First Hughes ministry

See also: Billy Hughes

The First Hughes ministry (Labor) was the 11th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 7th Prime Minister, Billy Hughes. The First Hughes ministry succeeded the Third Fisher ministry, which dissolved on 27 October 1915 following Andrew Fisher's retirement from Parliament to become the next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The ministry was replaced by the Second Hughes ministry on 14 November 1916 following the split that took place within Labor over the issue of conscription. This led to Hughes and his supporters leaving the party to form the National Labor Party.^[1]

First Hughes ministry
11th Ministry of Australia
Photo of the First Hughes ministry
Date formed	27 October 1915
Date dissolved	14 November 1916
People and organisations
Monarch	George V
Governor-General	Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson
Prime Minister	Billy Hughes
No. of ministers	10
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Liberal
Opposition leader	Joseph Cook
History
Legislature term	6th
Predecessor	Third Fisher ministry
Successor	Second Hughes ministry

King O'Malley, who died in 1953, was the last surviving member of the First Hughes ministry; O'Malley was also the last surviving member of the Second Fisher ministry.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Labor	(Rt) Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for West Sydney (1901–1917)		Prime Minister Leader of the Labor Party Attorney-General Minister for Trade and Customs (from 29 September 1916)
		Hon William Higgs KC (1862–1951) MP for Capricornia (1910–1922)		Treasurer (to 27 October 1916)
		Hon King O'Malley (1858–1953) MP for Darwin (1903–1917)		Minister for Home Affairs
		Hon Hugh Mahon (1857–1931) MP for Kalgoorlie (1913–1917)		Minister for External Affairs
		Hon Frank Tudor (1866–1922) MP for Yarra (1901–1922)		Minister for Trade and Customs (to 14 September 1916)
		Hon George Pearce (1870–1952) Senator for Western Australia (1901–1938)		Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for Defence Leader of the Government in the Senate
		Hon Jens Jensen (1865–1936) MP for Bass (1910–1919)		Minister for the Navy
		Hon William Webster (1860–1936) MP for Gwydir (1903–1919)		Postmaster-General
		Hon Albert Gardiner (1867–1952) Senator for New South Wales (1910–1926)		Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 27 October 1916)
		Hon Edward Russell (1878–1925) Senator for Victoria (1907–1925)		Assistant Minister (to 27 October 1916)