Seventh Menzies Ministry

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See also: Menzies Government (1949-66)

Seventh Menzies Ministry
Flag of Australia.svg
37th Ministry of Australia
Cabinet of the Seventh Menzies Ministry.jpg
The Cabinet of the Seventh Menzies Ministry at their swearing-in
Date formed11 January 1956
Date dissolved10 December 1958
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralSir William Slim
Prime MinisterRobert Menzies
No. of ministers24
Member partyLiberal–Country coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderH. V. Evatt
History
Election(s)10 December 1955
Outgoing election22 November 1958
Legislature term(s)22nd
PredecessorSixth Menzies Ministry
SuccessorEighth Menzies Ministry
Official Portrait of Robert Menzies by Ivor Hele.jpg This article is part of
a series about
Robert Menzies
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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.

Cabinet[]

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal Rt Hon Robert Menzies CH QC (FAA)
(1894–1978)

MP for Kooyong
(1934–1966)

Portrait Menzies 1950s.jpg
Country Rt Hon Sir Arthur Fadden (GCMG)
(1894–1973)

MP for McPherson
(1949–1958)

Arthur Fadden.jpg
  • Leader of the Country Party (to 26 March 1958)
  • Treasurer
Liberal Rt Hon Sir Eric Harrison KCVO
(1892–1974)

MP for Wentworth
(1931–1956)

Eric John Harrison.jpg
Liberal Rt Hon Harold Holt
(1908–1967)

MP for Higgins
(1949–1967)

Harold Holt 1950s.png
  • Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (from 26 September 1956)
  • Minister for Labour and National Service
  • Minister for Immigration (to 24 October 1956)
  • Leader of the House (from September 1956)
Country Rt Hon John McEwen
(1900–1980)

MP for Murray
(1949–1971)

John McEwen 1957.jpg
  • Leader of the Country Party (from 26 March 1958)
  • Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 26 March 1958)
  • Minister for Trade
Liberal Rt Hon Richard Casey CH DSO MC
(1890–1976)

MP for La Trobe
(1949–1960)

Lord Casey.jpg
  • Minister for External Affairs
  • Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Liberal Hon Philip McBride
(1892–1982)

MP for Wakefield
(1946–1958)

Philip McBride.jpg
Liberal Hon Neil O'Sullivan
(1900–1968)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1962)

Neil O'Sullivan 1949 (cropped).jpg
Liberal Hon John Spicer QC
(1899–1978)

Senator for Victoria
(1950–1956)

John Spicer 1956 (cropped).jpg
Liberal Hon Bill Spooner MM
(1897–1966)

Senator for New South Wales
(1950–1965)

Sir William Spooner.jpg
  • Minister for National Development
Liberal Hon Athol Townley
(1905–1963)

MP for Denison
(1949–1963)

AtholTownley1957.jpg
  • Minister for Air
  • Minister for Civil Aviation (to 24 October 1956)
  • Minister for Immigration (from 24 October 1956 to 19 March 1958)
  • Minister for Defence Production (from 11 February 1958 to 23 April 1958)
  • Minister for Supply (from 11 February 1958)
Liberal Hon Paul Hasluck
(1905–1993)

MP for Curtin
(1949–1969)

Paul Hasluck 1960.jpg
  • Minister for Territories
Liberal Hon William McMahon
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982) (in Cabinet from 18 October 1956)

William McMahon 1950s.png
  • Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1956)
  • Minister for Primary Industry
Liberal Hon Howard Beale
(1898–1983)

MP for Parramatta
(1946–1958) (in Cabinet from 24 October 1956)

Howard Beale.jpg
  • Minister for Supply (to 10 February 1958)
  • Minister for Defence Production (from 24 October 1956 to 10 February 1958)
Liberal Hon Shane Paltridge
(1910-1966)

Senator for Western Australia
(1951-1966) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1958)

Shane Paltridge.jpg
  • Minister for Shipping and Transport
  • Minister for Civil Aviation (from 24 October 1956)

Outer ministry[]

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Hon Walter Cooper MBE
(1888–1973)

Senator for Queensland
(1935–1968)

Walter Cooper - ANIB.jpg
Country Hon Charles Davidson OBE
(1897–1985)

MP for Dawson
(1949–1963)

CharlesDavidson1962 (cropped).jpg
  • Deputy Leader of the Country Party (from 26 March 1958)
  • Postmaster-General
  • Minister for the Navy (from 24 October 1956)
Liberal Hon Dr Donald Cameron OBE
(1900–1974)

MP for Oxley
(1949–1961)

Donald Cameron.png
  • Minister for Health
Liberal Hon Allen Fairhall
(1909–2006)

MP for Paterson
(1949–1969)

Allen Fairhall (cropped).jpg
  • Minister for the Interior
  • Minister for Works
Liberal Hon Frederick Osborne DSC & Bar VRD
(1909–1996)

MP for Evans
(1949–1961)

Frederick Osborne.jpg
  • Minister for Customs and Excise (to 24 October 1956)
  • Minister for Air (from 24 October 1956)
Liberal Hon John Cramer
(1896–1994)

MP for Bennelong
(1949–1974) (in Ministry from 28 February 1956)

John Cramer.jpg
  • Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1956)
Country Hon Hugh Roberton
(1900–1987)

MP for Riverina
(1949–1965) (in Ministry from 28 February 1956)

Hugh Roberton.jpg
  • Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1956)
Liberal Hon Denham Henty
(1903–1978)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1968) (in Ministry from 24 October 1956)

DenhamHenty1959.jpg
  • Minister for Customs and Excise (from 24 October 1956)
Liberal Hon Alexander Downer
(1910–1981)

MP for Angas
(1949–1964) (in Ministry from 20 March 1958)

AlexanderDowner1958.jpg
  • Minister for Immigration (from 20 March 1958)

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
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