The McEwen ministry (Country–Liberal Coalition) was the 43rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 18th prime minister, John McEwen. The McEwen ministry succeeded the Second Holt ministry, which dissolved on 19 December 1967 following the disappearance of former prime minister Harold Holt – the third and most recent occasion where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since McEwen was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the Liberal Party, could elect a new leader. John Gorton was ultimately elected on 9 January 1968, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.
As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the McEwen ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, Gorton, and McMahon governments, as well as the First Fraser ministry. James Forbes, who died in 2019, was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Allen Fairhall, who died in 2006, was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.
Cabinet PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio Country John McEwen for Murray Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Trade and Industry Liberal William McMahon for Lowe Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Treasurer Liberal Paul Hasluck for Curtin Minister for External Affairs Liberal Allen Fairhall for Paterson Minister for Defence Liberal Denham Henty Senator for Tasmania Minister for Supply Liberal Alan Hulme for Petrie Postmaster-General Vice-President of the Executive Council Liberal David Fairbairn for Farrer Minister for National Development Liberal John Gorton Senator for Victoria Leader of the Liberal Party (from 9 January 1968) Leader of the Government in the Senate Minister for Education and Science Liberal Les Bury for Wentworth Minister for Labour and National Service Country Doug Anthony for Richmond Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Primary Industry Country Ian Sinclair for New England Minister for Social Services Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Industry
Outer ministry PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio Country Charles Barnes for McPherson Minister for Territories Liberal Gordon Freeth for Forrest Minister for Shipping and Transport Liberal Reginald Swartz for Darling Downs Minister for Civil Aviation Liberal Billy Snedden for Bruce Minister for Immigration Leader of the House Liberal James Forbes for Barker Minister for Health Liberal Peter Howson for Fawkner Minister for Air Minister assisting the Treasurer Liberal Ken Anderson Senator for New South Wales Minister for Customs and Excise Country Colin McKellar Senator for New South Wales Minister for Repatriation Liberal Dame Annabelle Rankin Senator for Queensland Minister for Housing Liberal Malcolm Fraser for Wannon Minister for the Army Liberal Nigel Bowen for Parramatta Attorney-General Liberal Don Chipp for Higinbotham Minister for the Navy Minister in charge of Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry Liberal Bert Kelly for Wakefield Minister for Works Country Peter Nixon for Gippsland Minister for the Interior
See also Page Ministry Forde Ministry
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