title: Third Menzies ministry
text: # Third Menzies ministry
  
  * This article is part of a series about Robert Menzies
  
  Early life
  
  State politics
  
  Member for Kooyong (1934-1966)
  
  1938 Dalfram dispute
  
  United Australia Party spills
  
  1939
  
  1943
  
  Prime Minister of Australia
  
  First term of government (1939–1941)
  
  Entry into WW2
  
  Advisory War Council
  
  Liberal Party foundation
  
  Second term of government (1949–1966)
  
  ANZUS
  
  Communist Party ban
  
  1951 Communist Party ban referendum
  
  Petrov Affair
  
  Royal Commission on Espionage
  
  Entry into Vietnam War
  
  Ministries
  
  First
  
  Second
  
  Third
  
  Fourth
  
  Fifth
  
  Sixth
  
  Seventh
  
  Eighth
  
  Ninth
  
  Tenth
  
  Elections
  
  1940
  
  1946
  
  1949
  
  1951
  
  1953 (Half-Senate)
  
  1954
  
  1955
  
  1958
  
  1961
  
  1963
  
  1964 (Half-Senate)
  
  The Forgotten People :
  
  vte :
  
  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.
  
  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 | 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) |
  