# Fadden ministry

The Fadden ministry (Country–United Australia Coalition) was the 28th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 13th Prime Minister, Arthur Fadden. The Fadden ministry succeeded the Third Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 28 August 1941 following the resignation of Robert Menzies as Prime Minister. A subsequent joint meeting of the Coalition parties elected Country leader Fadden as Menzies' successor. The ministry was replaced by the First Curtin ministry on 7 October 1941 after the independent crossbenchers Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles withdrew their support for the Fadden government and voted with John Curtin and his Labor Party to bring the government down in a de facto no-confidence motion.
Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the Fadden ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the first Menzies government and the Fourth Menzies ministry. John McEwen was the last surviving Country minister.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon Arthur Fadden (1894–1973) MP for Darling Downs (1936–1949) | Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Treasurer |
| United Australia | Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966) | Leader of the United Australia Party Minister for Defence Co-ordination |
| United Australia | Rt Hon Billy Hughes CH KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949) | Attorney-General Minister for the Navy |
| United Australia | Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951) | Minister for the Army |
| United Australia | Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947) | Vice-President of the Executive Council Minister for Supply and Development Leader of the Government in the Senate |
| Country | Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Indi (1937–1949) | Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation |
| United Australia | Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947) | Minister for the Interior Minister for Information |
| Country | Rt Hon Sir Earle Page GCMG (1880–1961) MP for Cowper (1919–1961) | Minister for Commerce |
| United Australia | Hon Sir Frederick Stewart (1884–1961) MP for Parramatta (1931–1946) | Minister for External Affairs Minister for Health Minister for Social Services |
| United Australia | Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) Senator for South Australia (1937–1944) | Minister for Munitions |
| United Australia | Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956) | Minister for Trade and Customs |
| United Australia | Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Fawkner (1935–1949) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| United Australia | Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD (1877–1947) Senator for Western Australia (1933–1947) | Minister for Repatriation |
| Country | Hon Thomas Collins (1884–1945) MP for Hume (1931–1943) | Postmaster-General |
| United Australia | Hon John Leckie (1872–1947) Senator for Victoria (1935–1947) | Minister for Aircraft Production |
| Country | Hon Larry Anthony (1897–1957) MP for Richmond (1937–1957) | Minister for Transport |
| United Australia | Hon Eric Spooner (1891–1952) MP for Robertson (1940–1943) | Minister for War Organisation of Industry |
| Country | Hon Joe Abbott MC (1891–1965) MP for New England (1940–1949) | Minister for Home Security |
| United Australia | Hon Allan McDonald (1888–1953) MP for Corangamite (1940–1953) | Minister for External Territories |