Second Menzies ministry

See also: Menzies government (1939–1941)

The Second Menzies ministry (United Australia–Country Coalition) was the 26th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 12th Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. The Second Menzies ministry succeeded the First Menzies ministry, which dissolved on 14 March 1940 after Menzies entered into a formal Coalition with Archie Cameron and his Country Party. The ministry was replaced by the Third Menzies ministry on 28 October 1940 following the 1940 federal election.

Second Menzies ministry
26th Ministry of Australia
Group photo of members of the Second Menzies ministry
Date formed	14 March 1940
Date dissolved	28 October 1940
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Lord Gowrie
Prime Minister	Robert Menzies
No. of ministers	16
Member party	United Australia–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	John Curtin
History
Outgoing election	21 September 1940
Legislature term	15th
Predecessor	First Menzies ministry
Successor	Third Menzies ministry

Percy Spender, who died in 1985, was the last surviving member of the Second Menzies ministry; Spender was also the last surviving minister of the First Menzies ministry, Third Menzies ministry, Fadden ministry, and the Fourth Menzies ministry. John McEwen was the last surviving Country minister.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	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 Minister for Munitions (from 11 June 1940)
	Country	Hon Archie Cameron (1895–1956) MP for Barker (1934–1956)		Leader of the Country Party (to 16 October 1940) Minister for Commerce Minister for the Navy
	United Australia	Rt Hon Billy Hughes KC (1862–1952) MP for North Sydney (1922–1949)		Attorney-General Minister for Industry
	United Australia	Hon Percy Spender KC (1897–1985) MP for Warringah (1937–1951)		Treasurer
	Country	Hon John McEwen (1900–1980) MP for Indi (1937–1949)		Minister for External Affairs
	Country	Hon Harold Thorby (1888–1973) MP for Calare (1931–1940)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party (to 15 October 1940) Minister for Health Postmaster-General
	United Australia	Hon Geoffrey Street MC (1894–1940) MP for Corangamite (1934–1940)		Minister for the Army (to 13 August 1940) Minister for Repatriation (to 13 August 1940)
	United Australia	Hon Sir Henry Gullett KCMG (1878–1940) MP for Henty (1925–1940)		Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 13 August 1940) Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (to 13 August 1940) Minister assisting the Minister for Information (to 13 August 1940)
	United Australia	Hon George McLeay (1892–1955) Senator for South Australia (1935–1947)		Minister for Trade and Customs Leader of the Government in the Senate
	United Australia	Hon James Fairbairn (1897–1940) MP for Flinders (1933–1940)		Minister for Civil Aviation (to 13 August 1940) Minister for Air (to 13 August 1940)
	United Australia	Hon Sir Frederick Stewart (1884–1961) MP for Parramatta (1931–1946)		Minister for Social Services Minister for Supply and Development
	United Australia	Hon Harry Foll (1890–1977) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947)		Minister for the Interior
	United Australia	Hon Herbert Collett CMG DSO VD (1877–1947) Senator for Western Australia (1933–1947)		Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes (to 14 August 1940) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Repatriation (to 14 August 1940) Minister in charge of War Service Homes (from 14 August 1940) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 14 August 1940) Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research (from 14 August 1940) Minister assisting the Minister for Repatriation (from 14 August 1940)
	United Australia	Hon Philip McBride (1892–1982) Senator for South Australia (1937–1944)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Commerce (to 14 August 1940) Minister for the Army (from 14 August 1940) Minister for Repatriation (from 14 August 1940) Minister assisting the Minister for Commerce (from 14 August 1940)
	Country	Hon Arthur Fadden (1894–1973) MP for Darling Downs (1936–1949)		Deputy Leader of the Country Party (from 16 October 1940) Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (to 14 August 1940) Minister without portfolio assisting the Treasurer (to 14 August 1940) Minister for Air (from 14 August 1940) Minister for Civil Aviation (from 14 August 1940) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 14 August 1940) Minister assisting the Minister for Supply and Development (from 14 August 1940)
	Country	Hon Horace Nock (1879–1958) MP for Riverina (1931–1940)		Minister without portfolio assisting the Prime Minister Minister without portfolio in charge of External Territories Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for the Interior