# McMahon ministry

* This article is part of a series about William McMahon
Early life
World War II service
Member for Lowe (1949–1982)
Minister for the Army
Minister for the Navy
Minister for Social Services
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Labour and National Service
National Service Act 1964
Treasurer of Australia
Veto in the 1968 Liberal Party leadership election
1969 Liberal Party leadership spill
Minister for Foreign Affairs
1971 Liberal Party leadership spill
Prime Minister of Australia
Term of government (1971–1972)
Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd
Withdrawal of combat troops from the Vietnam War
Dismissal of John Gorton
Ministries
McMahon Ministry
Elections
1972 :
vte :
The McMahon ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 46th ministry of the Australian Government. It was led by the country's 20th Prime Minister, William McMahon. The McMahon ministry succeeded the Second Gorton ministry, which dissolved on 10 March 1971 following the resignation of John Gorton as Prime Minister. The ministry was replaced by the First Whitlam ministry on 5 December 1972 following the federal election that took place on 2 December which saw Labor defeat the Coalition.
As of 28 November 2024, Ian Sinclair and Peter Nixon are the last surviving members of the McMahon Ministry. Tom Hughes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister. Tony Street was the last surviving assistant minister.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Rt Hon William McMahon (CH) (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for Foreign Affairs (to 22 March 1971) |
| Country | (Rt) Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984) | Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry |
| Liberal | Rt Hon John Gorton CH (1911–2002) MP for Higgins (1968–1975) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (to 18 August 1971) Minister for Defence (to 13 August 1971) |
| Country | Hon Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998) | Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry |
| Liberal | Hon Sir Ken Anderson (KBE) (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) | Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Supply (to 2 August 1971) Minister for Health (from 2 August 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon (Sir) Reginald Swartz (KBE) (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972) | Minister for National Development Leader of the House (to 15 August 1972) |
| Liberal | (Rt) Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (from 18 August 1971) Minister for Labour and National Service (to 22 March 1971) Treasurer (from 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Nigel Bowen QC (1911–1994) MP for Parramatta (1964–1973) | Minister for Education and Science (to 22 March 1971) Attorney-General (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971) Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 2 August 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 (to 22 March 1971) Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971) |
| Country | Hon Peter Nixon (born 1928) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983) | Minister for Shipping and Transport |
| Liberal | Hon David Fairbairn DFC (1917–1994) MP for Farrer (1949–1975) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971) | Minister for Education and Science (from 22 March 1971 to 20 August 1971) Minister for Defence (from 20 August 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971) | Minister for Immigration (to 22 March 1971) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 22 March 1971) Minister for Labour and National Service (from 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 20 August 1971) | Minister for Education and Science (from 20 August 1971) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Country | Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972) | Minister for External Territories (to 25 January 1972) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr James Forbes MC (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975) | Minister for Health (to 22 March 1971) Minister for Immigration (from 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971) | Minister for Housing (to 22 March 1971) |
| 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 (to 31 May 1971) |
| 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 (to 31 May 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Hotham (1969–1977) | Minister for Customs and Excise Minister assisting the Minister for National Development (from 27 May 1971) Leader of the House (from 15 August 1972) |
| Liberal | Hon Bob Cotton (1915–2006) Senator for New South Wales (1965–1978) | 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 (to 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon James Killen (1925–2007) MP for Moreton (1955–1983) | Minister for the Navy (to 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) MP for Kooyong (1966–1994) | Minister for the Army (to 2 February 1972) Minister for External Territories (from 2 February 1972) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 25 May 1971) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 25 May 1971 to 2 February 1972) |
| Country | Hon Ralph Hunt (1928–2011) MP for Gwydir (1969–1989) | Minister for the Interior |
| Liberal | Hon Kevin Cairns (1929–1984) MP for Lilley (1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971) | Minister for Housing (from 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Ivor Greenwood QC (1926–1976) Senator for Victoria (1968–1976) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971) | Minister for Health (from 22 March 1971 to 2 August 1971) Attorney-General (from 2 August 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr Malcolm Mackay (1919–1999) MP for Evans (1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971) | Minister for the Navy (from 22 March 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Howson (1919–2009) MP for Casey (1969–1972) (in Ministry from 31 May 1971) | Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts (from 31 May 1971) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities (from 31 May 1971) |
| Liberal | Hon Victor Garland (1934–2022) MP for Curtin (1969–1981) (in Ministry from 2 August 1971) | Minister for Supply (from 2 August 1971) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 21 March 1972) |
| Country | Hon Bob Katter (1918–1990) MP for Kennedy (1966–1990) (in Ministry from 2 February 1972) | Minister for the Army (from 2 February 1972) |

## Assistant ministers

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Don Dobie (1927–1996) MP for Cook (1969–1972) | Assistant Minister assisting the Prime Minister (from 20 August 1971) |
| Liberal | John McLeay (1922–2000) MP for Boothby (1966–1981) | Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Civil Aviation (from 20 August 1971) |
| Country | Ian Robinson (1925–2017) MP for Cowper (1963–1984) | Assistant Minister assisting the Postmaster-General (from 20 August 1971) |
| Liberal | Tony Street (1926-2022) MP for Corangamite (1966–1984) | Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Labour and National Service (from 20 August 1971) |
| Liberal | John Marriott (1913–1994) Senator for Tasmania (1953–1975) | Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Health (from 14 September 1971) |
| Country | Robert King OBE (1920–1991) MP for Wimmera (1958–1977) | Assistant Minister assisting the Minister for Primary Industry (from 5 October 1971) |