# First Curtin ministry

* This article is part of a series about John Curtin
Early life
Early political career
Victorian Socialist Party
Member for Fremantle (1928–1931)
Member for Fremantle (1934–1945)
1935 Labor leadership spill
Prime Minister of Australia
Term of government (1941–1945)
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942
Department of Post-War Reconstruction
Domestic policies
WWII leadership
Ministries
First
Second
Elections
1937
1940
1943 :
vte :
The First Curtin ministry (Labor) was the 29th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 14th Prime Minister, John Curtin. The First Curtin ministry succeeded the Fadden ministry, which dissolved on 7 October 1941 after the independent crossbenchers Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles withdrew their support for the Fadden government. The ministry was replaced by the Second Curtin ministry on 21 September 1943 following the 1943 federal election.
Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the First Curtin ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, Second Curtin ministry, Forde government, and the First Chifley ministry.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Labor | (Rt) Hon John Curtin (1885–1945) MP for Fremantle (1934–1945) | Prime Minister Leader of the Labor Party Minister for Defence Co-ordination (to 14 April 1942) Minister for Defence (from 14 April 1942) |
| Labor | Hon Frank Forde (1890–1983) MP for Capricornia (1922–1946) | Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for the Army |
| Labor | Hon Ben Chifley (1885–1951) MP for Macquarie (1940–1951) | Treasurer Minister for Postwar Reconstruction (from 22 December 1942) |
| Labor | (Rt) Hon Dr H. V. Evatt KC (1894–1965) MP for Barton (1940–1958) | Attorney-General Minister for External Affairs |
| Labor | Hon Jack Beasley (1895–1949) MP for West Sydney (1928–1946) | Minister for Supply and Development (to 17 October 1942) Minister for Supply and Shipping (from 17 October 1942) |
| Labor | Hon Joe Collings (1865–1955) Senator for Queensland (1932–1950) | Minister for the Interior Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 20 September 1943) |
| Labor | Hon Norman Makin (1889–1982) MP for Hindmarsh (1919–1946) | Minister for the Navy Minister for Munitions |
| Labor | Hon Jack Holloway (1875–1967) MP for Melbourne Ports (1931–1951) | Minister for Health Minister for Social Services Minister assisting the Minister for Munitions (from 21 February 1942) |
| Labor | Hon Richard Keane (1881–1946) Senator for Victoria (1938–1946) | Minister for Trade and Customs Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 20 September 1943) |
| Labor | Hon Arthur Drakeford (1878–1957) MP for Maribyrnong (1934–1955) | Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation |
| Labor | Hon William Scully (1883–1966) MP for Gwydir (1937–1949) | Minister for Commerce (to 22 December 1942) Minister for Commerce and Agriculture (from 22 December 1942) |
| Labor | Hon Bill Ashley (1881–1958) Senator for New South Wales (1937–1958) | Postmaster-General Minister for Information |
| Labor | Hon Eddie Ward (1899–1963) MP for East Sydney (1932–1963) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| Labor | Hon George Lawson (1880–1966) MP for Brisbane (1931–1961) | Minister for Transport Minister assisting the Postmaster-General |
| Labor | Hon Charles Frost (1882–1964) MP for Franklin (1934–1946) | Minister for Repatriation Minister in charge of War Service Homes |
| Labor | Hon John Dedman (1896–1973) MP for Corio (1940–1949) | Minister for War Organisation of Industry Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research |
| Labor | Hon Bert Lazzarini (1884–1952) MP for Werriwa (1934–1952) | Minister for Home Security Minister assisting the Treasurer |
| Labor | Hon James Fraser (1889–1961) Senator for Western Australia (1938–1959) | Minister for External Territories Minister assisting the Minister for Commerce (to 17 October 1942) Minister assisting the Minister for the Army (from 21 February 1942) Minister assisting the Minister for Supply and Shipping (from 17 October 1942) |
| Labor | Hon Don Cameron (1878–1962) Senator for Victoria (1938–1962) | Minister for Aircraft Production Minister assisting the Minister for Munitions (to 21 February 1942) |