First Gorton ministry explained

See also: Gorton government.

Cabinet Name:First Gorton ministry
Cabinet Type:Ministry
Cabinet Number:44th
Jurisdiction:Australia
Flag:Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:10 January 1968
Date Dissolved:12 November 1969
Government Head:John Gorton
Deputy Government Head:John McEwen
State Head:Elizabeth II
Governor General:Lord Casey
Sir Paul Hasluck
Members Number:30
Political Party:LiberalCountry coalition
Legislature Status:Coalition majority government
Opposition Party:Labor
Last Election:25 October 1969
Legislature Term:26th
Predecessor:McEwen ministry
Successor:Second Gorton ministry
State Head Title:Monarch
Government Head Title:Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:Deputy Prime Minister

The First Gorton ministry (LiberalCountry 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

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
LiberalRt Hon John Gorton
Senator for Victoria

for Higgins

CountryRt Hon John McEwen
for Murray
LiberalRt Hon William McMahon
for Lowe
  • Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
  • Treasurer
LiberalRt Hon Paul Hasluck
for Curtin
LiberalHon Allen Fairhall
for Paterson
CountryHon Doug Anthony
for Richmond
LiberalHon Denham Henty
Senator for Tasmania
LiberalHon Alan Hulme
for Petrie
LiberalHon David Fairbairn
for Farrer
LiberalHon Les Bury
for Wentworth
CountryHon Ian Sinclair
for New England
LiberalHon Ken Anderson
Senator for New South Wales
(in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Malcolm Fraser
for Wannon
(in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Gordon Freeth
for Forrest
(in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)

Outer ministry

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
CountryHon Charles Barnes
for McPherson
LiberalHon Reginald Swartz
for Darling Downs
LiberalHon Billy Snedden
for Bruce
LiberalHon Dr James Forbes
for Barker
LiberalHon Peter Howson
for Fawkner
  • Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968)
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
CountryHon Colin McKellar
Senator for New South Wales
LiberalHon Dame Annabelle Rankin
Senator for Queensland
LiberalHon Nigel Bowen
for Parramatta
LiberalHon Don Chipp
for Higinbotham
LiberalHon Bert Kelly
for Wakefield
CountryHon Peter Nixon
for Gippsland
LiberalHon Phillip Lynch
for Flinders
(in Ministry from 28 February 1968)
  • Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Malcolm Scott
Senator for Western Australia
(in Ministry from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Bill Wentworth
for Mackellar
(in Ministry from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Reg Wright
Senator for Tasmania
(in Ministry from 28 February 1968)
LiberalHon Dudley Erwin
for Ballaarat
(in Ministry from 13 February 1969)
  • Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969)
  • Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ministries and Cabinets . Parliamentary Handbook . . 17 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008065519/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p%3Bpage%3D0%3Bquery%3DScullin%20Ministry%20%28ALP%29%3Brec%3D0%3BresCount%3DDefault . 8 October 2012.