Eighth Menzies ministry

See also: Menzies government (1949–1966)

The Eighth Menzies ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 38th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. The Eighth Menzies ministry succeeded the Seventh Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 10 December 1958 following the federal election that took place in late November. The ministry was replaced by the Ninth Menzies ministry on 22 December 1961 following the 1961 federal election.^[1]

Eighth Menzies ministry
38th Ministry of Australia
The Eighth Menzies ministry at their swearing-in
Date formed	10 December 1958
Date dissolved	22 December 1961
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir William Slim Lord Dunrossil Viscount De L'Isle
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 Arthur Calwell
History
Election	22 November 1958
Outgoing election	9 December 1961
Legislature term	23rd
Predecessor	Seventh Menzies ministry
Successor	Ninth Menzies ministry

John Gorton, who died in 2002, was the last surviving member of the Eighth Menzies ministry. Hugh Roberton was the last surviving Country junior minister, and Sir Garfield Barwick and Charles Davidson 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 Minister for External Affairs (from 4 February 1960)
	Country	Rt Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971)		Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade
	Liberal	Rt Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Higgins (1949–1967)		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer Leader of the House
	Liberal	Rt Hon Richard Casey CH DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for La Trobe (1949–1960)		Minister for External Affairs (to 4 February 1960) Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (to 4 February 1960)
	Liberal	Hon Bill Spooner MM (1897–1966) Senator for New South Wales (1950–1965)		Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for National Development Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal	Hon Athol Townley (1905–1963) MP for Denison (1949–1963)		Minister for Defence
	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)		Minister for Labour and National Service
	Liberal	Hon Shane Paltridge (1910-1966) Senator for Western Australia (1951-1966)		Minister for Civil Aviation Minister for Shipping and Transport (to 5 February 1960)
	Country	Hon Charles Davidson OBE (1897–1985) MP for Dawson (1949–1963)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party Postmaster-General
	Liberal	Hon Alexander Downer (1910–1981) MP for Angas (1949–1964)		Minister for Immigration
	Liberal	Hon Sir Garfield Barwick QC (1903–1997) MP for Parramatta (1958–1964)		Attorney-General
	Country	Hon Charles Adermann (1896–1979) MP for Fisher (1949–1972) (in Cabinet from 4 February 1960)		Minister for Primary Industry

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Country	Hon (Sir) Walter Cooper MBE (1888–1973) Senator for Queensland (1935–1968)		Minister for Repatriation (to 29 December 1960)
	Liberal	Hon Dr Donald Cameron OBE (1900–1974) MP for Oxley (1949–1961)		Minister for Health Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (from 4 February 1960)
	Liberal	Hon Frederick Osborne DSC & Bar VRD (1909–1996) MP for Evans (1949–1961)		Minister for Air (to 29 December 1960) Minister for Repatriation (from 29 December 1960)
	Liberal	Hon John Cramer (1896–1994) MP for Bennelong (1949–1974)		Minister for the Army
	Country	Hon Hugh Roberton (1900–1987) MP for Riverina (1949–1965)		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968)		Minister for Customs and Excise
	Liberal	Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969)		Minister for the Interior Minister for Works
	Liberal	Hon John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968)		Minister for the Navy Minister assisting the Minister for External Affairs (from 23 February 1960)
	Liberal	Hon Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1949–1961)		Minister for Supply
	Liberal	Hon Hubert Opperman OBE (1904–1996) MP for Corio (1949–1967) (in Ministry from 5 February 1960)		Chief Government Whip in the House (to 5 February 1960) Minister for Shipping and Transport (from 5 February 1960)
	Country	Hon Harrie Wade OBE (1905–1964) Senator for Victoria (1956–1964) (in Ministry from 29 December 1960)		Minister for Air (from 29 December 1960)