# First Gorton ministry

* This article is part of a series about John Gorton
Early life
World War II service
Mystic Park speech
Senator for Victoria (1950–1968)
Member for Higgins (1968–1975)
Minister for the Navy
Minister for the Interior
Minister for Works
Minister for Education and Science
VIP aircraft affair
1968 Liberal Party leadership election
Minister for Defence
1972 Liberal Party leadership election
Decriminalisation of homosexuality
Resignation from the Liberal Party
Prime Minister of Australia
Term of government (1968–1971)
Australia Council for the Arts
National Film and Television Training School
Copyright Act 1968
Jervis Bay Nuclear Power Plant proposal
1969 Liberal Party leadership spill
Metric Conversion Act 1970
Reduced involvement in the Vietnam War
Australian Industry Development Corporation
Commonwealth ownership of offshore seabed
Resignation of Malcolm Fraser
1971 Liberal Party leadership spill
Ministries
First Ministry
Second Ministry
Elections
1969
1970 (Half-Senate) :
vte :
The First Gorton ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 44th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The First Gorton ministry succeeded the McEwen ministry, which dissolved on 10 January 1968 following the election of Gorton as Liberal leader after the disappearance of former Prime Minister Harold Holt. The ministry was replaced by the Second Gorton ministry on 12 November 1969 following the 1969 federal election.
As of 20 December 2020, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the First Gorton ministry. James Forbes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Rt Hon John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968) MP for Higgins (1968–1975) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 1 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (to 28 February 1968) |
| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen (CH) (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971) | Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry |
| Liberal | Rt Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969) | Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969) |
| Liberal | Hon Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969) | Minister for Defence |
| Country | Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry |
| Liberal | Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968) | Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1963–1972) | Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council |
| Liberal | Hon David Fairbairn DFC (1917–1994) MP for Farrer (1949–1975) | Minister for National Development |
| Liberal | Hon Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| Country | Hon Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998) | Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry |
| Liberal | Hon Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968) | Minister for Customs and Excise (to 28 February 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 28 February 1968) Minister for Supply (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968) | Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969) | Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Air (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister for External Affairs (from 11 February 1969) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972) | Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968) Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Reginald Swartz MBE (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972) | Minister for Civil Aviation Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969) |
| Liberal | Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983) | Minister for Immigration Leader of the House (to February 1969) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr James Forbes MC (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975) | Minister for Health |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Howson (1919–2009) MP for Fawkner (1955–1969) | Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968) |
| Country | Hon Colin McKellar (1903–1970) Senator for New South Wales (1958–1970) | Minister for Repatriation |
| Liberal | Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971) | Minister for Housing |
| Liberal | Hon Nigel Bowen QC (1911–1994) MP for Parramatta (1964–1973) | Attorney-General |
| Liberal | Hon Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Higinbotham (1960–1969) | Minister for the Navy (to 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Bert Kelly (1912–1997) MP for Wakefield (1958–1977) | Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968) Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968) |
| Country | Hon Peter Nixon (born 1928) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) | Minister for the Interior |
| Liberal | Hon Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968) | Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Scott (1911–1989) Senator for Western Australia (1950–1971) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968) | Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 12 February 1968) Minister for Customs and Excise (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Bill Wentworth (1907–2003) MP for Mackellar (1949–1977) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968) | Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Reg Wright (1905–1990) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1978) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968) | Minister for Works (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (from 28 February 1968) |
| Liberal | Hon Dudley Erwin (1917–1984) MP for Ballaarat (1955–1975) (in Ministry from 13 February 1969) | Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969) Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969) |