# First 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 first Howard ministry (Liberal–National coalition) was the 60th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 25th prime minister, John Howard. The first Howard ministry succeeded the second Keating ministry, which dissolved on 11 March 1996 following the federal election that took place on 2 March 1996, which saw the Coalition defeat Paul Keating's Labor Party. The ministry was replaced by the second Howard ministry on 21 October 1998 following the 1998 federal election.

## Cabinet

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon John Howard (1939–) MP for Bennelong (1974–2007) | Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party |
| Nationals | Hon Tim Fischer (1946–2019) MP for Farrer (1984–2001) | Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the National Party Minister for Trade |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Costello (1957–) MP for Higgins (1990–2009) | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer |
| Nationals | Hon John Anderson (1956–) MP for Gwydir (1989–2007) | Deputy Leader of the National Party Minister for Primary Industries and Energy Minister for Transport and Regional Development (from 25 September 1997 to 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Robert Hill (1946–) Senator for South Australia (1981–2006) | Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for the Environment |
| Liberal | Hon Richard Alston (1941–) Senator for Victoria (1986–2004) | Minister for Communications and the Arts (to 9 October 1997) Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Peter Reith (1950–2022) MP for Flinders (1984–2001) | Minister for Industrial Relations (to 18 July 1997) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (from 17 March 1996 to 18 July 1997) Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business (from 18 July 1997) Leader of the House |
| Liberal | Hon Jocelyn Newman (1937–2018) Senator for Tasmania (1986–2002) | Minister for Social Security Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women (to 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Alexander Downer (1951–) MP for Mayo (1984–2008) | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Liberal | Hon John Moore (1936–2025) MP for Ryan (1975–2001) | Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism Vice-President of the Executive Council |
| Liberal | Hon Ian McLachlan AO (1936–) MP for Barker (1990–1998) | Minister for Defence |
| Nationals | Hon John Sharp (1954–) MP for Hume (1993–1998) | Minister for Transport and Regional Development (to 25 September 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge (1956–) MP for Chisholm (1987–1998) MP for Casey (1998–2001) | Minister for Health and Family Services |
| Liberal | Hon John Fahey (1945–2020) MP for Macarthur (1996–2001) | Minister for Finance (to 9 October 1997) Minister for Finance and Administration (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Amanda Vanstone (1952–) Senator for South Australia (1984–2007) (in Cabinet until 9 October 1997) | Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (to 9 October 1997) Minister for Justice (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Dr David Kemp (1941–) MP for Goldstein (1990–2004) (in Cabinet from 9 October 1997) | Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training (to 9 October 1997) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (to 17 March 1996; from 18 July 1997) Minister assisting the Minister for Finance for Privatisation (to 9 October 1997) Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (from 9 October 1997) |
| Nationals | Hon Mark Vaile (1956–) MP for Lyne (1993–2008) (in Cabinet from 9 October 1997) | Minister for Transport and Regional Development (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Daryl Williams QC (1942–) MP for Tangney (1993–2004) (in Cabinet from 9 October 1997) | Attorney-General Minister for Justice (to 9 October 1997) |

## Outer ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Hon Philip Ruddock (1943–) MP for Berowra (1993–2016) | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister for Administrative Services (from 25 September 1997 to 9 October 1997) |
| Nationals | Hon Peter McGauran (1955–) MP for Gippsland (1983–2008) | Minister for Science and Technology (to 26 September 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Jim Short (1936–) Senator for Victoria (1984–1997) | Assistant Treasurer (to 14 October 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Warwick Parer (1936–2014) Senator for Queensland (1984–2000) | Minister for Resources and Energy |
| Liberal | Hon Geoff Prosser (1948–) MP for Forrest (1987–2007) | Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs (to 18 July 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Judi Moylan (1944–) MP for Pearce (1993–2013) | Minister for Family Services (to 9 October 1997) Minister for the Status of Women (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Bronwyn Bishop (1942–) MP for Mackellar (1994–2016) | Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel |
| Liberal | Hon Warwick Smith (1954–) MP for Bass (1996–1998) | Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government (to 9 October 1997) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Sydney 2000 Games (from 7 May 1996 to 9 October 1997) Minister for Family Services (from 9 October 1997) |
| Nationals | Hon Bruce Scott (1943–) MP for Maranoa (1990–2016) | Minister for Veterans' Affairs |
| Liberal | Hon John Herron (1932–2019) Senator for Queensland (1990–2002) | Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs |
| Liberal | Hon David Jull (1944–2011) MP for Fadden (1984–2007) | Minister for Administrative Services (to 25 September 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Rod Kemp (1944–) Senator for Victoria (1990–2008) (in Ministry from 14 October 1996) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Security (to 14 October 1996) Assistant Treasurer (from 14 October 1996) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (to 6 November 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Chris Ellison (1954–) Senator for Western Australia (1993–2009) (in Ministry from 18 July 1997) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General (from 13 February 1997 to 18 July 1997) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services (from 13 February 1997 to 18 July 1997) Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs (from 18 July 1997 to 9 October 1997) Minister assisting the Attorney-General (from 18 July 1997 to 9 October 1997) Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Andrew Thomson (1961–) MP for Wentworth (1995–2001) (in Ministry from 9 October 1997) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (to 9 October 1997) Minister for Sport and Tourism (from 9 October 1997) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Sydney 2000 Games (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Nick Minchin (1953–) Senator for South Australia (1993–2011) (in Ministry from 9 October 1997) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (to 9 October 1997) Special Minister of State (from 9 October 1997) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Alex Somlyay (1946–) MP for Fairfax (1990–2013) (in Ministry from 9 October 1997) | Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government (from 9 October 1997) |
| Nationals | Hon Warren Truss (1948–) MP for Wide Bay (1990–2016) (in Ministry from 9 October 1997) | Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs (from 9 October 1997) |

## Parliamentary Secretaries

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Liberal | Tony Abbott (1957–) MP for Warringah (1994–2019) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs |
| Nationals | Hon David Brownhill (1935–) Senator for New South Wales (1984–2000) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (to 9 October 1996) |
| Liberal | Ian Campbell (1959–) Senator for Western Australia (1990–2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (to 11 November 1996) Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (from 11 November 1996) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (from 6 November 1996) |
| Liberal | Brian Gibson (1936–2017) Senator for Tasmania (1993–2002) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (to 15 October 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Chris Miles (1947–) MP for Braddon (1984–1998) | Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet) to the Prime Minister |
| Country Liberal | Grant Tambling (1943–2025) Senator for Northern Territory (1987–2001) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development (to 14 October 1996) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Security (from 14 October 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Bob Woods (1947–) Senator for New South Wales (1994–1997) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services (to 3 February 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Michael Ronaldson (1954–) MP for Ballarat (1990–2001) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development (from 14 October 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Ian Macdonald (1945–) Senator for New South Wales (1990–2019) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (from 11 November 1996) |
| Liberal | Hon Alan Cadman (1937–) MP for Mitchell (1974–2007) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business (from 18 July 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Trish Worth (1946–) MP for Adelaide (1993–2004) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services (from 18 July 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Kathy Sullivan (1942–) MP for Moncrieff (1984–2001) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 9 October 1997) |
| Liberal | Hon Judith Troeth (1940–) Senator for Victoria (1993–2011) | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy (from 9 October 1996) |