# Second 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 Second Gorton ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 45th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The Second Gorton ministry succeeded the First Gorton ministry, which dissolved on 12 November 1969 following the federal election that took place in October. The ministry was replaced by the McMahon ministry on 10 March 1971 following the resignation of Gorton.
As of 28 November 2024, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the Second Gorton Ministry. Tom Hughes 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 (CH) (1911–2002) MP for Higgins (1968–1975) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party |
| Country | Rt Hon John McEwen CH (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971) | Deputy Prime Minister (to 5 February 1971) Leader of the Country Party (to 5 February 1971) Minister for Trade and Industry (to 5 February 1971) |
| Liberal | Rt Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for External Affairs (to 6 November 1970) Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 6 November 1970) |
| Country | Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) | Deputy Prime Minister (from 5 February 1971) Leader of the Country Party (from 5 February 1971) Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 5 February 1971) Minister for Primary Industry (to 5 February 1971) Minister for Trade and Industry (from 5 February 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon (Sir) Alan Hulme (KBE) (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1963–1972) | Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council |
| Liberal | Hon Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974) | Treasurer |
| Country | Hon Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party (from 5 February 1971) Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 5 February 1971) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 5 February 1971) Minister for Primary Industry (from 5 February 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon (Sir) Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) | Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Supply |
| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) | Minister for Defence (to 8 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Reginald Swartz MBE (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972) | Minister for National Development |
| Liberal | Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983) | Minister for Labour and National Service Leader of the House |
| Liberal | Hon Nigel Bowen QC (1911–1994) MP for Parramatta (1964–1973) | Minister for Education and Science |
| Country | Hon Peter Nixon (born 1928) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) (in Cabinet from 5 February 1971) | Minister for the Interior (to 5 February 1971) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 5 February 1971) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972) | Minister for External Territories |
| Liberal | Hon Dr James Forbes MC (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975) | Minister for Health |
| Liberal | Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971) | Minister for Housing |
| Liberal | Hon Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) | Minister for Immigration Minister assisting the Treasurer |
| Liberal | Hon Bill Wentworth (1907–2003) MP for Mackellar (1949–1977) | Minister for Social Services Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister |
| Liberal | Hon Reg Wright (1905–1990) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1978) | Minister for Works Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry |
| Liberal | Hon Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Hotham (1969–1977) | Minister for Customs and Excise |
| Liberal | Hon Bob Cotton (1915–2006) Senator for New South Wales (1965–1978) | Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 25 November 1969) Minister for Civil Aviation |
| Country | Hon Tom Drake-Brockman DFC (1919–1992) Senator for Western Australia (1959–1978) | Minister for Air |
| Country | Hon Mac Holten (1922–1996) MP for Indi (1958–1977) | Minister for Repatriation |
| Liberal | Hon Tom Hughes QC (1923–2024) MP for Berowra (1969–1972) | Attorney-General |
| Liberal | Hon James Killen (1925–2007) MP for Moreton (1955–1983) | Minister for the Navy |
| Liberal | Hon Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) MP for Kooyong (1966–1994) | Minister for the Army Minister assisting the Prime Minister |
| Country | Hon Ralph Hunt (1928–2011) MP for Gwydir (1969–1989) (in Ministry from 5 February 1971) | Minister for the Interior (from 5 February 1971) |