First Gorton ministry

Template:Short description Template:See also Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox government cabinet Template:John Gorton sidebar The First Gorton ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 44th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The First Gorton ministry succeeded the McEwen ministry, which dissolved on 10 January 1968 following the election of Gorton as Liberal leader after the disappearance of former Prime Minister Harold Holt. The ministry was replaced by the Second Gorton ministry on 12 November 1969 following the 1969 federal election.<ref name=phb>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	John Gorton Template:Small Senator for Victoria Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Higgins Template:Small	File:JohnGorton1968.jpg	Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 1 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (to 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	John McEwen Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Murray Template:Small	File:John McEwen 1969.jpg	Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	William McMahon Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Lowe Template:Small	File:William McMahon 1966.jpg	Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Paul Hasluck Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Curtin Template:Small	File:Paul Hasluck.jpg	Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Allen Fairhall Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Paterson Template:Small	File:Allen Fairhall.jpg	Minister for Defence
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Doug Anthony Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Richmond Template:Small	File:Doug Anthony 1970.png	Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Denham Henty Template:Small Senator for Tasmania Template:Small	File:DenhamHenty1967.jpg	Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Alan Hulme Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Petrie Template:Small	File:Alan Hulme 1960s.png	Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	David Fairbairn Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Farrer Template:Small	File:David Fairbairn 1969.jpg	Minister for National Development
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Les Bury Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Wentworth Template:Small	File:Les Bury.jpg	Minister for Labour and National Service
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Ian Sinclair Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for New England Template:Small	File:Ian Sinclair 1970 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Ken Anderson Template:Small Senator for New South Wales Template:Small (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)	File:Ken Anderson 1970.jpg	Minister for Customs and Excise (to 28 February 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 28 February 1968) Minister for Supply (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Malcolm Fraser Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Wannon Template:Small (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)	File:Malcolm Fraser 1968.jpg	Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Education and Science (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Gordon Freeth Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Forrest Template:Small (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)	File:Gordon Freeth 1969.jpg	Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 28 February 1968) Minister for Air (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 28 February 1968 to 13 February 1969) Minister for External Affairs (from 11 February 1969)

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Charles Barnes Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for McPherson Template:Small	File:CharlesBarnes1963.jpg	Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968) Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Reginald Swartz Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Darling Downs Template:Small	File:ReginaldSwartz1962.jpg	Minister for Civil Aviation Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Billy Snedden Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Bruce Template:Small	File:BillySnedden.jpeg	Minister for Immigration Leader of the House (to February 1969)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	James Forbes Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Barker Template:Small	File:JimForbes1967.jpg	Minister for Health
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Peter Howson Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Fawkner Template:Small	File:Peter Howson 1963 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Colin McKellar Template:Small Senator for New South Wales Template:Small	File:ColinMcKellar1967.jpg	Minister for Repatriation
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Dame Annabelle Rankin Template:Small Senator for Queensland Template:Small	File:AnnabelleRankin1967.jpg	Minister for Housing
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Nigel Bowen Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Parramatta Template:Small	File:Nigel Bowen 1968-02 (cropped).jpg	Attorney-General
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Don Chipp Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Higinbotham Template:Small	File:DonChipp1966.jpg	Minister for the Navy (to 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (to 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Bert Kelly Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Wakefield Template:Small	File:BertKelly1964.jpg	Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968) Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Peter Nixon Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Gippsland Template:Small	File:Peter Nixon 1967.jpg	Minister for the Interior
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Phillip Lynch Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Flinders Template:Small (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	File:PhillipLynch1968.jpg	Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Malcolm Scott Template:Small Senator for Western Australia Template:Small (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	File:MalcolmScott1968.jpg	Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 12 February 1968) Minister for Customs and Excise (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Bill Wentworth Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Mackellar Template:Small (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	File:WilliamWentworth1968.jpg	Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Reg Wright Template:Small Senator for Tasmania Template:Small (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	File:Reg Wright 1968 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Works (from 28 February 1968) Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (from 28 February 1968)
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Dudley Erwin Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Ballaarat Template:Small (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)	File:DudleyErwin1961.jpg	Chief Government Whip in the House (to 12 February 1969) Minister for Air (from 13 February 1969)