Third Fraser ministry explained

See also: Fraser government.

Cabinet Name:	Third Fraser ministry
Cabinet Type:	Ministry
Cabinet Number:	52nd
Jurisdiction:	Australia
Flag:	Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:	true
Date Formed:	20 December 1977
Date Dissolved:	3 November 1980
Government Head:	Malcolm Fraser
Deputy Government Head:	Doug Anthony
State Head:	Elizabeth II
Governor General:	Sir Zelman Cowen
Members Number:	30
Political Party:	Liberal–National Country coalition
Legislature Status:	Majority government
Opposition Party:	Labor
Opposition Leader:	Bill Hayden
Election:	10 December 1977
Last Election:	18 October 1980
Legislature Term:	31st
Predecessor:	Second Fraser ministry
Successor:	Fourth Fraser ministry
State Head Title:	Monarch
Government Head Title:	Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:	Deputy Prime Minister

The third Fraser ministry (Liberal–National Country coalition) was the 52nd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 22nd Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. The third Fraser ministry succeeded the second Fraser ministry, which dissolved on 20 December 1977 following the federal election that took place on 10 December. The ministry was replaced by the fourth Fraser ministry on 3 November 1980 following the 1980 federal election.^[1]

As of 31 October 2022, John Howard and Ian Viner are the last surviving Liberal members of the Cabinet of the third Fraser ministry, while Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving NCP members.

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
		Liberal	Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser for Wannon		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
		National Country	Rt Hon Doug Anthony for Richmond		Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Trade and Resources
		Liberal	Rt Hon Phillip Lynch for Flinders		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for Industry and Commerce
		National Country	Rt Hon Ian Sinclair for New England		Deputy Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Primary Industry (to 27 September 1979) Minister for Special Trade Negotiations (from 19 August 1980) Leader of the House (to 27 September 1979; from 19 August 1980)
		Liberal	Rt Hon Reg Withers Senator for Western Australia		Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 7 August 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (to 7 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 7 August 1978)
		Liberal	Hon Tony Street for Corangamite		Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Industrial Relations (from 5 December 1978)
		National Country	Hon Peter Nixon for Gippsland		Minister for Transport (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Primary Industry (from 27 September 1979)
		Liberal	Hon John Howard for Bennelong		Treasurer Minister for Finance (from 23 February 1979 to 27 February 1979)
		Liberal	Hon John Carrick Senator for New South Wales		Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 7 August 1978) Minister for Education (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (to 25 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 7 August 1978) Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Andrew Peacock for Kooyong		Minister for Foreign Affairs
		Liberal	Hon James Killen for Moreton		Minister for Defence
		Liberal	Hon Margaret Guilfoyle Senator for Victoria		Minister for Social Security
		Liberal	Hon Eric Robinson for McPherson		Minister for Finance (to 23 February 1979; from 27 February 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Ian Viner for Stirling		Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Leader of the House (from 27 September 1979 to 19 August 1980)
		Liberal	Hon Peter Durack Senator for Western Australia (in Cabinet from 25 August 1978)		Attorney-General Minister for Administrative Services (from 7 August 1978 to 25 August 1978)
		National Country	Hon Ralph Hunt for Gwydir (in Cabinet from 8 December 1979)		Minister for Health (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Transport (from 8 December 1979)

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
		Liberal	Hon Michael MacKellar for Warringah		Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Health (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (from 8 December 1979)
		National Country	Hon Evan Adermann for Fisher		Minister for the Northern Territory (to 28 September 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Veterans' Affairs (from 4 July 1978)
		Liberal	Hon John McLeay for Boothby		Minister for Construction (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence Minister for Administrative Services (from 5 December 1978)
		Liberal	Hon Kevin Newman for Bass		Minister for National Development (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister for Productivity (from 8 December 1979)
		National Country	Hon James Webster Senator for Victoria		Minister for Science (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Science and the Environment (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Tony Staley for Chisholm		Minister for Post and Telecommunications
		Liberal	Hon Ian Macphee for Balaclava		Minister for Productivity (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 8 December 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Wal Fife for Farrer		Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Education (from 8 December 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Vic Garland for Curtin		Minister for Veterans' Affairs (to 4 July 1978) Minister for Special Trade Representations (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 8 December 1979)
		Liberal	Hon Bob Ellicott for Wentworth		Minister for Home Affairs Minister for the Capital Territory
		Liberal	Hon Ray Groom for Braddon		Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Housing and Construction (from 5 December 1978)
		Liberal	Hon Fred Chaney Senator for Western Australia (in Ministry from 25 August 1978)		Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 28 February 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (from 25 August 1978 to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Education (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979)
		National Country	Hon Douglas Scott Senator for New South Wales (in Ministry from 8 December 1979)		Minister for Special Trade Representations (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Resources (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980)
		National Country	Hon David Thomson for Leichhardt (in Ministry from 8 December 1979)		Minister for Science and the Environment (from 8 December 1979)

See also

• First Fraser ministry
• Second Fraser ministry
• Fourth Fraser ministry

Notes and References

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