First Menzies Ministry

The First Menzies Ministry was the twenty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 26 April 1939 to 14 March 1940.

United Australia Party

  • Rt Hon Robert Menzies, KC MP: Prime Minister, Treasurer. Minister for Defence Co-ordination (from 13 November 1939), Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940)
  • Rt Hon Billy Hughes, KC MP: Attorney-General, Minister for Industry
  • Hon John Perkins, MP: Minister without portfolio administering External Territories
  • Hon Geoffrey Street, MP: Minister for Defence (to 13 November 1939), Minister for the Army (from 13 November 1939)
  • Hon Richard Casey, MP: Minister for Supply and Development (to 26 January 1940)
  • Hon Sir Henry Somer Gullett, KCMG MP: Minister for External Affairs. Minister for Information (from 12 September 1939)
  • Senator Hon George McLeay: Minister for Commerce
  • Hon John Lawson, MP: Minister for Trade and Customs (to 23 February 1940)
  • Hon Eric Harrison, MP: Postmaster-General, Minister for Repatriation
  • Hon James Fairbairn, MP: Minister for Civil Aviation. Minister for Air (from 13 November 1939). Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 26 January 1940)
  • Hon Sir Frederick Stewart, MP: Minister for Health, Minister for Social Services. Minister for the Navy (from 13 November 1939). Minister for Supply and Development (from 26 January 1940)
  • Senator Hon Harry Foll: Minister for the Interior
  • Senator Hon Herbert Collett: Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes
  • Hon Harold Holt, MP: Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development. Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs (from 23 February 1940)
  • Senator Hon Philip McBride: Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce
  • Hon Percy Spender, KC MP: Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (to 3 November 1939), Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 26 January 1940)

Famous quotes containing the words menzies and/or ministry:

    “Men of genius are not be analyzed by commonplace rules. The rest of us who have been or are leaders, more commonplace in our quality, will do well to remember two things. One is never to forget posterity when devising a policy. The other is never to think of posterity when making a speech.”
    —Robert Menzies (1894–1978)

    “The State has but one face for me: that of the police. To my eyes, all of the State’s ministries have this single face, and I cannot imagine the ministry of culture other than as the police of culture, with its prefect and commissioners.”
    —Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985)