First Gorton Ministry

44th ministry of government of Australia

See also: Gorton Government

First Gorton Ministry

44th Ministry of Australia

Governor-General Lord Casey with first arrangement of newly appointed ministers to the Gorton Ministry

Date formed| 10 January 1968
Date dissolved| 12 November 1969
People and organisations
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Governor-General| Lord Casey
Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime Minister| John Gorton
Deputy Prime Minister| John McEwen
No. of ministers| 30
Member party| Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature| Coalition majority government
Opposition party| Labor
Opposition leader| Gough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election| 25 October 1969
Legislature term(s)| 26th
Predecessor| McEwen Ministry
Successor| Second Gorton Ministry
|  | This article is part of
a series about
John Gorton

|

* Early life
* World War II service
* Mystic Park speech

* * *

* Senator for Victoria (1950-1968)

* Member for Higgins (1968-1975)

* Minister for the Navy
* Minister for the Interior
* Minister for Works
* Minister for Education and Science
* VIP aircraft affair
* 1968 Liberal Party leadership election
* Minister for Defence
* 1972 Liberal Party leadership election
* Resignation from the Liberal Party

* * *

Prime Minister of Australia

* * *

Term of Government (1968-1971)

* Australia Council for the Arts
* National Film and Television Training School
* Copyright Act 1968
* Jervis Bay Nuclear Power Plant proposal
* 1969 Liberal Party leadership spill
* Metric Conversion Act 1970
* Reduced involvement in the Vietnam War
* Australian Industry Development Corporation Act 1970
* Commonwealth ownership of offshore seabed
* Resignation of Malcolm Fraser
* 1971 Liberal Party leadership spill

* * *

Ministries

* First Ministry
* Second Ministry

* * *

Elections

* 1969
* 1970 (Half-Senate)

* * *

* v
* t
* e

The First Gorton Ministry (Liberal–Country 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.

## Contents

* 1 Cabinet
* 2 Outer ministry
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes

## Cabinet[edit]

Party  | Minister  | Portrait  | Portfolio

|
|
|

| Liberal | Rt Hon John Gorton
(1911–2002)

Senator for Victoria
(1950–1968)

MP for Higgins
(1968–1975)

|  |

* Prime Minister
* Leader of the Liberal Party
* Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 1 February 1968)
* Minister for Education and Science (to 28 February 1968)

| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen (CH)
(1900–1980)

MP for Murray
(1949–1971)

|  |

* Deputy Prime Minister
* Leader of the Country Party
* Minister for Trade and Industry

| Liberal | Rt Hon William McMahon
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982)

|  |

* Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
* Treasurer

| Liberal | Rt Hon Paul Hasluck
(1905–1993)

MP for Curtin
(1949–1969)

|  |

* Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)

| Liberal | Hon Allen Fairhall
(1909–2006)

MP for Paterson
(1949–1969)

|  |

* Minister for Defence

| Country | Hon Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)

|  |

* Deputy Leader of the Country Party
* Minister for Primary Industry

| Liberal | Hon Denham Henty
(1903–1978)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1968)

|  |

* Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Alan Hulme
(1907–1989)

MP for Petrie
(1963–1972)

|  |

* Postmaster-General
* Vice-President of the Executive Council

| Liberal | Hon David Fairbairn DFC
(1917–1994)

MP for Farrer
(1949–1975)

|  |

* Minister for National Development

| Liberal | Hon Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)

|  |

* Minister for Labour and National Service

| Country | Hon Ian Sinclair
(born 1929)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)

|  |

* Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 28 February 1968)
* Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry

| Liberal | Hon Ken Anderson
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Minister for Customs and Excise (to 28 February 1968)
* Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 28 February 1968)
* Minister for Supply (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister for Education and Science (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Gordon Freeth
(1914–2001)

MP for Forrest
(1949–1969) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)

|  |

* Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister for Air (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969)
* Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969)
* Minister for External Affairs (from 11 February 1969)

## Outer ministry[edit]

Party  | Minister  | Portrait  | Portfolio

|
|
|

| Country | Hon Charles Barnes
(1901–1998)

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)

|  |

* Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Reginald Swartz MBE
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)

|  |

* Minister for Civil Aviation
* Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)

| Liberal | Hon Billy Snedden QC
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)

|  |

* Minister for Immigration
* Leader of the House (to February 1969)

| Liberal | Hon Dr James Forbes MC
(1923–2019)

MP for Barker
(1956–1975)

|  |

* Minister for Health

| Liberal | Hon Peter Howson
(1919–2009)

MP for Fawkner
(1955–1969)

|  |

* Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)

| Country | Hon Colin McKellar
(1903–1970)

Senator for New South Wales
(1958–1970)

|  |

* Minister for Repatriation

| Liberal | Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE
(1908–1986)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1971)

|  |

* Minister for Housing

| Liberal | Hon Nigel Bowen QC
(1911–1994)

MP for Parramatta
(1964–1973)

|  |

* Attorney-General

| Liberal | Hon Don Chipp
(1925–2006)

MP for Higinbotham
(1960–1969)

|  |

* Minister for the Navy (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Bert Kelly
(1912–1997)

MP for Wakefield
(1958–1977)

|  |

* Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968)
* Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)

| Country | Hon Peter Nixon
(born 1928)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)

|  |

* Minister for the Interior

| Liberal | Hon Phillip Lynch
(1933–1984)

MP for Flinders
(1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Scott
(1911–1989)

Senator for Western Australia
(1950–1971) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 12 February 1968)
* Minister for Customs and Excise (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Bill Wentworth
(1907–2003)

MP for Mackellar
(1949–1977) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1968)
* Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Reg Wright
(1905–1990)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1978) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

|  |

* Minister for Works (from 28 February 1968)
* Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (from 28 February 1968)

| Liberal | Hon Dudley Erwin
(1917–1984)

MP for Ballaarat
(1955–1975) (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)

|  |

* Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969)
* Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969)

## See also[edit]

* Second Gorton Ministry

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.

* v
* t
* e

Ministries of the Commonwealth of Australia

20th century|

* Barton
* Deakin 1
* Watson
* Reid
* Deakin 2
* Fisher 1
* Deakin 3
* Fisher 2
* Cook
* Fisher 3
* Hughes 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* Bruce 1
* 2
* 3
* Scullin
* Lyons 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* Page
* Menzies 1
* 2
* 3
* Fadden
* Curtin 1
* 2
* Forde
* Chifley 1
* 2
* Menzies 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* Holt 1
* 2
* McEwen
* Gorton 1
* 2
* McMahon
* Whitlam 1
* 2
* 3
* Fraser 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* Hawke 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* Keating 1
* 2
* Howard 1
* 2

21st century|

* Howard 3
* 4
* Rudd 1
* Gillard 1
* 2
* Rudd 2
* Abbott
* Turnbull 1
* 2
* Morrison 1
* 2
* Albanese

Current ministry

* v
* t
* e

Liberal Party of Australia

Leaders|

* Robert Menzies
* Harold Holt
* John Gorton
* William McMahon
* Billy Snedden
* Malcolm Fraser
* Andrew Peacock
* John Howard
* Andrew Peacock
* John Hewson
* Alexander Downer
* John Howard
* Brendan Nelson
* Malcolm Turnbull
* Tony Abbott
* Malcolm Turnbull
* Scott Morrison
* Peter Dutton

Deputy Leaders|

* Eric Harrison
* Harold Holt
* William McMahon
* John Gorton
* Billy Snedden
* Phillip Lynch
* John Howard
* Neil Brown
* Andrew Peacock
* Fred Chaney
* Peter Reith
* Michael Wooldridge
* Peter Costello
* Julie Bishop
* Josh Frydenberg
* Sussan Ley

Governments|

* Menzies
* Holt
* Gorton
* McMahon
* Fraser
* Howard
* Abbott
* Turnbull
* Morrison

Ministries|

* Menzies 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* Holt 1
* 2
* Gorton 1
* 2
* McMahon
* Fraser 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* Howard 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* Abbott
* Turnbull 1
* 2
* Morrison 1
* 2

Shadow cabinets|

* Snedden
* Fraser
* Peacock I
* Howard I
* Peacock II
* Hewson
* Downer
* Howard II
* Nelson
* Turnbull
* Abbott
* Dutton

State divisions|

* Australian Capital Territory
* New South Wales
* Northern Territory (Country Liberal Party)
* Queensland (Liberal National Party)
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Victoria
* Western Australia

Party Related Organisations|

* Australian Liberal Students' Federation
* Coalition
* Cormack Foundation
* Young Liberals
* Young LNP
* Menzies Research Centre

Factions|

* Moderates & Modern Liberals
* Centre Right
* National Right
* Ginger Group (defunct)
* Lyons Forum (defunct)

History|

* Protectionist Party
* Free Trade Party
* Commonwealth Liberal Party
* National Labor Party
* Nationalist Party
* Liberal Union
* Australian Party
* United Australia Party
* Citizens' Municipal Organisation

Leadership contests|

* 1966
* 1968
* 1969
* 1971
* 1972
* 1975
* 1982
* 1983
* 1985
* 1987
* 1989
* 1990
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2015 (Feb)
* 2015 (Sep)
* 2018
* 2022

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