# Third Hughes ministry

* This article is part of a series about Billy Hughes
Member for Sydney-Lang (1894–1901)
Member for West Sydney (1901–1917)
Member for Bendigo (1917–1922)
Member for North Sydney (1922–1949)
Member for Bradfield (1949–1952)
Prime Minister of AustraliaElectoral history
Term of government (1915–1923)
1916 Conscription plebiscite
Labor Party split of 1916
National Labor Party
Nationalist Party formation
1917 Conscription plebiscite
Egg-throwing incident
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
1919 Monopoly nationalisation referendum
Paris Peace Conference
Opposition to racial equality
German reparations
Territory of Papua
Ministries
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The Third Hughes ministry (Nationalist) was the 13th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 7th Prime Minister, Billy Hughes. The Third Hughes ministry succeeded the Second Hughes ministry, which dissolved on 17 February 1917 after the governing National Labor Party merged with the Liberal Party to form the Nationalist Party. The National Labor Party itself formed as a consequence of the split that took place within the then-governing Labor Party over the issue of conscription. The ministry was replaced by the Fourth Hughes ministry on 8 January 1918 following the resignation of Hughes as prime minister after a vote of no-confidence within the Nationalist Party in the wake of a failed second referendum on conscription. However, due to a lack of alternative leaders, Hughes was immediately re-commissioned as prime minister by Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson.
Billy Hughes, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the Third Hughes ministry; Hughes was also the last surviving member of the Watson ministry, First Fisher ministry, Third Fisher ministry and Second Hughes ministry.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Nationalist | Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for West Sydney (1901–1917) MP for Bendigo (1917–1922) | Prime Minister Leader of the Nationalist Party Attorney-General |
| Nationalist | Rt Hon Joseph Cook (1860–1947) MP for Parramatta (1901–1921) | Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party Minister for the Navy |
| Nationalist | Rt Hon Sir John Forrest GCMG (1847–1918) MP for Swan (1901–1918) | Treasurer |
| Nationalist | Hon George Pearce (1870–1952) Senator for Western Australia (1901–1938) | Minister for Defence |
| Nationalist | Hon Edward Millen (1860–1923) Senator for New South Wales (1901–1923) | Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 16 November 1917) Minister for Repatriation (from 28 September 1917) Leader of the Government in the Senate |
| Nationalist | Hon William Watt (1871–1946) MP for Balaclava (1914–1929) | Minister for Works and Railways |
| Nationalist | Hon Paddy Glynn KC (1855–1931) MP for Angas (1903–1919) | Minister for Home and Territories |
| Nationalist | Hon Jens Jensen (1865–1936) MP for Bass (1910–1919) | Minister for Trade and Customs |
| Nationalist | Hon William Webster (1860–1936) MP for Gwydir (1903–1919) | Postmaster-General |
| Nationalist | Hon Littleton Groom (1867–1936) MP for Darling Downs (1901–1929) | Honorary Minister (to 16 November 1917) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 16 November 1917) |
| Nationalist | Hon Edward Russell (1878–1925) Senator for Victoria (1907–1925) | Honorary Minister |