First Gorton ministry explained

See also: Gorton government.

Cabinet Name:	First Gorton ministry
Cabinet Type:	Ministry
Cabinet Number:	44th
Jurisdiction:	Australia
Flag:	Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:	true
Date Formed:	10 January 1968
Date Dissolved:	12 November 1969
Government Head:	John Gorton
Deputy Government Head:	John McEwen
State Head:	Elizabeth II
Governor General:	Lord Casey Sir Paul Hasluck
Members Number:	30
Political Party:	Liberal–Country coalition
Legislature Status:	Coalition majority government
Opposition Party:	Labor
Last Election:	25 October 1969
Legislature Term:	26th
Predecessor:	McEwen ministry
Successor:	Second Gorton ministry
State Head Title:	Monarch
Government Head Title:	Prime Minister
Deputy Government Head Title:	Deputy Prime Minister

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.

Cabinet

Minister	Portrait
Liberal	Rt Hon John Gorton Senator for Victoria for Higgins	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 for Murray	Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry
Liberal	Rt Hon William McMahon for Lowe	Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
Liberal	Rt Hon Paul Hasluck for Curtin	Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)
Liberal	Hon Allen Fairhall for Paterson	Minister for Defence
Country	Hon Doug Anthony for Richmond	Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry
Liberal	Hon Denham Henty Senator for Tasmania	Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968)
Liberal	Hon Alan Hulme for Petrie	Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council
Liberal	Hon David Fairbairn for Farrer	Minister for National Development
Liberal	Hon Les Bury for Wentworth	Minister for Labour and National Service
Country	Hon Ian Sinclair for New England	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 Senator for New South Wales (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 for Wannon (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 for Forrest (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

Minister	Portrait
Country	Hon Charles Barnes for McPherson	Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968) Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal	Hon Reginald Swartz for Darling Downs	Minister for Civil Aviation Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)
Liberal	Hon Billy Snedden for Bruce	Minister for Immigration Leader of the House (to February 1969)
Liberal	Hon Dr James Forbes for Barker	Minister for Health
Liberal	Hon Peter Howson for Fawkner	Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
Country	Hon Colin McKellar Senator for New South Wales	Minister for Repatriation
Liberal	Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin Senator for Queensland	Minister for Housing
Liberal	Hon Nigel Bowen for Parramatta	Attorney-General
Liberal	Hon Don Chipp for Higinbotham	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 for Wakefield	Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968) Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)
Country	Hon Peter Nixon for Gippsland	Minister for the Interior
Liberal	Hon Phillip Lynch for Flinders (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
Liberal	Hon Malcolm Scott Senator for Western Australia (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 for Mackellar (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 Senator for Tasmania (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 for Ballaarat (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)	Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969) Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969)

Notes and References

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.