McMahon ministry

46th ministry of government of Australia

McMahon ministry

46th Ministry of Australia
The McMahon Ministry between March and May 1971.
Date formed10 March 1971
Date dissolved5 December 1972
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralSir Paul Hasluck
Prime MinisterWilliam McMahon
Deputy Prime MinisterDoug Anthony
No. of ministers33 (plus 6 Assistant Ministers)
Member partyLiberal–Country coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderGough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election2 December 1972
Legislature term(s)27th
PredecessorSecond Gorton ministry
SuccessorFirst Whitlam ministry
This article is part of
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William McMahon
  • Member for Lowe (1949–1982)

Prime Minister of Australia

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The McMahon ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 46th ministry of the Australian Government. It was led by the country's 20th Prime Minister, William McMahon. The McMahon ministry succeeded the Second Gorton ministry, which dissolved on 10 March 1971 following the resignation of John Gorton as Prime Minister. The ministry was replaced by the First Whitlam ministry on 5 December 1972 following the federal election that took place on 2 December which saw Labor defeat the Coalition.[1]

As of 25 October 2022, Tom Hughes is the last surviving Liberal member of the McMahon ministry, while Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving Country members. Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister, and Tony Street was the last surviving assistant minister.

Cabinet

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal Rt Hon William McMahon (CH)
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982)

Country (Rt) Hon Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)

Liberal Rt Hon John Gorton CH
(1911–2002)

MP for Higgins
(1968–1975)

Country Hon Ian Sinclair
(born 1929)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)

Liberal Hon Sir Ken Anderson (KBE)
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975)

  • Leader of the Government in the Senate
  • Minister for Supply (to 2 August 1971)
  • Minister for Health (from 2 August 1971)
Liberal Hon (Sir) Reginald Swartz (KBE)
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)

  • Minister for National Development
  • Leader of the House (to 15 August 1972)
Liberal (Rt) Hon Billy Snedden QC
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)

Liberal Hon Nigel Bowen QC
(1911–1994)

MP for Parramatta
(1964–1973)

  • Minister for Education and Science (to 22 March 1971)
  • Attorney-General (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 2 August 1971)
Liberal Hon Sir Alan Hulme KBE
(1907–1989)

MP for Petrie
(1963–1972)

Liberal Hon Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)

  • Treasurer (to 22 March 1971)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971)
Country Hon Peter Nixon
(born 1928)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)

  • Minister for Shipping and Transport
Liberal Hon David Fairbairn DFC
(1917–1994)

MP for Farrer
(1949–1975) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971)

  • Minister for Education and Science (from 22 March 1971 to 20 August 1971)
  • Minister for Defence (from 20 August 1971)
Liberal Hon Phillip Lynch
(1933–1984)

MP for Flinders
(1966–1982) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971)

  • Minister for Immigration (to 22 March 1971)
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 22 March 1971)
  • Minister for Labour and National Service (from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 20 August 1971)

  • Minister for Education and Science (from 20 August 1971)

Outer ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Hon Charles Barnes
(1901–1998)

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)

Liberal Hon Dr James Forbes MC
(1923–2019)

MP for Barker
(1956–1975)

  • Minister for Health (to 22 March 1971)
  • Minister for Immigration (from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE
(1908–1986)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1971)

  • Minister for Housing (to 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Bill Wentworth
(1907–2003)

MP for Mackellar
(1949–1977)

  • Minister for Social Services
  • Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (to 31 May 1971)
Liberal Hon Reg Wright
(1905–1990)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1978)

  • Minister for Works
  • Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 31 May 1971)
Liberal Hon Don Chipp
(1925–2006)

MP for Hotham
(1969–1977)

Liberal Hon Bob Cotton
(1915–2006)

Senator for New South Wales
(1965–1978)

  • Minister for Civil Aviation
Country Hon Tom Drake-Brockman DFC
(1919–1992)

Senator for Western Australia
(1959–1978)

  • Minister for Air
Country Hon Mac Holten
(1922–1996)

MP for Indi
(1958–1977)

  • Minister for Repatriation
Liberal Hon Tom Hughes QC
(born 1923)

MP for Berowra
(1969–1972)

Liberal Hon James Killen
(1925–2007)

MP for Moreton
(1955–1983)

  • Minister for the Navy (to 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Andrew Peacock
(1939–2021)

MP for Kooyong
(1966–1994)

  • Minister for the Army (to 2 February 1972)
  • Minister for External Territories (from 2 February 1972)
  • Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 25 May 1971)
  • Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 25 May 1971 to 2 February 1972)
Country Hon Ralph Hunt
(1928–2011)

MP for Gwydir
(1969–1989)

Liberal Hon Kevin Cairns
(1929–1984)

MP for Lilley
(1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)

  • Minister for Housing (from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Ivor Greenwood QC
(1926–1976)

Senator for Victoria
(1968–1976) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)

  • Minister for Health (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971)
  • Attorney-General (from 2 August 1971)
Liberal Hon Dr Malcolm Mackay
(1919–1999)

MP for Evans
(1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)

  • Minister for the Navy (from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Hon Peter Howson
(1919–2009)

MP for Casey
(1969–1972) (in Ministry from 31 May 1971)

  • Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts (from 31 May 1971)
  • Minister in charge of Tourist Activities (from 31 May 1971)
Liberal Hon Victor Garland
(1934–2022)

MP for Curtin
(1969–1981) (in Ministry from 2 August 1971)

Country Hon Bob Katter
(1918–1990)

MP for Kennedy
(1966–1990) (in Ministry from 2 February 1972)

  • Minister for the Army (from 2 February 1972)

Assistant ministers

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal Don Dobie
(1927–1996)

MP for Cook
(1969–1972)

Liberal John McLeay
(1922–2000)

MP for Boothby
(1966–1981)

  • Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Civil Aviation (from 20 August 1971)
Country Ian Robinson
(1925–2017)

MP for Cowper
(1963–1984)

  • Assistant Minister assisting the Postmaster-General (from 20 August 1971)
Liberal Tony Street
(1926-2022)

MP for Corangamite
(1966–1984)

  • Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Labour and National Service (from 20 August 1971)
Liberal John Marriott
(1913–1994)

Senator for Tasmania
(1953–1975)

  • Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Health (from 14 September 1971)
Country Robert King OBE
(1920–1991)

MP for Wimmera
(1958–1977)

  • Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Primary Industry (from 5 October 1971)

References

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