![]() The portfolios of Social Services and Health were allocated to Jack Holloway, Trade and Customs to Senator Richard Keane, Commerce to William Scully, Postmaster-General to Senator William Ashley, Transport to George Lawson, External Territories to Senator James Fraser, Interior to Senator Joseph Collings and CSIRO to Jack Dedman. Ben Chifley was Treasurer with Hubert Lazzarini as minister assisting. HV Evatt was Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs. Of the 19 ministers, only 4 had portfolio experience, Frank Forde, Ben Chifley, Jack Beasley and Jack Holloway. When the Curtin ministry was sworn in on 7 October 1941, the first Labor government in a decade took office. He drew out a nationwide war effort, and put in place the measures for postwar reconstruction. He also rapidly emerged as a strong and decisive chairman of Cabinet and head of government. He proved, like Alfred Deakin, 'a patient and resourceful parliamentary tactician' in an evenly divided parliament. With neither the United Australia Party nor the Country Party able to govern, Curtin became Prime Minister by default rather than choice.Ĭurtin surprised his colleagues and the Opposition. ![]() ![]() Not only was his majority precarious, but Curtin had appeared reluctant to take power in his cooperation with the wartime Coalition government.Ĭurtin did have doubts about his ability to lead a nation at war, and about assuming power without a clear mandate for Labor. ![]() ![]() Neither Governor-General Lord Gowrie, nor his fellow parliamentarians believed Curtin would remain Prime Minister for long. Curtin inherited a finely balanced parliament. ![]()
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