See also: Menzies government (1949–1966).
| Cabinet Name: | Seventh Menzies ministry |
| Cabinet Type: | Ministry |
| Cabinet Number: | 37th |
| Jurisdiction: | Australia |
| Flag: | Flag of Australia.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Date Formed: | 11 January 1956 |
| Date Dissolved: | 10 December 1958 |
| Government Head: | Robert Menzies |
| State Head: | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General: | Sir William Slim |
| Members Number: | 24 |
| Political Party: | Liberal–Country coalition |
| Legislature Status: | Coalition majority government |
| Opposition Party: | Labor |
| Opposition Leader: | H. V. Evatt |
| Election: | 10 December 1955 |
| Last Election: | 22 November 1958 |
| Legislature Term: | 22nd |
| Predecessor: | Sixth Menzies ministry |
| Successor: | Eighth Menzies ministry |
| State Head Title: | Monarch |
| Government Head Title: | Prime Minister |
The Seventh Menzies ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 37th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The Seventh Menzies ministry succeeded the Sixth Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 11 January 1956 following the federal election that took place in the previous December. It is the first ministry to consist of a two-tier ministry, with only senior ministers being members of Cabinet, while the other ministers are in the outer ministry. With the exception of the Whitlam government and the caretaker First Fraser ministry, this practice has endured to this day. The ministry was replaced by the Eighth Menzies ministry on 10 December 1958 following the 1958 federal election.[1]
Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving member of the Seventh Menzies Ministry; Fairhall was also the last surviving member of the Ninth Menzies ministry. Hugh Roberton was the last surviving Country junior minister, and Paul Hasluck and John McEwen were the last surviving Liberal and Country Cabinet ministers respectively.
| Party | Minister | Portrait | Portfolio | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Rt Hon Robert Menzies for Kooyong |
| ||||
| Country | Rt Hon Sir Arthur Fadden for McPherson |
| ||||
| Liberal | Rt Hon Sir Eric Harrison for Wentworth |
| ||||
| Liberal | Rt Hon Harold Holt for Higgins |
| ||||
| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen for Murray |
| ||||
| Liberal | Rt Hon Richard Casey for La Trobe | |||||
| Liberal | Hon Philip McBride for Wakefield | |||||
| Liberal | Hon Neil O'Sullivan Senator for Queensland |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon John Spicer Senator for Victoria |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Bill Spooner Senator for New South Wales | |||||
| Liberal | Hon Athol Townley for Denison |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Paul Hasluck for Curtin | |||||
| Liberal | Hon William McMahon for Lowe (in Cabinet from 18 October 1956) |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Howard Beale for Parramatta (in Cabinet from 24 October 1956) |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Shane Paltridge Senator for Western Australia (in Cabinet from 11 February 1958) |
| ||||
| Party | Minister | Portrait | Portfolio | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Hon Walter Cooper Senator for Queensland | |||||
| Country | Hon Charles Davidson for Dawson |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Dr Donald Cameron for Oxley | |||||
| Liberal | Hon Allen Fairhall for Paterson | |||||
| Liberal | Hon Frederick Osborne & Bar VRD for Evans |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon John Cramer for Bennelong (in Ministry from 28 February 1956) |
| ||||
| Country | Hon Hugh Roberton for Riverina (in Ministry from 28 February 1956) |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Denham Henty Senator for Tasmania (in Ministry from 24 October 1956) |
| ||||
| Liberal | Hon Alexander Downer for Angas (in Ministry from 20 March 1958) |
| ||||