First Bruce ministry

16th Ministry of Australia
Group photo of the First Bruce ministry
Date formed9 February 1923
Date dissolved18 December 1925
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge V
Governor-GeneralLord Forster
Lord Stonehaven
Prime MinisterStanley Bruce
No. of ministers15
Member partyNationalist–Country coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderMatthew Charlton
History
Election(s)16 December 1922
Outgoing election14 November 1925
Legislature term(s)9th
PredecessorFifth Hughes ministry
SuccessorSecond Bruce ministry

The First Bruce ministry (Nationalist–Country Coalition) was the 16th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 8th Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce. The First Bruce ministry succeeded the Fifth Hughes ministry, which dissolved on 9 February 1923 following the December 1922 federal election and the subsequent resignation of Billy Hughes as Prime Minister. The Nationalists had lost their majority in the election, and had no choice but to negotiate a Coalition deal with the Country Party. However, Country leader Earle Page let it be known that no deal could be made unless Hughes resigned. It is the first ministry that consists of a centre-right Coalition between the senior conservative party and the junior rural party - this Coalition has more or less endured to this day with the modern-day Liberal Party and National Party. The ministry was replaced by the Second Bruce ministry on 18 December 1925 following the 1925 federal election.[1]

Stanley Bruce, who died in 1967, was the last surviving member of the First Bruce ministry; Bruce was also the last surviving member of the Fifth Hughes ministry and the Second Bruce ministry. Earle Page was the last surviving Country minister.

The ministry meets in Canberra for the first time, at Yarralumla House, on 30 January 1924.

Ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Nationalist Rt Hon Stanley Bruce MC
(1883–1967)

MP for Flinders
(1918–1929)

Country Hon Dr Earle Page
(1880–1961)

MP for Cowper
(1919–1961)

Nationalist Hon (Sir) Littleton Groom (KCMG) (KC)
(1867–1936)

MP for Darling Downs
(1901–1929)

Nationalist Rt Hon George Pearce
(1870–1952)

Senator for Western Australia
(1901–1938)

Nationalist Hon Austin Chapman
(1864–1926)

MP for Eden-Monaro
(1901–1926)

Country Hon Percy Stewart
(1885–1931)

MP for Wimmera
(1919–1931)

Nationalist Hon Eric Bowden
(1871–1931)

MP for Parramatta
(1922–1929)

Country Hon William Gibson
(1869–1955)

MP for Corangamite
(1918–1929)

Country Hon Llewellyn Atkinson
(1867–1945)

MP for Wilmot
(1906–1929)

Nationalist Hon Victor Wilson
(1877–1957)

Senator for South Australia
(1920–1926)

Nationalist Hon Thomas Crawford
(1865–1948)

Senator for Queensland
(1917–1947) (in Ministry from 14 February 1923)

  • Honorary Minister (from 14 February 1923)
Nationalist Hon Herbert Pratten
(1865–1928)

MP for Martin
(1922–1928) (in Ministry from 13 June 1924)

Country Hon William Hill
(1866–1939)

MP for Echuca
(1919–1934) (in Ministry from 8 August 1924)

Nationalist Hon Sir Neville Howse VC KCB KCMG
(1863–1930)

MP for Calare
(1922–1929) (in Ministry from 16 January 1925)

Nationalist Hon Charles Marr DSO MC
(1880–1960)

MP for Parkes
(1919–1929) (in Ministry from 16 January 1925)

References

  1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
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