# Forde ministry

The Forde ministry (Labor) was the 31st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 15th prime minister, Frank Forde. The Forde Ministry succeeded the Second Curtin ministry, which dissolved on 6 July 1945 following the death of former prime minister John Curtin - the second of three occasions where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since Forde was the deputy Labor leader, it was a caretaker ministry until the Labor caucus could elect a new leader. Treasurer Ben Chifley was ultimately elected over Forde on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.
Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the Forde Ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, the Curtin government, and the First Chifley ministry.

## Ministry

| Party | Minister | Portfolio |
| Labor | Rt Hon Frank Forde (1890–1983) MP for Capricornia (1922–1946) | Prime Minister Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for the Army |
| Labor | Hon Ben Chifley (1885–1951) MP for Macquarie (1940–1951) | Leader of the Labor Party (from 12 July 1945) Treasurer |
| Labor | Rt Hon Dr H. V. Evatt KC (1894–1965) MP for Barton (1940–1958) | Attorney-General Minister for External Affairs |
| Labor | Hon Jack Beasley (1895–1949) MP for West Sydney (1928–1946) | Vice-President of the Executive Council Minister for Defence |
| Labor | Hon Norman Makin (1889–1982) MP for Hindmarsh (1919–1946) | Minister for the Navy Minister for Munitions Minister for Aircraft Production |
| Labor | Hon Richard Keane (1881–1946) Senator for Victoria (1938–1946) | Minister for Trade and Customs Leader of the Government in the Senate |
| Labor | Hon Jack Holloway (1875–1967) MP for Melbourne Ports (1931–1951) | Minister for Labour and National Service |
| Labor | Hon Arthur Drakeford (1878–1957) MP for Maribyrnong (1934–1955) | Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation |
| Labor | Hon William Scully (1883–1966) MP for Gwydir (1937–1949) | Minister for Commerce and Agriculture |
| Labor | Hon Bill Ashley (1881–1958) Senator for New South Wales (1937–1958) | Minister for Supply and Shipping |
| Labor | Hon John Dedman (1896–1973) MP for Corio (1940–1949) | Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Minister for Postwar Reconstruction |
| Labor | Hon Joe Collings (1865–1955) Senator for Queensland (1932–1950) | Minister for the Interior |
| Labor | Hon Eddie Ward (1899–1963) MP for East Sydney (1932–1963) | Minister for Transport Minister for External Territories |
| Labor | Hon James Fraser (1889–1961) Senator for Western Australia (1938–1959) | Minister for Health Minister for Social Services |
| Labor | Hon Charles Frost (1882–1964) MP for Franklin (1934–1946) | Minister for Repatriation Minister in charge of War Service Homes |
| Labor | Hon Bert Lazzarini (1884–1952) MP for Werriwa (1934–1952) | Minister for Home Security Minister for Works |
| Labor | Hon Don Cameron (1878–1962) Senator for Victoria (1938–1962) | Postmaster-General |
| Labor | Hon Arthur Calwell (1896–1973) MP for Melbourne (1940–1972) | Minister for Information |