# Fourth Menzies ministry

* This article is part of a series about Robert Menzies
Early life
State politics
Member for Kooyong (1934–1966)
1938 Dalfram dispute
United Australia Party spills
1939
1943
Prime Minister of Australia
First term of government (1939–1941)
Entry into WW2
Advisory War Council
Liberal Party foundation
Second term of government (1949–1966)
ANZUS
Communist Party ban
1951 Communist Party ban referendum
Petrov Affair
Royal Commission on Espionage
Entry into Vietnam War
Ministries
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth
Tenth
Elections
1940
1946
1949
1951
1953 (Half-Senate)
1954
1955
1958
1961
1963
1964 (Half-Senate)
The Forgotten People :
vte :
The Fourth Menzies ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 34th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The Fourth Menzies ministry succeeded the Second Chifley ministry, which dissolved on 19 December 1949 following the federal election that took place on 10 December which saw the Coalition defeat Ben Chifley's Labor Party. The ministry was replaced by the Fifth Menzies ministry on 11 May 1951 following the 1951 federal election.
Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the Fourth Menzies Ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the first Menzies government and the Fadden government. John McEwen was the last surviving Country minister.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Robert Menzies (CH) KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 7 March 1951) |
| Country | Rt Hon Arthur Fadden (1894–1973) MP for McPherson (1949–1958) | Leader of the Country Party Treasurer |
| Liberal | Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for Defence (to 24 October 1950) Minister for Postwar Reconstruction (to 17 March 1950) Minister for the Interior (from 24 October 1950) |
| Liberal | Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951) | Minister for External Affairs (to 26 April 1951) Minister for External Territories (to 26 April 1951) |
| Liberal | Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Higgins (1949–1967) | Minister for Labour and National Service Minister for Immigration |
| Country | Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Commerce and Agriculture |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Richard Casey CH DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for La Trobe (1949–1960) | Minister for Works and Housing Minister for Supply and Development (to 17 March 1950) Minister for National Development (from 17 March 1950) Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (from 23 March 1950) Minister for External Affairs (from 26 April 1951) Minister for External Territories (from 26 April 1951) |
| Liberal | Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) MP for Wakefield (1946–1958) | Minister for the Interior (to 24 October 1950) Minister for Defence (from 24 October 1950) |
| Liberal | Hon John Spicer KC (1899–1978) Senator for Victoria (1950–1956) | Attorney-General |
| Liberal | Hon Neil O'Sullivan (1900–1968) Senator for Queensland (1947–1962) | Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Trade and Customs |
| Liberal | Hon Howard Beale (1898–1983) MP for Parramatta (1946–1958) | Minister for Information (to 17 March 1950) Minister for Transport (to 17 March 1950) Minister for Supply (from 17 March 1950) |
| Liberal | Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1950–1955) | Minister for Shipping and Fuel (to 17 March 1950) Minister for Fuel, Shipping and Transport (from 17 March 1950) |
| Country | Hon Larry Anthony (1897–1957) MP for Richmond (1937–1957) | Postmaster-General |
| Liberal | Hon Dame Enid Lyons GBE (1897–1981) MP for Darwin (1943–1951) | Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 7 March 1951) |
| Country | Rt Hon Sir Earle Page GCMG CH (1880–1961) MP for Cowper (1919–1961) | Minister for Health |
| Liberal | Hon Thomas White DFC VD (1888–1957) MP for Balaclava (1929–1951) | Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation |
| Liberal | Hon Josiah Francis (1890–1964) MP for Moreton (1922–1955) | Minister for the Army Minister for the Navy |
| Liberal | Hon Bill Spooner MM (1897–1966) Senator for New South Wales (1950–1965) | Minister for Social Services |
| Country | Hon Walter Cooper MBE (1888–1973) Senator for Queensland (1935–1968) | Minister for Repatriation |