The Forde ministry (Labor) was the 31st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 15th prime minister, Frank Forde. The Forde Ministry succeeded the Second Curtin ministry, which dissolved on 6 July 1945 following the death of former prime minister John Curtin - the second of three occasions where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since Forde was the deputy Labor leader, it was a caretaker ministry until the Labor caucus could elect a new leader. Treasurer Ben Chifley was ultimately elected over Forde on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.[1]

Forde ministry

31st Ministry of Australia
photograph of Forde
Frank Forde
photograph of Chifley
Ben Chifley
Date formed6 July 1945
Date dissolved13 July 1945
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
Governor-GeneralThe Duke of Gloucester
Prime MinisterFrank Forde
No. of ministers18
Member partyLabor
Status in legislatureMajority government
Opposition partyLiberalCountry coalition
Opposition leaderRobert Menzies
History
Legislature term17th
PredecessorSecond Curtin ministry
SuccessorFirst Chifley ministry

Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the Forde Ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, the Curtin government, and the First Chifley ministry.

Ministry

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Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
  Labor Rt Hon Frank Forde
(1890–1983)

MP for Capricornia
(1922–1946)

 
  Hon Ben Chifley
(1885–1951)

MP for Macquarie
(1940–1951)

 
  Rt Hon Dr H. V. Evatt KC
(1894–1965)

MP for Barton
(1940–1958)

 
  Hon Jack Beasley
(1895–1949)

MP for West Sydney
(1928–1946)

 
  Hon Norman Makin
(1889–1982)

MP for Hindmarsh
(1919–1946)

 
  Hon Richard Keane
(1881–1946)

Senator for Victoria
(1938–1946)

 
  Hon Jack Holloway
(1875–1967)

MP for Melbourne Ports
(1931–1951)

 
  Hon Arthur Drakeford
(1878–1957)

MP for Maribyrnong
(1934–1955)

 
  Hon William Scully
(1883–1966)

MP for Gwydir
(1937–1949)

 
  Hon Bill Ashley
(1881–1958)

Senator for New South Wales
(1937–1958)

 
  Hon John Dedman
(1896–1973)

MP for Corio
(1940–1949)

 
  Hon Joe Collings
(1865–1955)

Senator for Queensland
(1932–1950)

 
  Hon Eddie Ward
(1899–1963)

MP for East Sydney
(1932–1963)

 
  Hon James Fraser
(1889–1961)

Senator for Western Australia
(1938–1959)

 
  Hon Charles Frost
(1882–1964)

MP for Franklin
(1934–1946)

 
  Hon Bert Lazzarini
(1884–1952)

MP for Werriwa
(1934–1952)

 
  Hon Don Cameron
(1878–1962)

Senator for Victoria
(1938–1962)

 
  Hon Arthur Calwell
(1896–1973)

MP for Melbourne
(1940–1972)

 

References

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