Seventh Menzies ministry

See also: Menzies government (1949–1966)

The Seventh Menzies ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 37th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The Seventh Menzies ministry succeeded the Sixth Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 11 January 1956 following the federal election that took place in the previous December. It is the first ministry to consist of a two-tier ministry, with only senior ministers being members of Cabinet, while the other ministers are in the outer ministry. With the exception of the Whitlam government and the caretaker First Fraser ministry, this practice has endured to this day. The ministry was replaced by the Eighth Menzies ministry on 10 December 1958 following the 1958 federal election.^[1]

Seventh Menzies ministry
37th Ministry of Australia
The Cabinet of the Seventh Menzies ministry at their swearing-in
Date formed	11 January 1956
Date dissolved	10 December 1958
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir William Slim
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
No. of ministers	24
Member party	Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Coalition majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	H. V. Evatt
History
Election	10 December 1955
Outgoing election	22 November 1958
Legislature term	22nd
Predecessor	Sixth Menzies ministry
Successor	Eighth Menzies ministry

Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving member of the Seventh Menzies Ministry; Fairhall was also the last surviving member of the Ninth Menzies ministry. Hugh Roberton was the last surviving Country junior minister, and Paul Hasluck and John McEwen were the last surviving Liberal and Country Cabinet ministers respectively.

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Liberal	Rt Hon Robert Menzies CH QC (FAA) (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966)		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	Country	Rt Hon Sir Arthur Fadden (GCMG) (1894–1973) MP for McPherson (1949–1958)		Leader of the Country Party (to 26 March 1958) Treasurer
	Liberal	Rt Hon Sir Eric Harrison KCVO (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956)		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (to 26 September 1956) Minister for the Army (to 28 February 1956) Minister for Defence Production (to 24 October 1956) Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 24 October 1956) Leader of the House (to September 1956)
	Liberal	Rt Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Higgins (1949–1967)		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (from 26 September 1956) Minister for Labour and National Service Minister for Immigration (to 24 October 1956) Leader of the House (from September 1956)
	Country	Rt Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971)		Leader of the Country Party (from 26 March 1958) Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 26 March 1958) Minister for Trade
	Liberal	Rt Hon Richard Casey CH DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for La Trobe (1949–1960)		Minister for External Affairs Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
	Liberal	Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) MP for Wakefield (1946–1958)		Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Hon Neil O'Sullivan (1900–1968) Senator for Queensland (1947–1962)		Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for the Navy (to 24 October 1956) Attorney-General (from 15 August 1956) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 24 October 1956)
	Liberal	Hon John Spicer QC (1899–1978) Senator for Victoria (1950–1956)		Attorney-General (to 14 August 1956)
	Liberal	Hon Bill Spooner MM (1897–1966) Senator for New South Wales (1950–1965)		Minister for National Development
	Liberal	Hon Athol Townley (1905–1963) MP for Denison (1949–1963)		Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation (to 24 October 1956) Minister for Immigration (from 24 October 1956 to 19 March 1958) Minister for Defence Production (from 11 February 1958 to 23 April 1958) Minister for Supply (from 11 February 1958)
	Liberal	Hon Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969)		Minister for Territories
	Liberal	Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982) (in Cabinet from 18 October 1956)		Minister for Social Services (to 28 February 1956) Minister for Primary Industry
	Liberal	Hon Howard Beale (1898–1983) MP for Parramatta (1946–1958) (in Cabinet from 24 October 1956)		Minister for Supply (to 10 February 1958) Minister for Defence Production (from 24 October 1956 to 10 February 1958)
	Liberal	Hon Shane Paltridge (1910-1966) Senator for Western Australia (1951-1966) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1958)		Minister for Shipping and Transport Minister for Civil Aviation (from 24 October 1956)

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Country	Hon Walter Cooper MBE (1888–1973) Senator for Queensland (1935–1968)		Minister for Repatriation
	Country	Hon Charles Davidson OBE (1897–1985) MP for Dawson (1949–1963)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party (from 26 March 1958) Postmaster-General Minister for the Navy (from 24 October 1956)
	Liberal	Hon Dr Donald Cameron OBE (1900–1974) MP for Oxley (1949–1961)		Minister for Health
	Liberal	Hon Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969)		Minister for the Interior Minister for Works
	Liberal	Hon Frederick Osborne DSC & Bar VRD (1909–1996) MP for Evans (1949–1961)		Minister for Customs and Excise (to 24 October 1956) Minister for Air (from 24 October 1956)
	Liberal	Hon John Cramer (1896–1994) MP for Bennelong (1949–1974) (in Ministry from 28 February 1956)		Minister for the Army (from 28 February 1956)
	Country	Hon Hugh Roberton (1900–1987) MP for Riverina (1949–1965) (in Ministry from 28 February 1956)		Minister for Social Services (from 28 February 1956)
	Liberal	Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968) (in Ministry from 24 October 1956)		Minister for Customs and Excise (from 24 October 1956)
	Liberal	Hon Alexander Downer (1910–1981) MP for Angas (1949–1964) (in Ministry from 20 March 1958)		Minister for Immigration (from 20 March 1958)

Notes

1. "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2010.