McEwen ministry

The McEwen ministry (Country–Liberal Coalition) was the 43rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 18th prime minister, John McEwen. The McEwen ministry succeeded the Second Holt ministry, which dissolved on 19 December 1967 following the disappearance of former prime minister Harold Holt – the third and most recent occasion where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since McEwen was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the Liberal Party, could elect a new leader. John Gorton was ultimately elected on 9 January 1968, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.<ref name=phb>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the McEwen ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, Gorton, and McMahon governments, as well as the First Fraser ministry. James Forbes, who died in 2019, was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
Template:Australian party style|	Country	John McEwen Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Murray Template:Small	File:Sir John McEwen.jpg	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
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|	Liberal	Denham Henty Template:Small Senator for Tasmania Template:Small	File:DenhamHenty1967.jpg	Minister for Supply
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:DavidFairbairn1963.jpg	Minister for National Development
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	John Gorton Template:Small Senator for Victoria Template:Small	File:JohnGorton.jpg	Leader of the Liberal Party (from 9 January 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Education and Science
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	Doug Anthony Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Richmond Template:Small	File:DougAnthony1964.jpg	Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Ian Sinclair Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for New England Template:Small	File:Ian Sinclair.jpg	Minister for Social Services Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry

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
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Gordon Freeth Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Forrest Template:Small	File:Gordon Freeth 1969.jpg	Minister for Shipping and Transport
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Reginald Swartz Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Darling Downs Template:Small	File:ReginaldSwartz1962.jpg	Minister for Civil Aviation
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
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 Minister assisting the Treasurer
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Ken Anderson Template:Small Senator for New South Wales Template:Small	File:KenAnderson1962.jpg	Minister for Customs and Excise
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	Malcolm Fraser Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Wannon Template:Small	File:Malcolm Fraser 1966.jpg	Minister for the Army
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Nigel Bowen Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Parramatta Template:Small	File:Nigel Bowen 1966.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 Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry
Template:Australian party style|	Liberal	Bert Kelly Template:Small Template:Post-nominals for Wakefield Template:Small	File:BertKelly1964.jpg	Minister for Works
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

See also

• Page Ministry
• Forde Ministry