McMahon ministry

46th ministry of government of Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1]

Dateformed10 March 1971
Datedissolved5 December 1972
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Governor-General
Sir Paul Hasluck
Quick facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...
McMahon ministry

46th Ministry of Australia
The McMahon Ministry between March and May 1971.
Date formed10 March 1971
Date dissolved5 December 1972
People and organisations
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Governor-General
Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime Minister
William McMahon
Deputy Prime Minister
Doug Anthony
No. of ministers
33 (plus 6 Assistant Ministers)
Member party
Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature
Coalition majority government
Opposition party
Labor
Opposition leader
Gough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election
2 December 1972
Legislature term27th
PredecessorSecond Gorton ministry
SuccessorFirst Whitlam ministry
Close

As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the McMahon ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, and Gorton governments, as well as the First Fraser ministries. 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

More information Party, Minister ...
Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal William McMahon
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982)
Country Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)
Liberal John Gorton
(1911–2002)

MP for Higgins
(1968–1975)
Country Ian Sinclair
(born 1929)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)
Liberal Sir Ken Anderson
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975)
Liberal Sir Reginald Swartz
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)
Liberal Billy Snedden
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)
Liberal Nigel Bowen
(1911–1994)

MP for Parramatta
(1964–1973)
Liberal Sir Alan Hulme
(1907–1989)

MP for Petrie
(1963–1972)
Liberal Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)
Country Peter Nixon
(1928–2025)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)
Liberal David Fairbairn
(1917–1994)

MP for Farrer
(1949–1975) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Phillip Lynch
(1933–1984)

MP for Flinders
(1966–1982) (in Cabinet from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 20 August 1971)
Close

Outer ministry

More information Party, Minister ...
Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Charles Barnes
(1901–1998)

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)
Liberal James Forbes
(1923–2019)

MP for Barker
(1956–1975)
Liberal Dame Annabelle Rankin
(1908–1986)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1971)
Liberal Bill Wentworth
(1907–2003)

MP for Mackellar
(1949–1977)
Liberal Reg Wright
(1905–1990)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1978)
Liberal Don Chipp
(1925–2006)

MP for Hotham
(1969–1977)
Liberal Bob Cotton
(1915–2006)

Senator for New South Wales
(1965–1978)
Country Tom Drake-Brockman
(1919–1992)

Senator for Western Australia
(1959–1978)
Country Mac Holten
(1922–1996)

MP for Indi
(1958–1977)
Liberal Tom Hughes
(1923–2024)

MP for Berowra
(1969–1972)
Liberal James Killen
(1925–2007)

MP for Moreton
(1955–1983)
Liberal Andrew Peacock
(1939–2021)

MP for Kooyong
(1966–1994)
Country Ralph Hunt
(1928–2011)

MP for Gwydir
(1969–1989)
Liberal Kevin Cairns
(1929–1984)

MP for Lilley
(1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Ivor Greenwood
(1926–1976)

Senator for Victoria
(1968–1976) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Malcolm Mackay
(1919–1999)

MP for Evans
(1963–1972) (in Ministry from 22 March 1971)
Liberal Peter Howson
(1919–2009)

MP for Casey
(1969–1972) (in Ministry from 31 May 1971)
Liberal Victor Garland
(1934–2022)

MP for Curtin
(1969–1981) (in Ministry from 2 August 1971)
Country Bob Katter
(1918–1990)

MP for Kennedy
(1966–1990) (in Ministry from 2 February 1972)
Close

Assistant ministers

More information Party, Minister ...
Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal Don Dobie
(1927–1996)

MP for Cook
(1969–1972)
Liberal John McLeay
(1922–2000)

MP for Boothby
(1966–1981)
Country Ian Robinson
(1925–2017)

MP for Cowper
(1963–1984)
Liberal Tony Street
(1926-2022)

MP for Corangamite
(1966–1984)
Liberal John Marriott
(1913–1994)

Senator for Tasmania
(1953–1975)
Country Robert King OBE
(1920–1991)

MP for Wimmera
(1958–1977)
Close

References

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