First Fraser ministry

50th ministry of government of Australia

First Fraser ministry
50th Ministry of Australia
photograph of Fraser Malcolm Fraser photograph of Anthony Doug Anthony
Date formed	11 November 1975
Date dissolved	22 December 1975
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir John Kerr
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Deputy Prime Minister	Doug Anthony
No. of ministers	15
Member party	Liberal–National Country coalition
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	Gough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election	13 December 1975
Legislature term	29th
Predecessor	Third Whitlam ministry
Successor	Second Fraser ministry

This article is part of
a series about

Malcolm Fraser

Early life

Member for Wannon (1955–1983)

Fraser government

Term of government (1975–1983)

Ministries

Elections

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The first Fraser ministry (Liberal–National Country coalition) was the 50th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. The first Fraser ministry succeeded the Third Whitlam ministry, which dissolved on 11 November following the dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr. As such, it was a caretaker ministry until a federal election could take place.^[1] To date, it is the last ministry not to be split between a Cabinet and outer ministry. In the event, the Coalition was ultimately elected on 13 December 1975, and this ministry was replaced by the second Fraser ministry on 22 December 1975.^[2]

As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the First Fraser ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, Gorton, and McMahon governments. Tony Street was the last surviving Liberal member.

Ministry

[edit ]

Party		Portrait
Liberal	Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015) MP for Wannon (1955–1983)	Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party
National Country	Doug Anthony (1929–2020) MP for Richmond (1957–1984)	Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Overseas Trade
Liberal	Phillip Lynch (1933–1984) MP for Flinders (1966–1982)	Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer
National Country	Ian Sinclair (born 1929) MP for New England (1963–1998)	Deputy Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Agriculture Minister for Northern Australia
Liberal	Reg Withers (1924–2014) Senator for Western Australia (1968–1987)	Leader of the Government in the Senate Special Minister of State Minister for the Capital Territory Minister for the Media Minister for Tourism and Recreation Vice-President of the Executive Council
Liberal	Ivor Greenwood (1926–1976) Senator for Victoria (1968–1976)	Attorney-General Minister for Police and Customs
Liberal	Bob Cotton (1915–2006) Senator for New South Wales (1965–1978)	Minister for Manufacturing Industry Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs
National Country	Peter Nixon (1928–2025) MP for Gippsland (1961–1983)	Minister for Transport Postmaster-General
Liberal	Andrew Peacock (1939–2021) MP for Kooyong (1966–1994)	Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for the Environment
Liberal	Don Chipp (1925–2006) MP for Hotham (1969–1977)	Minister for Social Security Minister for Health Minister for Repatriation and Compensation
Liberal	James Killen (1925–2007) MP for Moreton (1955–1983)	Minister for Defence
National Country	Tom Drake-Brockman DFC (1919–1992) Senator for Western Australia (1959–1978)	Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Administrative Services
Liberal	John Carrick (1918–2018) Senator for New South Wales (1971–1987)	Minister for Housing and Construction Minister for Urban and Regional Development
Liberal	Tony Street (1926–2022) MP for Corangamite (1966–1984)	Minister for Labour and Immigration
Liberal	Margaret Guilfoyle (1926–2020) Senator for Victoria (1971–1987)	Minister for Education

Notes

[edit ]

^ "Cabinet records of the Fraser government, 1975–83 – Fact sheet 246". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.

v t e Ministries of the Commonwealth of Australia
20th century	Barton Deakin 1 Watson Reid Deakin 2 Fisher 1 Deakin 3 Fisher 2 Cook Fisher 3 Hughes 1 2 3 4 5 Bruce 1 2 3 Scullin Lyons 1 2 3 4 Page Menzies 1 2 3 Fadden Curtin 1 2 Forde Chifley 1 2 Menzies 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Holt 1 2 McEwen Gorton 1 2 McMahon Whitlam 1 2 3 Fraser 1 2 3 4 Hawke 1 2 3 4 Keating 1 2 Howard 1 2	Coat of Arms of Australia
21st century	Howard 3 4 Rudd 1 Gillard 1 2 Rudd 2 Abbott Turnbull 1 2 Morrison 1 2 Albanese 1 2	Coat of Arms of Australia
Current ministry

v t e Liberal Party of Australia
Leaders	Robert Menzies Harold Holt John Gorton William McMahon Billy Snedden Malcolm Fraser Andrew Peacock John Howard Andrew Peacock John Hewson Alexander Downer John Howard Brendan Nelson Malcolm Turnbull Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison Peter Dutton Sussan Ley
Deputy Leaders	Eric Harrison Harold Holt William McMahon John Gorton Billy Snedden Phillip Lynch John Howard Neil Brown Andrew Peacock Fred Chaney Peter Reith Michael Wooldridge Peter Costello Julie Bishop Josh Frydenberg Sussan Ley Ted O'Brien
Presidents	Malcolm Ritchie Richard Casey W. H. Anderson Lyle Moore Philip McBride J. E. Pagan Robert Southey John Atwill A. J. Forbes John Valder John Elliott Ashley Goldsworthy Tony Staley Shane Stone Chris McDiven Alan Stockdale Richard Alston Nick Greiner John Olsen
Governments	Menzies Holt Gorton McMahon Fraser Howard Abbott Turnbull Morrison
Ministries	Menzies 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Holt 1 2 Gorton 1 2 McMahon Fraser 1 2 3 4 Howard 1 2 3 4 Abbott Turnbull 1 2 Morrison 1 2
Shadow cabinets	Snedden Fraser Peacock (1983–85) Howard (1985–89) Peacock (1989–90) Hewson Downer Howard (1995–96) Nelson Turnbull Abbott Dutton Ley
State divisions	Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory (Country Liberal Party) Queensland (Liberal National Party) South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia
Party-related organisations	Australian Liberal Students' Federation Cormack Foundation Liberal–National Coalition Norfolk Liberals Young Liberals Young LNP Menzies Research Centre
Factions	Moderates Centre Right Independent Liberal National Right Ginger Group (defunct) Lyons Forum (defunct)
History	Protectionist Party Free Trade Party Fusion Liberal Party National Labor Party Nationalist Party Liberal Union Australian Party United Australia Party Citizens' Municipal Organisation
Leadership contests	1966 1968 1969 1971 1972 1975 1982 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1993 1994 1995 2007 2008 2009 2015 Feb Sep 2018 2022 2025

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Ministry

See also

Notes