# Fourth Howard ministry

* This article is part of a series about John Howard
Early life
Member for Bennelong (1974–2007)
Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs
Minister for Special Trade Negotiations
Treasurer of Australia
Early 1980s recession
1983 Liberal Party leadership election
1985 Liberal Party leadership spill
Joh for Canberra debacle
1987 Liberal Party leadership spill
One Australia
1989 Liberal Party leadership spill
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations
1993 Liberal Party leadership spill
1995 Liberal Party leadership spill
Prime Minister of Australia
Term of government (1996–2007)
Gun control
Workplace Relations Act 1996
1996 Parliament House riot
Wik Peoples v Queensland
Waterfront dispute
Native Title Amendment Act 1998
Work for the Dole scheme
1998 Australian Constitutional Convention
Republic referendum
Australian intervention in East Timor
GST and taxation
Tampa affair
The Pacific Solution
Australian involvement in the War in Afghanistan
Australian involvement in the Iraq War
Marriage Amendment Act 2004
WorkChoices
Northern Territory intervention
Ministries
First Ministry
Second Ministry
Third Ministry
Fourth Ministry
Elections
1987
1996
1998
2001
2004
2007
Lazarus Rising :
vte :
The fourth Howard ministry (Liberal–National coalition) was the 63rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 25th prime minister, John Howard. The fourth Howard ministry succeeded the third Howard ministry, which dissolved on 26 October 2004 following the federal election that took place on 9 October. The ministry was replaced by the first Rudd ministry on 3 December 2007 following the federal election that took place on 24 November which saw Labor defeat the Coalition.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon John Howard (1939-) MP for Bennelong (1974-2007) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (to 29 November 2007) |
| Nationals | Hon John Anderson (1956–) MP for Gwydir (1989–2007) | Deputy Prime Minister (to 6 July 2005) Leader of the National Party (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (to 6 July 2005) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Costello (1957-) MP for Higgins (1990-2009) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (to 29 November 2007) Treasurer |
| Nationals | Hon Mark Vaile (1956–) MP for Lyne (1993–2008) | Deputy Prime Minister (from 6 July 2005) Leader of the National Party (from 6 July 2005) Deputy Leader of the National Party (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Trade (to 29 September 2006) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 29 September 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Robert Hill (1946–) Senator for South Australia (1981–2006) | Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 20 January 2006) Minister for Defence (to 20 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Alexander Downer (1951–) MP for Mayo (1984–2008) | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Liberal | Hon Tony Abbott (1957–) MP for Warringah (1994–2019) | Minister for Health and Ageing Leader of the House |
| Liberal | Hon Philip Ruddock (1943–) MP for Berowra (1993–2016) | Attorney-General |
| Liberal | Hon Nick Minchin (1953–) Senator for South Australia (1993–2011) | Minister for Finance and Administration Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 27 January 2006) |
| Nationals | Hon Warren Truss (1948–) MP for Wide Bay (1990–2016) | Deputy Leader of the National Party (from 6 July 2005) Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 6 July 2005 to 29 September 2006) Minister for Trade (from 29 September 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Amanda Vanstone (1952–) Senator for South Australia (1984–2007) | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr Brendan Nelson (1958–) MP for Bradfield (1996–2009) | Minister for Education, Science and Training (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006) Leader of the Liberal Party (from 29 November 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Kay Patterson (1944–) Senator for Victoria (1987–2008) | Minister for Family and Community Services (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues (to 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Macfarlane (1955–) MP for Groom (1998–2016) | Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources |
| Liberal | Hon Kevin Andrews (1955–2024) MP for Menzies (1991–2022) | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (to 30 January 2007) Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Helen Coonan (1947–) Senator for New South Wales (1996–2011) | Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Campbell (1959–) Senator for Western Australia (1990–2007) | Minister for the Environment and Heritage (to 30 January 2007) Minister for Human Services (from 30 January 2007 to 9 March 2007) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (to 17 November 2004) |
| Nationals | Hon Peter McGauran (1955–) MP for Gippsland (1983–2008) (in Cabinet from 6 July 2005) | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (from 6 July 2005) |
| Liberal | Hon Julie Bishop (1956–) MP for Curtin (1998–2019) (in Cabinet from 27 January 2006) | Minister for Ageing (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Education, Science and Training (from 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues (from 27 January 2006) Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (from 29 November 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Mal Brough (1961–) MP for Longman (1996–2007) (in Cabinet from 27 January 2006) | Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Turnbull (1954–) MP for Wentworth (2004–2018) (in Cabinet from 30 January 2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Joe Hockey (1965–) MP for North Sydney (1996–2015) (in Cabinet from 30 January 2007) | Minister for Human Services (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Minister for Workplace Relations (from 10 August 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (from 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Chris Ellison (1954–) Senator for Western Australia (1993–2009) (in Cabinet from 9 March 2007) | Minister for Justice and Customs (to 9 March 2007) Minister for Human Services (from 9 March 2007) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (from 17 November 2004 to 9 March 2007) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Macdonald (1945–) Senator for Queensland (1990–2019) | Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (to 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Rod Kemp (1944–) Senator for Victoria (1990–2008) | Minister for the Arts and Sport (to 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Eric Abetz (1958–) Senator for Tasmania (1994–) | Special Minister of State (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (from 27 January 2006) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (from 9 March 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Gary Hardgrave (1960–) MP for Moreton (1996–2007) | Minister for Vocational and Technical Education (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Fran Bailey (1946–) MP for McEwen (1996–2010) | Minister for Small Business and Tourism |
| Liberal | Hon Jim Lloyd (1954–) MP for Robertson (1996–2007) | Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads |
| Nationals | Hon De-Anne Kelly (1954–) MP for Dawson (1996–2007) (in ministry until 27 January 2006) | Minister for Veterans' Affairs (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade (from 27 January 2006 to 29 September 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 29 September 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Dutton (1970–) MP for Dickson (2001–) | Minister for Workforce Participation (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (from 27 January 2006) |
| Nationals | Hon John Cobb (1950–) MP for Parkes (2001–2007) (in ministry from 6 July 2005) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Minister for Community Services (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Assistant Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Bruce Billson (1966–) MP for Dunkley (1996–2016) (in ministry from 27 January 2006) | Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade (to 6 July 2005) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Minister for Veterans' Affairs (from 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Gary Nairn (1951–2024) MP for Eden-Monaro (1996–2007) (in ministry from 27 January 2006) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (to 27 January 2006) Special Minister of State (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr Sharman Stone (1951–) MP for Murray (1996–2016) (in ministry from 27 January 2006) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Workforce Participation (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Santo Santoro (1956–) Senator for Queensland (2002–2007) (in ministry from 27 January 2006) | Minister for Ageing (from 27 January 2006 to 21 March 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Andrew Robb (1951–) MP for Goldstein (2004–2016) (in ministry from 30 January 2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for Vocational and Technical Education (from 30 January 2007) |
| Country Liberal | Hon Nigel Scullion (1956–) Senator for Northern Territory (2001–2019) (in ministry from 30 January 2007) | Minister for Community Services (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon George Brandis SC (1957–) Senator for Queensland (2000–2018) (in ministry from 30 January 2007) | Minister for the Arts and Sport (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon David Johnston (1956–) Senator for Western Australia (2002–2016) (in ministry from 9 March 2007) | Minister for Justice and Customs (from 9 March 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Christopher Pyne (1967–) MP for Sturt (1993–2019) (in ministry from 21 March 2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing (to 30 January 2007) Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing (from 30 January 2007 to 21 March 2007) Minister for Ageing (from 21 March 2007) |

## Parliamentary Secretaries

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon Warren Entsch (1950–) MP for Leichhardt (1996–2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources (to 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Teresa Gambaro (1958–) MP for Petrie (1996–2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 30 January 2007 to 21 March 2007) Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 21 March 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Chris Pearce (1963–) MP for Aston (2001–2010) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer |
| Liberal | Hon Greg Hunt (1965–) MP for Flinders (2001–2022) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (to 30 January 2007) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Sussan Ley (1961–) MP for Farrer (2001–) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services (Children and Youth Affairs) (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Pat Farmer (1962–) MP for Macarthur (2001–2010) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training |
| Liberal | Hon Richard Colbeck (1958–) Senator for Tasmania (2002–2016) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration (from 27 January 2006) |
| Nationals | Hon Sandy Macdonald (1954–) Senator for New South Wales (2000–2008) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Bob Baldwin (1955–) MP for Paterson (2001–2016) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources (from 27 January 2006) |
| Liberal | Hon Tony Smith (1967–) MP for Casey (2001–2022) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Lindsay (1944–) MP for Herbert (1996–2010) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (from 30 January 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Brett Mason (1962–) Senator for Queensland (1999–2015) | Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing (from 21 March 2007) |
| Liberal | Hon Richard Colbeck (1958–) Senator for Tasmania (2002–2016) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration (from 27 January 2006) |