# Minister for Defence (Australia)

The Minister for Defence is the minister of state of the Commonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing the organisation, implementation, and formulation of strategic policy in defence and military matters as the head of the Department of Defence. The Minister for Defence is responsible for the Australian Defence Organisation and the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The current Defence minister is Richard Marles, who is also concurrently serving as deputy prime minister of Australia, having been selected by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May 2022 following the 2022 Australian federal election.
As the Minister for Defence is responsible for the management of Australia's defence and military forces and the portfolio's accountability to the Parliament, the secretary of Defence is required under section 63(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 and the Requirements for Annual Reports from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit to submit a report to the responsible ministers on the activities of the Department of Defence after the end of each financial year for presentation to the Parliament.
It is one of only four ministerial positions (along with prime minister, attorney-general and treasurer) that have existed since Federation.

## Defence policy

The Defence minister is primarily responsible for implementing government defence policy. The three main entities responsible for formulating defence policy within Defence are the Air Power Development Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and Sea Power Centre - Australia. Additionally, the minister releases white papers, that assess Australia's current defence capabilities and set out areas of reform.
The most recent white paper publication is the 2016 Defence White Paper that includes three elements: the 2016 Defence White Paper itself, 2016 Integrated Investment Program, and 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement. It is the eighth defence white paper since 1976.

## Composition of the defence portfolio

Over the years there have been a number of ministers with a variety of functions involved in the defence portfolio; in the period November 1939 to April 1942, there was no position named Minister of Defence. Instead, several ministers were responsible for the various tasks and duties that are presently under the purview of the minister for Defence.
Previous governments have included ministers with titles using one or more of the following terms:
* Air
* Aircraft production
* Army
* Defence
* Defence Coordination
* Defence Industry
* Defence Materiel
* Defence Personnel
* Defence Production
* Defence Science
* Defence Support
* Development
* Munitions
* Navy
* Repatriation
* Shipping
* Supply
* Veterans' Affairs

## List of ministers for defence

There was a Minister for Defence from 1 January 1901 until 13 November 1939, with the exception of two small breaks. Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister, abolished the position on the outbreak of World War II and created separate Ministers for the Navy, the Army and the Air, with himself as Minister for Defence Coordination in his first ministry. He retained this position until the fall of his government, and then held the post in the brief government of Arthur Fadden. John Curtin initially followed the same arrangement as Menzies in his ministry until 14 April 1942, when he took the title of Minister for Defence. The separate titles of Ministers for the Navy, the Army and the Air were abolished in the second Whitlam Ministry on 30 November 1973, when the separate departments of Navy, Army and Air were also abolished. There had also been a separate Navy portfolio between 1915 and 1921.
The following have served as Minister for Defence:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Sir James Dickson KCMG MP | Protectionist | Barton | 1 January 1901 | 10 January 1901 | 9 days |
| 2 | John Forrest CMG MP | Protectionist | Barton | 17 January 1901 | 10 August 1903 | 2 years, 205 days |
| 3 | Senator James Drake | Protectionist | Barton | 10 August 1903 | 24 September 1903 | 45 days |
| 4 | Austin Chapman MP | Protectionist | Deakin | 24 September 1903 | 27 April 1904 | 216 days |
| 5 | Senator Anderson Dawson | Labor | Watson | 27 April 1904 | 18 August 1904 | 113 days |
| 6 | James McCay MP | Protectionist | Reid | 18 August 1904 | 5 July 1905 | 321 days |
| 7 | Senator Thomas Playford | Protectionist | Deakin | 5 July 1905 | 24 January 1907 | 1 year, 203 days |
| 8 | Sir Thomas Ewing KCMG MP | Protectionist | Deakin | 24 January 1907 | 13 November 1908 | 1 year, 294 days |
| 9 | Senator George Pearce | Labor | Fisher | 13 November 1908 | 2 June 1909 | 201 days |
| 10 | Joseph Cook MP | Liberal | Deakin | 2 June 1909 | 29 April 1910 | 331 days |
| (9) | Senator George Pearce | Labor | Fisher | 29 April 1910 | 24 June 1913 | 3 years, 56 days |
| 11 | Senator Edward Millen | Liberal | Cook | 24 June 1913 | 17 September 1914 | 1 year, 85 days |
| (9) | Senator George Pearce | Labor | Fisher | 17 September 1914 | 27 October 1915 | 7 years, 95 days |
| (9) | Senator George Pearce | Labor | Hughes | 27 October 1915 | 14 November 1916 | 7 years, 95 days |
| (9) | Senator George Pearce | National Labor | Hughes | 14 November 1916 | 13 June 1917 | 7 years, 95 days |
| (9) | Senator George Pearce | Nationalist | Hughes | 13 June 1917 | 21 December 1921 | 7 years, 95 days |
| 12 | Walter Massy-Greene MP | Nationalist | Hughes | 21 December 1921 | 9 February 1923 | 1 year, 50 days |
| 13 | Eric Bowden MP | Nationalist | Bruce | 9 February 1923 | 16 January 1925 | 1 year, 342 days |
| 14 | Sir Neville Howse VC KCB KCMG MP | Nationalist | Bruce | 16 January 1925 | 2 April 1927 | 2 years, 76 days |
| 15 | Senator Sir William Glasgow KCB CMG DSO VD | Nationalist | Bruce | 2 April 1927 | 22 October 1929 | 2 years, 203 days |
| 16 | Albert Green MP | Labor | Scullin | 22 October 1929 | 4 February 1931 | 1 year, 105 days |
| 17 | Senator John Daly | Labor | Scullin | 4 February 1931 | 3 March 1931 | 27 days |
| 18 | Ben Chifley MP | Labor | Scullin | 3 March 1931 | 6 January 1932 | 309 days |
| (9) | Senator Sir George Pearce KCVO | United Australia | Lyons | 6 January 1932 | 12 October 1934 | 2 years, 279 days |
| 19 | Sir Archdale Parkhill KCMG MP | United Australia | Lyons | 12 October 1934 | 20 November 1937 | 3 years, 39 days |
| 20 | Joseph Lyons CH MP | United Australia | Lyons | 20 November 1937 | 29 November 1937 | 9 days |
| 21 | Harold Thorby MP | Country | Lyons | 29 November 1937 | 7 November 1938 | 343 days |
| 22 | Geoffrey Street MC MP | United Australia | Lyons | 7 November 1938 | 7 April 1939 | 1 year, 6 days |
| 22 | Geoffrey Street MC MP | United Australia | Page | 7 April 1939 | 26 April 1939 | 1 year, 6 days |
| 22 | Geoffrey Street MC MP | United Australia | Menzies | 26 April 1939 | 13 November 1939 | 1 year, 6 days |
| 23 | Robert Menzies MP | United Australia | Menzies | 13 November 1939 | 29 August 1941 | 1 year, 328 days |
| 23 | Robert Menzies MP | United Australia | Fadden | 29 August 1941 | 7 October 1941 | 1 year, 328 days |
| 24 | John Curtin MP | Labor | Curtin | 7 October 1941 | 6 July 1945 | 3 years, 272 days |
| 25 | Jack Beasley MP | Labor | Forde | 6 July 1945 | 13 July 1945 | 1 year, 39 days |
| 25 | Jack Beasley MP | Labor | Chifley | 13 July 1945 | 14 August 1946 | 1 year, 39 days |
| 26 | Frank Forde MP | Labor | Chifley | 15 August 1946 | 1 November 1946 | 79 days |
| 27 | John Dedman MP | Labor | Chifley | 1 November 1946 | 19 December 1949 | 3 years, 48 days |
| 28 | Eric Harrison MP | Liberal | Menzies | 19 December 1949 | 24 October 1950 | 309 days |
| 29 | Sir Philip McBride KCMG MP | Liberal | Menzies | 24 October 1950 | 10 December 1958 | 8 years, 47 days |
| 30 | Athol Townley MP | Liberal | Menzies | 10 December 1958 | 18 December 1963 | 5 years, 8 days |
| 31 | Paul Hasluck MP | Liberal | Menzies | 18 December 1963 | 24 April 1964 | 128 days |
| 32 | Senator Sir Shane Paltridge KBE | Liberal | Menzies | 24 April 1964 | 19 January 1966 | 1 year, 270 days |
| 33 | Allen Fairhall MP | Liberal | Holt | 26 January 1966 | 12 December 1967 | 3 years, 297 days |
| 33 | Allen Fairhall MP | Liberal | McEwen | 12 December 1967 | 10 January 1968 | 3 years, 297 days |
| 33 | Allen Fairhall MP | Liberal | Gorton | 10 January 1968 | 12 November 1969 | 3 years, 297 days |
| 34 | Malcolm Fraser MP | Liberal | Gorton | 12 November 1969 | 8 March 1971 | 1 year, 116 days |
| 35 | John Gorton CH MP | Liberal | McMahon | 19 March 1971 | 13 August 1971 | 147 days |
| 36 | David Fairbairn DFC MP | Liberal | McMahon | 13 August 1971 | 5 December 1972 | 1 year, 114 days |
| 37 | Lance Barnard MP | Labor | Whitlam | 5 December 1972 | 6 June 1975 | 2 years, 183 days |
| 38 | Bill Morrison MP | Labor | Whitlam | 6 June 1975 | 11 November 1975 | 158 days |
| 39 | Sir James Killen KCMG MP | Liberal | Fraser | 12 November 1975 | 7 May 1982 | 6 years, 176 days |
| 40 | Ian Sinclair MP | National Country | Fraser | 7 May 1982 | 16 October 1982 | 308 days |
| 40 | Ian Sinclair MP | National | Fraser | 16 October 1982 | 11 March 1983 | 308 days |
| 41 | Gordon Scholes MP | Labor | Hawke | 11 March 1983 | 13 December 1984 | 1 year, 277 days |
| 42 | Kim Beazley MP | Labor | Hawke | 13 December 1984 | 4 April 1990 | 5 years, 112 days |
| 43 | Senator Robert Ray | Labor | Hawke | 4 April 1990 | 20 December 1991 | 5 years, 342 days |
| 43 | Senator Robert Ray | Labor | Keating | 20 December 1991 | 11 March 1996 | 5 years, 342 days |
| 44 | Ian McLachlan AO MP | Liberal | Howard | 11 March 1996 | 21 October 1998 | 2 years, 224 days |
| 45 | John Moore MP | Liberal | Howard | 21 October 1998 | 30 January 2001 | 2 years, 101 days |
| 46 | Peter Reith MP | Liberal | Howard | 30 January 2001 | 26 November 2001 | 300 days |
| 47 | Senator Robert Hill | Liberal | Howard | 26 November 2001 | 20 January 2006 | 4 years, 55 days |
| 48 | Brendan Nelson MP | Liberal | Howard | 20 January 2006 | 3 December 2007 | 1 year, 317 days |
| 49 | Joel Fitzgibbon MP | Labor | Rudd | 3 December 2007 | 9 June 2009 | 1 year, 188 days |
| 50 | Senator John Faulkner | Labor | Rudd | 9 June 2009 | 24 June 2010 | 1 year, 97 days |
| 50 | Senator John Faulkner | Labor | Gillard | 24 June 2010 | 14 September 2010 | 1 year, 97 days |
| 51 | Stephen Smith MP | Labor | Gillard | 14 September 2010 | 27 June 2013 | 3 years, 4 days |
| 51 | Stephen Smith MP | Labor | Rudd | 27 June 2013 | 18 September 2013 | 3 years, 4 days |
| 52 | Senator David Johnston | Liberal | Abbott | 18 September 2013 | 23 December 2014 | 1 year, 96 days |
| 53 | Kevin Andrews MP | Liberal | Abbott | 23 December 2014 | 15 September 2015 | 272 days |
| 53 | Kevin Andrews MP | Liberal | Turnbull | 15 September 2015 | 21 September 2015 | 272 days |
| 54 | Senator Marise Payne | Liberal | Turnbull | 21 September 2015 | 24 August 2018 | 2 years, 341 days |
| 54 | Senator Marise Payne | Liberal | Morrison | 24 August 2018 | 28 August 2018 | 2 years, 341 days |
| 55 | Christopher Pyne MP | Liberal | Morrison | 28 August 2018 | 26 May 2019 | 271 days |
| 56 | Senator Linda Reynolds CSC | Liberal | Morrison | 29 May 2019 | 30 March 2021 | 1 year, 305 days |
| 57 | Peter Dutton MP | Liberal | Morrison | 30 March 2021 | 23 May 2022 | 1 year, 54 days |
| 58 | Richard Marles MP | Labor | Albanese | 1 June 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 285 days |

## List of assistant ministers for defence

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Defence, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Granville Ryrie MP | Nationalist | Hughes | Assistant Minister for Defence | 4 February 1920 (1920-2-4) | 5 February 1923 (1923-2-5) | 3 years, 1 day |
| 2 | Josiah Francis | United Australia | Lyons | Assistant Minister for Defence | 6 January 1932 (1932-1-6) | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 2 years, 279 days |
| 3 | Reg Bishop | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 19 December 1972 | 12 June 1974 | 1 year, 175 days |
| 4 | John McLeay | Liberal | Fraser | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 22 December 1975 | 3 November 1980 | 4 years, 317 days |
| 5 | Kevin Newman | Liberal | Fraser | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 3 November 1980 | 7 May 1982 | 1 year, 185 days |
| 6 | Bruce Scott | National | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 21 October 1998 | 26 November 2001 | 3 years, 36 days |
| 7 | Danna Vale | Liberal | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 26 November 2001 | 7 October 2003 | 1 year, 315 days |
| 8 | Mal Brough | Liberal | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 7 October 2003 | 18 July 2004 | 285 days |
| 9 | Fran Bailey | Liberal | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 18 July 2004 | 22 October 2004 | 285 days |
| 10 | De-Anne Kelly | National | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 22 October 2004 | 27 January 2006 | 1 year, 97 days |
| 11 | Bruce Billson | Liberal | Howard | Minister assisting the Minister for Defence | 27 January 2006 | 3 December 2007 | 1 year, 310 days |
| 12 | Stuart Robert | Liberal | Abbott | Assistant Minister for Defence | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 12 | Stuart Robert | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Defence | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 13 | Darren Chester | National | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Defence | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 150 days |
| 14 | Michael McCormack | National | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Defence | 18 February 2016 (2016-2-18) | 19 July 2016 (2016-7-19) | 152 days |
| 15 | David Fawcett | Liberal | Morrison | Assistant Minister for Defence | 26 August 2018 (2018-8-26) | 29 May 2019 (2019-5-29) | 276 days |
| 16 | Alex Hawke | Liberal | Morrison | Assistant Minister for Defence | 29 May 2019 (2019-5-29) | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 1 year, 207 days |
| 16 | Andrew Hastie | Liberal | Morrison | Assistant Minister for Defence | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 152 days |
| 17 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Defence | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 285 days |

## Individual service branch ministers
### Ministers for the Navy

The following served as Minister for the Navy:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Jens Jensen MP | Labor | Fisher | 12 July 1915 | 27 October 1915 | 1 year, 220 days |
| 1 | Jens Jensen MP | Labor | Hughes | 27 October 1915 | 14 November 1916 | 1 year, 220 days |
| 1 | Jens Jensen MP | National Labor | Hughes | 14 November 1916 | 17 February 1917 | 1 year, 220 days |
| 2 | Joseph Cook MP | Commonwealth Liberal | Hughes | 17 February 1917 | 13 June 1917 | 3 years, 162 days |
| 2 | Joseph Cook MP | Nationalist | Hughes | 13 June 1917 | 28 July 1920 | 3 years, 162 days |
| 3 | William Laird Smith MP | Nationalist | Hughes | 28 July 1920 | 21 December 1921 | 1 year, 146 days |
| 4 | Frederick Stewart MP | United Australia | Menzies | 13 November 1939 | 14 March 1940 | 122 days |
| 5 | Archie Cameron MP | Country | Menzies | 14 March 1940 | 28 October 1940 | 228 days |
| 6 | Billy Hughes MP | United Australia | Menzies | 28 October 1940 | 29 August 1941 | 344 days |
| 6 | Billy Hughes MP | United Australia | Fadden | 29 August 1941 | 7 October 1941 | 344 days |
| 7 | Norman Makin MP | Labor | Curtin | 7 October 1941 | 6 July 1945 | 4 years, 312 days |
| 7 | Norman Makin MP | Labor | Forde | 6 July 1945 | 13 July 1945 | 4 years, 312 days |
| 7 | Norman Makin MP | Labor | Chifley | 13 July 1945 | 15 August 1946 | 4 years, 312 days |
| 8 | Arthur Drakeford MP | Labor | Chifley | 15 August 1946 | 1 November 1946 | 78 days |
| 9 | Bill Riordan MP | Labor | Chifley | 1 November 1946 | 19 December 1949 | 3 years, 48 days |
| 10 | Josiah Francis MP | Liberal | Menzies | 19 December 1949 | 11 May 1951 | 1 year, 143 days |
| 11 | Philip McBride MP | Liberal | Menzies | 11 May 1951 | 17 July 1951 | 67 days |
| 12 | William McMahon MP | Liberal | Menzies | 17 July 1951 | 9 July 1954 | 2 years, 357 days |
| (10) | Josiah Francis MP | Liberal | Menzies | 9 July 1954 | 11 July 1955 | 1 year, 2 days |
| 13 | Eric Harrison MP | Liberal | Menzies | 11 July 1955 | 11 January 1956 | 184 days |
| 14 | Senator Neil O'Sullivan | Liberal | Menzies | 11 January 1956 | 24 October 1956 | 287 days |
| 15 | Charles Davidson MP | Country | Menzies | 24 October 1956 | 10 December 1958 | 2 years, 47 days |
| 16 | Senator John Gorton | Liberal | Menzies | 10 December 1958 | 18 December 1963 | 5 years, 8 days |
| 17 | Jim Forbes MP | Liberal | Menzies | 18 December 1963 | 4 March 1964 | 77 days |
| 18 | Fred Chaney, Sr. MP | Liberal | Menzies | 4 March 1964 | 26 January 1966 | 2 years, 285 days |
| 18 | Fred Chaney, Sr. MP | Liberal | Holt | 26 January 1966 | 14 December 1966 | 2 years, 285 days |
| 19 | Don Chipp MP | Liberal | Holt | 14 December 1966 | 19 December 1967 | 1 year, 76 days |
| 19 | Don Chipp MP | Liberal | McEwen | 19 December 1967 | 10 January 1968 | 1 year, 76 days |
| 19 | Don Chipp MP | Liberal | Gorton | 10 January 1968 | 28 February 1968 | 1 year, 76 days |
| 20 | Bert Kelly MP | Liberal | Gorton | 28 February 1968 | 12 November 1969 | 1 year, 257 days |
| 21 | James Killen MP | Liberal | Gorton | 12 November 1969 | 10 March 1971 | 1 year, 130 days |
| 21 | James Killen MP | Liberal | McMahon | 10 March 1971 | 22 March 1971 | 1 year, 130 days |
| 22 | Malcolm Mackay MP | Liberal | McMahon | 22 March 1971 | 5 December 1972 | 1 year, 258 days |
| 23 | Lance Barnard MP | Labor | Whitlam | 5 December 1972 | 30 November 1973 | 360 days |

### Ministers for the Army

The following served as Minister for the Army:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Geoffrey Street MP | United Australia | Menzies | 13 November 1939 | 28 October 1940 | 350 days |
| 2 | Senator Percy Spender | United Australia | Menzies | 28 October 1940 | 29 August 1941 | 344 days |
| 2 | Senator Percy Spender | United Australia | Fadden | 29 August 1941 | 7 October 1941 | 344 days |
| 3 | Frank Forde MP | Labor | Curtin | 7 October 1941 | 6 July 1945 | 5 years, 25 days |
| 3 | Frank Forde MP | Labor | Forde | 6 July 1945 | 13 July 1945 | 5 years, 25 days |
| 3 | Frank Forde MP | Labor | Chifley | 13 July 1945 | 1 November 1946 | 5 years, 25 days |
| 4 | Cyril Chambers MP | Labor | Chifley | 1 November 1946 | 19 December 1949 | 3 years, 48 days |
| 5 | Josiah Francis MP | Liberal | Menzies | 19 December 1949 | 7 November 1955 | 5 years, 323 days |
| 6 | Eric Harrison MP | Liberal | Menzies | 7 November 1955 | 28 February 1956 | 113 days |
| 7 | John Cramer MP | Liberal | Menzies | 28 February 1956 | 18 December 1963 | 7 years, 293 days |
| 8 | Jim Forbes MP | Liberal | Menzies | 18 December 1963 | 26 January 1966 | 2 years, 39 days |
| 9 | Malcolm Fraser MP | Liberal | Holt | 26 January 1966 | 19 December 1967 | 2 years, 33 days |
| 9 | Malcolm Fraser MP | Liberal | McEwen | 19 December 1967 | 10 January 1968 | 2 years, 33 days |
| 9 | Malcolm Fraser MP | Liberal | Gorton | 10 January 1968 | 28 February 1968 | 2 years, 33 days |
| 10 | Phillip Lynch MP | Liberal | Gorton | 28 February 1968 | 12 November 1969 | 1 year, 257 days |
| 11 | Andrew Peacock MP | Liberal | Gorton | 12 November 1969 | 10 March 1971 | 2 years, 82 days |
| 11 | Andrew Peacock MP | Liberal | McMahon | 10 March 1971 | 2 February 1972 | 2 years, 82 days |
| 12 | Bob Katter, Sr. MP | Country | McMahon | 2 February 1972 | 5 December 1972 | 309 days |
| 13 | Lance Barnard MP | Labor | Whitlam | 5 December 1972 | 30 November 1973 | 360 days |

### Ministers for Air

The following served as Minister for Air:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | James Fairbairn MP | United Australia | Menzies | 13 November 1939 | 13 August 1940 | 274 days |
| 2 | Arthur Fadden MP | Country | Menzies | 14 August 1940 | 28 October 1940 | 75 days |
| 3 | John McEwen MP | Country | Menzies | 28 October 1940 | 29 August 1941 | 344 days |
| 3 | John McEwen MP | Country | Fadden | 29 August 1941 | 7 October 1941 | 344 days |
| 4 | Arthur Drakeford MP | Labor | Curtin | 7 October 1941 | 6 July 1945 | 8 years, 73 days |
| 4 | Arthur Drakeford MP | Labor | Forde | 6 July 1945 | 13 July 1945 | 8 years, 73 days |
| 4 | Arthur Drakeford MP | Labor | Chifley | 13 July 1945 | 19 December 1949 | 8 years, 73 days |
| 5 | Thomas White MP | Liberal | Menzies | 19 December 1949 | 11 May 1951 | 1 year, 143 days |
| 6 | Philip McBride MP | Liberal | Menzies | 11 May 1951 | 17 July 1951 | 67 days |
| 7 | William McMahon MP | Liberal | Menzies | 17 July 1951 | 9 July 1954 | 2 years, 357 days |
| 8 | Athol Townley MP | Liberal | Menzies | 9 July 1954 | 24 October 1956 | 2 years, 107 days |
| 9 | Frederick Osborne MP | Liberal | Menzies | 24 October 1956 | 29 December 1960 | 4 years, 66 days |
| 10 | Senator Harrie Wade | Liberal | Menzies | 29 December 1960 | 22 December 1961 | 358 days |
| 11 | Les Bury MP | Liberal | Menzies | 22 December 1961 | 27 July 1962 | 217 days |
| 12 | David Fairbairn MP | Liberal | Menzies | 27 July 1962 | 10 June 1964 | 1 year, 319 days |
| 13 | Peter Howson MP | Liberal | Menzies | 10 June 1964 | 26 January 1966 | 3 years, 263 days |
| 13 | Peter Howson MP | Liberal | Holt | 26 January 1966 | 19 December 1967 | 3 years, 263 days |
| 13 | Peter Howson MP | Liberal | McEwen | 19 December 1967 | 10 January 1968 | 3 years, 263 days |
| 13 | Peter Howson MP | Liberal | Gorton | 10 January 1968 | 28 February 1968 | 3 years, 263 days |
| 14 | Gordon Freeth MP | Liberal | Gorton | 28 February 1968 | 13 February 1969 | 351 days |
| 15 | Dudley Erwin MP | Liberal | Gorton | 13 February 1969 | 12 November 1969 | 272 days |
| 16 | Senator Tom Drake-Brockman | Country | Gorton | 12 November 1969 | 10 March 1971 | 3 years, 23 days |
| 16 | Senator Tom Drake-Brockman | Country | McMahon | 10 March 1971 | 5 December 1972 | 3 years, 23 days |
| 17 | Lance Barnard MP | Labor | Whitlam | 5 December 1972 | 30 November 1973 | 360 days |