Third Menzies ministry

See also: Menzies government (1939–1941)

The Third Menzies ministry (United Australia–Country Coalition) was the 27th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The Third Menzies ministry succeeded the Second Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 28 October 1940 following the federal election that took place in September. However, as a result of that election the government was reduced to minority status, and were forced to rely on the votes of independent crossbenchers Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles to survive. The ministry was replaced by the Fadden ministry on 28 August 1941 following the resignation of Menzies.^[1]

Third Menzies ministry
27th Ministry of Australia
Robert Menzies Arthur Fadden
Date formed	28 October 1940
Date dissolved	28 August 1941
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Lord Gowrie
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
No. of ministers	19
Member party	United Australia–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	John Curtin
History
Election	21 September 1940
Legislature term	16th
Predecessor	Second Menzies ministry
Successor	Fadden ministry

Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the Third Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the First Menzies ministry, Second Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry. John McEwen was the last surviving Country minister.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	United Australia	Rt Hon Robert Menzies KC (1894–1978) MP for Kooyong (1934–1966)		Prime Minister Leader of the United Australia Party Minister for Defence Co-ordination Minister for Information (to 13 December 1940)
	Country	Hon Arthur Fadden (1894–1973) MP for Darling Downs (1936–1949)		Leader of the Country Party (from 12 March 1941) Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 12 March 1941) Treasurer
	United Australia	Rt Hon Billy Hughes (CH) KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949)		Attorney-General Minister for the Navy
	United Australia	Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947)		Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate Postmaster-General (to 26 June 1941) Minister for Repatriation (to 26 June 1941) Minister for Supply and Development (from 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon Sir Frederick Stewart (1884–1961) MP for Parramatta (1931–1946)		Minister for External Affairs Minister for Health Minister for Social Services
	United Australia	Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947)		Minister for the Interior Minister for Information (from 13 December 1940)
	United Australia	Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD (1877–1947) Senator for Western Australia (1933–1947)		Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes (to 26 June 1941) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Repatriation (to 26 June 1941) Minister for Repatriation (from 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) Senator for South Australia (1937–1944)		Minister for Munitions Minister for Supply and Development (to 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951)		Minister for the Army
	Country	Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Indi (1937–1949)		Minister for Air Minister for Civil Aviation
	United Australia	Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956)		Minister for Trade and Customs
	United Australia	Hon Harold Holt (1908–1967) MP for Fawkner (1935–1949)		Minister for Labour and National Service Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research
	Country	Rt Hon Sir Earle Page GCMG (1880–1961) MP for Cowper (1919–1961)		Minister for Commerce
	Country	Hon Thomas Collins (1884–1945) MP for Hume (1931–1943)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister dealing with External Territories (to 26 June 1941) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for the Interior (to 26 June 1941) Postmaster-General (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (from 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon John Leckie (1872–1947) Senator for Victoria (1935–1947)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (to 26 June 1941) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Labour and National Service (to 26 June 1941) Minister for Aircraft Production (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for Munitions (from 26 June 1941)
	Country	Hon Larry Anthony (1897–1957) MP for Richmond (1937–1957)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (to 26 June 1941) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce (to 26 June 1941) Minister for Transport (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for Commerce (from 26 June 1941)
	Country	Hon Joe Abbott MC (1891–1965) MP for New England (1940–1949) (in Ministry from 26 June 1941)		Minister for Home Security (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence Co-ordination (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for the Army (from 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon Allan McDonald (1888–1953) MP for Corangamite (1940–1953) (in Ministry from 26 June 1941)		Minister for External Territories (from 26 June 1941) Minister assisting the Minister for the Interior (from 26 June 1941)
	United Australia	Hon Eric Spooner (1891–1952) MP for Robertson (1940–1943) (in Ministry from 26 June 1941)		Minister for War Organisation of Industry (from 26 June 1941)