calare
(1931–1940)

United Australia Hon John Perkins
(1878–1954)

MP for Eden-Monaro
(1931–1943)

  • Minister for Trade and Customs
United Australia Hon Geoffrey Street MC
(1894–1940)

MP for Corangamite
(1934–1940)

  • Minister for Defence
Country Hon John McEwen
(1900–1980)

MP for Indi
(1937–1949)

United Australia Hon George McLeay
(1892–1955)

Senator for South Australia
(1935–1947)

United Australia Hon Harry Foll
(1890–1977)

Senator for Queensland
(1917–1947)

  • Minister for Health
  • Minister for Repatriation
Country Hon Archie Cameron
(1895–1956)

MP for Barker
(1934–1956)

  • Postmaster-General
United Australia Hon Eric Harrison
(1892–1974)

MP for Wentworth
(1931–1956)

United Australia Hon Allan MacDonald
(1892–1978)

Senator for Western Australia
(1935–1947)

  • Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer
Country Hon Victor Thompson
(1885–1968)

MP for New England
(1922–1940)

  • 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.