First Menzies ministry explained

See also: Menzies government (1939–1941).

Cabinet Name:First Menzies ministry
Cabinet Type:Ministry
Cabinet Number:25th
Jurisdiction:Australia
Flag:Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:26 April 1939
Date Dissolved:14 March 1940
Government Head:Robert Menzies
Governor General:Lord Gowrie
Members Number:16
Political Party:United Australia
Legislature Status:Minority government
Opposition Party:Labor
Opposition Leader:John Curtin
Legislature Term:15th
Predecessor:Page ministry
Successor:Second Menzies ministry
State Head Title:Monarch
Government Head Title:Prime Minister

The First Menzies ministry (United Australia) was the 25th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The First Menzies ministry succeeded the Page ministry, which dissolved on 26 April 1939 following the election of Menzies as UAP leader after the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between caretaker Prime Minister Sir Earle Page and Menzies broke down, the First Menzies ministry was composed solely of UAP ministers, and was effectively a minority government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Menzies ministry on 14 March 1940 after Menzies took the Country Party back into his government - now led by Archie Cameron.[1]

Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the First Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the Second Menzies ministry, Third Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry.

Ministry

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
  United AustraliaRt Hon Robert Menzies
for Kooyong
 Rt Hon Billy Hughes
for North Sydney
 Hon Geoffrey Street
for Corangamite
 Hon Richard Casey
for Corio
 Hon Sir Henry Gullett
for Henty
 Hon George McLeay
Senator for South Australia
 Hon John Lawson
for Macquarie
 Hon Eric Harrison
for Wentworth
 Hon James Fairbairn
for Flinders
 Hon Sir Frederick Stewart
for Parramatta
 Hon Harry Foll
Senator for Queensland
 Hon Percy Spender
for Warringah
 Hon John Perkins
for Eden-Monaro
 Hon Herbert Collett
Senator for Western Australia
 Hon Harold Holt
for Fawkner
 Hon Philip McBride
Senator for South Australia

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 . dmy.