Forde ministry

See also: Frank Forde

The Forde ministry (Labor) was the 31st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 15th prime minister, Frank Forde. The Forde Ministry succeeded the Second Curtin ministry, which dissolved on 6 July 1945 following the death of former prime minister John Curtin - the second of three occasions where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since Forde was the deputy Labor leader, it was a caretaker ministry until the Labor caucus could elect a new leader. Treasurer Ben Chifley was ultimately elected over Forde on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.^[1]

Forde ministry
31st Ministry of Australia
Frank Forde Ben Chifley
Date formed	6 July 1945
Date dissolved	13 July 1945
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	The Duke of Gloucester
Prime Minister	Frank Forde
No. of ministers	18
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Liberal–Country coalition
Opposition leader	Robert Menzies
History
Legislature term	17th
Predecessor	Second Curtin ministry
Successor	First Chifley ministry

Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the Forde Ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, the Curtin government, and the First Chifley ministry.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Labor	Rt Hon Frank Forde (1890–1983) MP for Capricornia (1922–1946)		Prime Minister Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for the Army
		Hon Ben Chifley (1885–1951) MP for Macquarie (1940–1951)		Leader of the Labor Party (from 12 July 1945) Treasurer
		Rt Hon Dr H. V. Evatt KC (1894–1965) MP for Barton (1940–1958)		Attorney-General Minister for External Affairs
		Hon Jack Beasley (1895–1949) MP for West Sydney (1928–1946)		Vice-President of the Executive Council Minister for Defence
		Hon Norman Makin (1889–1982) MP for Hindmarsh (1919–1946)		Minister for the Navy Minister for Munitions Minister for Aircraft Production
		Hon Richard Keane (1881–1946) Senator for Victoria (1938–1946)		Minister for Trade and Customs Leader of the Government in the Senate
		Hon Jack Holloway (1875–1967) MP for Melbourne Ports (1931–1951)		Minister for Labour and National Service
		Hon Arthur Drakeford (1878–1957) MP for Maribyrnong (1934–1955)		Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation
		Hon William Scully (1883–1966) MP for Gwydir (1937–1949)		Minister for Commerce and Agriculture
		Hon Bill Ashley (1881–1958) Senator for New South Wales (1937–1958)		Minister for Supply and Shipping
		Hon John Dedman (1896–1973) MP for Corio (1940–1949)		Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Minister for Postwar Reconstruction
		Hon Joe Collings (1865–1955) Senator for Queensland (1932–1950)		Minister for the Interior
		Hon Eddie Ward (1899–1963) MP for East Sydney (1932–1963)		Minister for Transport Minister for External Territories
		Hon James Fraser (1889–1961) Senator for Western Australia (1938–1959)		Minister for Health Minister for Social Services
		Hon Charles Frost (1882–1964) MP for Franklin (1934–1946)		Minister for Repatriation Minister in charge of War Service Homes
		Hon Bert Lazzarini (1884–1952) MP for Werriwa (1934–1952)		Minister for Home Security Minister for Works
		Hon Don Cameron (1878–1962) Senator for Victoria (1938–1962)		Postmaster-General
		Hon Arthur Calwell (1896–1973) MP for Melbourne (1940–1972)		Minister for Information