First Holt ministry

See also: Holt government

The First Holt Ministry (Liberal–Country Coalition) was the 41st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 17th Prime Minister, Harold Holt. The First Holt ministry succeeded the Tenth Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 26 January 1966 following the retirement of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies. The ministry was replaced by the Second Holt ministry on 14 December 1966 following the 1966 federal election.^[1]

First Holt ministry
41st Ministry of Australia
The First Holt ministry at their swearing-in
Date formed	26 January 1966
Date dissolved	14 December 1966
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Lord Casey
Prime Minister	Harold Holt
No. of ministers	25
Member party	Liberal–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Coalition majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	Arthur Calwell
History
Outgoing election	26 November 1966
Legislature term	25th
Predecessor	Tenth Menzies ministry
Successor	Second Holt ministry

As of 20 December 2020, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the First Holt ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies government, the Second Holt ministry, and the McEwen, Gorton, and McMahon governments, as well as the First Fraser ministry. James Forbes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Allen Fairhall and Charles Barnes were the last surviving Liberal and Country Cabinet ministers respectively.

Cabinet

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Liberal	Rt Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Higgins (1949–1967)		Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
	Country	Rt Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Murray (1949–1971)		Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry
	Liberal	Rt Hon William McMahon (1908–1988) MP for Lowe (1949–1982)		Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
	Liberal	Rt Hon Paul Hasluck (1905–1993) MP for Curtin (1949–1969)		Minister for External Affairs
	Country	Rt Hon Charles Adermann (1896–1979) MP for Fisher (1949–1972)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 10 December 1966) Minister for Primary Industry
	Liberal	Hon Allen Fairhall (1909–2006) MP for Paterson (1949–1969)		Minister for Defence
	Liberal	Hon Denham Henty (1903–1978) Senator for Tasmania (1950–1968)		Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Supply
	Liberal	Hon Alan Hulme (1907–1989) MP for Petrie (1963–1972)		Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council
	Liberal	Hon David Fairbairn DFC (1917–1994) MP for Farrer (1949–1975)		Minister for National Development Leader of the House (to October 1966)
	Country	Hon Charles Barnes (1901–1998) MP for McPherson (1958–1972)		Minister for Territories
	Liberal	Hon John Gorton (1911–2002) Senator for Victoria (1950–1968)		Minister for Works Minister in charge of Commonwealth Activities in Education and Research under the Prime Minister
	Liberal	Hon Les Bury (1913–1986) MP for Wentworth (1956–1974)		Minister for Labour and National Service

Outer ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Liberal	Hon Gordon Freeth (1914–2001) MP for Forrest (1949–1969)		Minister for Shipping and Transport
	Liberal	Hon Reginald Swartz MBE (1911–2006) MP for Darling Downs (1949–1972)		Minister for Civil Aviation
	Liberal	Hon Hubert Opperman OBE (1904–1996) MP for Corio (1949–1967)		Minister for Immigration
	Liberal	Hon Billy Snedden QC (1926–1987) MP for Bruce (1955–1983)		Attorney-General
	Liberal	Hon Dr James Forbes MC (1923–2019) MP for Barker (1956–1975)		Minister for Health
	Country	Hon Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984)		Minister for the Interior
	Liberal	Hon Fred Chaney AFC (1914–2001) MP for Perth (1955–1969)		Minister for the Navy
	Liberal	Hon Peter Howson (1919–2009) MP for Fawkner (1955–1969)		Minister for Air Minister assisting the Treasurer
	Liberal	Hon Ken Anderson (1909–1985) Senator for New South Wales (1953–1975)		Minister for Customs and Excise
	Country	Hon Colin McKellar (1903–1970) Senator for New South Wales (1958–1970)		Minister for Repatriation
	Country	Hon Ian Sinclair (1929–) MP for New England (1963–1998)		Minister for Social Services
	Liberal	Hon Dame Annabelle Rankin DBE (1908–1986) Senator for Queensland (1947–1971)		Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 8 March 1966) Minister for Housing
	Liberal	Hon Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983)		Minister for the Army