Page ministry

See also: Earle Page

The Page ministry (Country–United Australia Coalition) was the 24th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 11th Prime Minister, Sir Earle Page. The Page ministry succeeded the Fourth Lyons ministry, which dissolved on 7 April 1939 following the death of former Prime Minister Joseph Lyons - the first of three occasions where a sitting Prime Minister died in office. Since Page was the head of the Country Party, it was a caretaker ministry until the senior partner in the Coalition, the United Australia Party, could elect a new leader. Former Attorney-General Robert Menzies was ultimately elected on 18 April 1939. However, due to the Country Party withdrawing from the Coalition after relations between Page and Menzies broke down, Menzies along with his ministry was not sworn in until 26 April 1939.

Page ministry
24th Ministry of Australia
Earle Page Billy Hughes
Date formed	7 April 1939
Date dissolved	26 April 1939
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Lord Gowrie
Prime Minister	Sir Earle Page
No. of ministers	13
Member party	Country–United Australia coalition
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	John Curtin
History
Legislature term	15th
Predecessor	Fourth Lyons ministry
Successor	First Menzies ministry

John McEwen, who died in 1980, was the last surviving member of the Page ministry; McEwen was also the last surviving member of the Fourth Lyons ministry. Robert Menzies was the last surviving UAP minister.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
	Country	Rt Hon Sir Earle Page GCMG (1880–1961) MP for Cowper (1919–1961)		Prime Minister Leader of the Country Party Minister for Commerce
	United Australia	Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949)		Minister for External Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industry
	United Australia	Hon Richard Casey DSO MC (1890–1976) MP for Corio (1931–1940)		Treasurer
	Country	Hon Harold Thorby (1888–1973) MP for Calare (1931–1940)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party Minister for Works Minister for Civil Aviation
	United Australia	Hon John Perkins (1878–1954) MP for Eden-Monaro (1931–1943)		Minister for Trade and Customs
	United Australia	Hon Geoffrey Street MC (1894–1940) MP for Corangamite (1934–1940)		Minister for Defence
	Country	Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Indi (1937–1949)		Minister for the Interior
	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
	United Australia	Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947)		Minister for Health Minister for Repatriation
	Country	Hon Archie Cameron (1895–1956) MP for Barker (1934–1956)		Postmaster-General
	United Australia	Hon Eric Harrison (1892–1974) MP for Wentworth (1931–1956)		Minister without portfolio administering external territories Minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister
	United Australia	Hon Allan MacDonald (1892–1978) Senator for Western Australia (1935–1947)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer
	Country	Hon Victor Thompson (1885–1968) MP for New England (1922–1940)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce