Page ministry explained

See also: Earle Page.

Cabinet Name:Page ministry
Cabinet Type:Ministry
Cabinet Number:24th
Jurisdiction:Australia
Flag:Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:7 April 1939
Date Dissolved:26 April 1939
Government Head:Sir Earle Page
Governor General:Lord Gowrie
Members Number:13
Political Party:CountryUnited Australia coalition
Legislature Status:Majority government
Opposition Party:Labor
Opposition Leader:John Curtin
Legislature Term:15th
Predecessor:Fourth Lyons ministry
Successor:First Menzies ministry
State Head Title:Monarch
Government Head Title:Prime Minister

The Page ministry (CountryUnited 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

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
CountryRt Hon Sir Earle Page
for Cowper
United AustraliaRt Hon Billy Hughes
for North Sydney
United AustraliaHon Richard Casey
for Corio
CountryHon Harold Thorby
for Calare
United AustraliaHon John Perkins
for Eden-Monaro
United AustraliaHon Geoffrey Street
for Corangamite
CountryHon John McEwen
for Indi
United AustraliaHon George McLeay
Senator for South Australia
United AustraliaHon Harry Foll
Senator for Queensland
CountryHon Archie Cameron
for Barker
United AustraliaHon Eric Harrison
for Wentworth
United AustraliaHon Allan MacDonald
Senator for Western Australia
  • Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer
CountryHon Victor Thompson
for New England

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ministries and Cabinets . Parliamentary Handbook . . 17 September 2010 . 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 . dead .