First Gorton ministry

See also: Gorton government

First Gorton ministry
44th Ministry of Australia
Governor-General Lord Casey with first arrangement of newly appointed ministers to the Gorton ministry
Date formed	10 January 1968
Date dissolved	12 November 1969
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Lord Casey Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime Minister	John Gorton
Deputy Prime Minister	John McEwen
No. of ministers	30
Member party	Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Coalition majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	Gough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election	25 October 1969
Legislature term	26th
Predecessor	McEwen ministry
Successor	Second Gorton ministry

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.

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
	Liberal	John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968) MP for Higgins (1968–1975)		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)
	Country	John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971)	File:John McEwen 1969.jpg	Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry
	Liberal	William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982)	File:William McMahon 1966.jpg	Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
	Liberal	Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969)	File:Paul Hasluck.jpg	Minister for External Affairs (to 11 February 1969)
	Liberal	Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969)	File:Allen Fairhall.jpg	Minister for Defence
	Country	Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984)	File:Doug Anthony 1970.png	Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry
	Liberal	Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968)	File:DenhamHenty1967.jpg	Minister for Supply (to 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1963–1972)	File:Alan Hulme 1960s.png	Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal	David Fairbairn (1917–1994) MP for Farrer (1949–1975)	File:David Fairbairn 1969.jpg	Minister for National Development
	Liberal	Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974)	File:Les Bury.jpg	Minister for Labour and National Service
	Country	Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998)	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
	Liberal	Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975) (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)
	Liberal	Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983) (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)
	Liberal	Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969) (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
	Country	Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972)	File:CharlesBarnes1963.jpg	Minister for Territories (to 28 February 1968) Minister for External Territories (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Reginald Swartz (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972)	File:ReginaldSwartz1962.jpg	Minister for Civil Aviation Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 13 February 1969)
	Liberal	Billy Snedden (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983)	File:BillySnedden.jpeg	Minister for Immigration Leader of the House (to February 1969)
	Liberal	James Forbes (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975)	File:JimForbes1967.jpg	Minister for Health
	Liberal	Peter Howson (1919–2009) MP for Fawkner (1955–1969)	File:Peter Howson 1963 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Air (to 28 February 1968) Minister assisting the Treasurer (to 28 February 1968)
	Country	Colin McKellar (1903–1970) Senator for New South Wales (1958–1970)	File:ColinMcKellar1967.jpg	Minister for Repatriation
	Liberal	Dame Annabelle Rankin (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971)	File:AnnabelleRankin1967.jpg	Minister for Housing
	Liberal	Nigel Bowen (1911–1994) MP for Parramatta (1964–1973)	File:Nigel Bowen 1968-02 (cropped).jpg	Attorney-General
	Liberal	Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Higinbotham (1960–1969)	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)
	Liberal	Bert Kelly (1912–1997) MP for Wakefield (1958–1977)	File:BertKelly1964.jpg	Minister for Works (to 28 February 1968) Minister for the Navy (from 28 February 1968)
	Country	Peter Nixon (1928-2025) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983)	File:Peter Nixon 1967.jpg	Minister for the Interior
	Liberal	Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)	File:PhillipLynch1968.jpg	Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1968)
	Liberal	Malcolm Scott (1911–1989) Senator for Western Australia (1950–1971) (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)
	Liberal	Bill Wentworth (1907–2003) MP for Mackellar (1949–1977) (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)
	Liberal	Reg Wright (1905–1990) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1978) (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)
	Liberal	Dudley Erwin (1917–1984) MP for Ballaarat (1955–1975) (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)