# Eighth 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 Eighth Menzies ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 38th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. The Eighth Menzies ministry succeeded the Seventh Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 10 December 1958 following the federal election that took place in late November. The ministry was replaced by the Ninth Menzies ministry on 22 December 1961 following the 1961 federal election.
John Gorton, who died in 2002, was the last surviving member of the Eighth Menzies ministry. Hugh Roberton was the last surviving Country junior minister, and Sir Garfield Barwick and Charles Davidson were the last surviving Liberal and Country Cabinet ministers respectively.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Robert Menzies CH QC FAA (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for External Affairs (from 4 February 1960) |
| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971) | Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Higgins (1949–1967) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer Leader of the House |
| Liberal | Rt Hon Richard Casey CH DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for La Trobe (1949–1960) | Minister for External Affairs (to 4 February 1960) Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (to 4 February 1960) |
| Liberal | Hon Bill Spooner MM (1897–1966) Senator for New South Wales (1950–1965) | Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for National Development Vice-President of the Executive Council |
| Liberal | Hon Athol Townley (1905–1963) MP for Denison (1949–1963) | Minister for Defence |
| Liberal | Hon Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969) | Minister for Territories |
| Liberal | Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| Liberal | Hon Shane Paltridge (1910-1966) Senator for Western Australia (1951-1966) | Minister for Civil Aviation Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 5 February 1960) |
| Country | Hon Charles Davidson OBE (1897–1985) MP for Dawson (1949–1963) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party Postmaster-General |
| Liberal | Hon Alexander Downer (1910–1981) MP for Angas (1949–1964) | Minister for Immigration |
| Liberal | Hon Sir Garfield Barwick QC (1903–1997) MP for Parramatta (1958–1964) | Attorney-General |
| Country | Hon Charles Adermann (1896–1979) MP for Fisher (1949–1972) (in Cabinet from 4 February 1960) | Minister for Primary Industry |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon (Sir) Walter Cooper MBE (1888–1973) Senator for Queensland (1935–1968) | Minister for Repatriation (to 29 December 1960) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr Donald Cameron OBE (1900–1974) MP for Oxley (1949–1961) | Minister for Health Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (from 4 February 1960) |
| Liberal | Hon Frederick Osborne DSC & Bar VRD (1909–1996) MP for Evans (1949–1961) | Minister for Air (to 29 December 1960) Minister for Repatriation (from 29 December 1960) |
| Liberal | Hon John Cramer (1896–1994) MP for Bennelong (1949–1974) | Minister for the Army |
| Country | Hon Hugh Roberton (1900–1987) MP for Riverina (1949–1965) | Minister for Social Services |
| Liberal | Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968) | Minister for Customs and Excise |
| Liberal | Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969) | Minister for the Interior Minister for Works |
| Liberal | Hon John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968) | Minister for the Navy Minister assisting the Minister for External Affairs (from 23 February 1960) |
| Liberal | Hon Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1949–1961) | Minister for Supply |
| Liberal | Hon Hubert Opperman OBE (1904–1996) MP for Corio (1949–1967) (in Ministry from 5 February 1960) | Chief Government Whip in the House (to 5 February 1960) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 5 February 1960) |
| Country | Hon Harrie Wade OBE (1905–1964) Senator for Victoria (1956–1964) (in Ministry from 29 December 1960) | Minister for Air (from 29 December 1960) |