# McEwen ministry

The McEwen ministry (Country–Liberal Coalition) was the 43rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 18th prime minister, John McEwen. The McEwen ministry succeeded the Second Holt ministry, which dissolved on 19 December 1967 following the disappearance of former prime minister Harold Holt – the third and most recent occasion where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since McEwen was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the Liberal Party, could elect a new leader. John Gorton was ultimately elected on 9 January 1968, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.
As of 20 December 2020, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the McEwen ministry. James Forbes, who died in 2019, was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971) | 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 |
| Liberal | Hon Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969) | Minister for Defence |
| Liberal | Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968) | Minister for Supply |
| 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 John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968) | Leader of the Liberal Party (from 9 January 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Education and Science |
| Liberal | Hon Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| Country | Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry |
| Country | Hon Ian Sinclair (1929–) MP for New England (1963–1998) | Minister for Social Services Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972) | Minister for Territories |
| Liberal | Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969) | Minister for Shipping and Transport |
| Liberal | Hon Reginald Swartz MBE (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972) | Minister for Civil Aviation |
| Liberal | Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983) | Minister for Immigration Leader of the House |
| 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 Minister assisting the Treasurer |
| Liberal | Hon Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) | Minister for Customs and Excise |
| 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 Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) | Minister for the Army |
| 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 Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry |
| Liberal | Hon Bert Kelly (1912–1997) MP for Wakefield (1958–1977) | Minister for Works |
| Country | Hon Peter Nixon (1928–) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) | Minister for the Interior |