# Third Fraser ministry

* This article is part of a series about Malcolm Fraser
Early life
Member for Wannon (1955–1983)
Minister for the Army
Vietnam War conscription program
Minister for Education and Science (1968–69)
Minister for Defence
Resignation from the Gorton Ministry
Minister for Education and Science (1971–72)
1972 Liberal Party leadership election
Shadow Minister for Primary Industry
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations
1975 Liberal Party leadership spill
1975 Australian constitutional crisis
Prime Minister of Australia
Term of government (1975–1983)
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
1977 referendum
Welcoming of Vietnamese refugees
Opposition to Apartheid
Lancaster House Agreement
Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978
Norfolk Island Act 1979
Establishment of the SBS
National Museum of Australia Act 1980
Human Rights Commission Act 1981
Australian Institute of Sport
Early 1980s recession
1982 Liberal Party leadership spill
Ministries
First Ministry
Second Ministry
Third Ministry
Fourth Ministry
Elections
1975
1977
1980
1983 :
vte :
The third Fraser ministry (Liberal–National Country coalition) was the 52nd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 22nd Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. The third Fraser ministry succeeded the second Fraser ministry, which dissolved on 20 December 1977 following the federal election that took place on 10 December. The ministry was replaced by the fourth Fraser ministry on 3 November 1980 following the 1980 federal election.
As of 31 October 2022, John Howard and Ian Viner are the last surviving Liberal members of the Cabinet of the third Fraser ministry, while Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving NCP members.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser CH (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party |
| National Country | Rt Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) | Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Trade and Resources |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for Industry and Commerce |
| National Country | Rt Hon Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998) | Deputy Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Primary Industry (to 27 September 1979) Minister for Special Trade Negotiations (from 19 August 1980) Leader of the House (to 27 September 1979; from 19 August 1980) |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Reg Withers (1924–2014) Senator for Western Australia (1968–1987) | Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 7 August 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (to 7 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 7 August 1978) |
| Liberal | Hon Tony Street (1926–2022) MP for Corangamite (1966–1984) | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Industrial Relations (from 5 December 1978) |
| National Country | Hon Peter Nixon (born 1928) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) | Minister for Transport (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Primary Industry (from 27 September 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon John Howard (born 1939) MP for Bennelong (1974–2007) | Treasurer Minister for Finance (from 23 February 1979 to 27 February 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon John Carrick (1918–2018) Senator for New South Wales (1971–1987) | Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 7 August 1978) Minister for Education (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (to 25 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 7 August 1978) Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) MP for Kooyong (1966–1994) | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Liberal | Hon James Killen (1925–2007) MP for Moreton (1955–1983) | Minister for Defence |
| Liberal | Hon Margaret Guilfoyle (1926–2020) Senator for Victoria (1971–1987) | Minister for Social Security |
| Liberal | Hon Eric Robinson (1929–1981) MP for McPherson (1972–1981) | Minister for Finance (to 23 February 1979; from 27 February 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Viner (born 1933) MP for Stirling (1972–1983) | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Leader of the House (from 27 September 1979 to 19 August 1980) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Durack QC (1926–2008) Senator for Western Australia (1971–1993) (in Cabinet from 25 August 1978) | Attorney-General Minister for Administrative Services (from 7 August 1978 to 25 August 1978) |
| National Country | Hon Ralph Hunt (1928–2011) MP for Gwydir (1969–1989) (in Cabinet from 8 December 1979) | Minister for Health (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Transport (from 8 December 1979) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon Michael MacKellar (1938–2015) MP for Warringah (1969–1994) | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Health (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (from 8 December 1979) |
| National Country | Hon Evan Adermann (1927–2001) MP for Fisher (1972–1984) | Minister for the Northern Territory (to 28 September 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Veterans' Affairs (from 4 July 1978) |
| Liberal | Hon John McLeay (1922–2000) MP for Boothby (1966–1981) | Minister for Construction (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence Minister for Administrative Services (from 5 December 1978) |
| Liberal | Hon Kevin Newman (1933–1999) MP for Bass (1975–1984) | Minister for National Development (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister for Productivity (from 8 December 1979) |
| National Country | Hon James Webster (1925–2022) Senator for Victoria (1964–1980) | Minister for Science (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Science and the Environment (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Tony Staley (1939–2023) MP for Chisholm (1970–1980) | Minister for Post and Telecommunications |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Macphee (born 1938) MP for Balaclava (1974–1984) | Minister for Productivity (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 8 December 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Wal Fife (1929–2017) MP for Farrer (1975–1984) | Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Education (from 8 December 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Vic Garland (1934–2022) MP for Curtin (1969–1981) | Minister for Veterans' Affairs (to 4 July 1978) Minister for Special Trade Representations (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 8 December 1979) |
| Liberal | Hon Bob Ellicott QC (1927–2022) MP for Wentworth (1974–1981) | Minister for Home Affairs Minister for the Capital Territory |
| Liberal | Hon Ray Groom (born 1944) MP for Braddon (1975–1984) | Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Housing and Construction (from 5 December 1978) |
| Liberal | Hon Fred Chaney (born 1941) Senator for Western Australia (1974–1990) (in Ministry from 25 August 1978) | Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 28 February 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (from 25 August 1978 to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Education (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979) |
| National Country | Hon Douglas Scott (1920–2012) Senator for New South Wales (1974–1985) (in Ministry from 8 December 1979) | Minister for Special Trade Representations (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Resources (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980) |
| National Country | Hon David Thomson MC (1924–2013) MP for Leichhardt (1975–1983) (in Ministry from 8 December 1979) | Minister for Science and the Environment (from 8 December 1979) |