First 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.

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.

File:First bruce ministry yarralumla.jpg

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

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Stanley Bruce (1883–1967) Template:Post-nominals for Flinders (1918–1929)	File:Stanley Bruce.jpg	Prime Minister Leader of the Nationalist Party Minister for External Affairs
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Earle Page (1880–1961) Template:Post-nominals for Cowper (1919–1961)	File:Earle Page 1920.jpg	Leader of the Country Party Treasurer
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Sir Littleton Groom (1867–1936) Template:Post-nominals for Darling Downs (1901–1929)	File:Portrait of the Hon. L. E. Groom, M.H.R. (cropped).jpg	Attorney-General Minister for Trade and Customs (from 26 May 1924 to 13 June 1924) Minister for Health (from 26 May 1924 to 13 June 1924)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	George Pearce (1870–1952) Senator for Western Australia (1901–1938)	File:George Pearce 1927.jpg	Minister for Home and Territories Leader of the Government in the Senate
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Austin Chapman (1864–1926) Template:Post-nominals for Eden-Monaro (1901–1926)	File:Austin Chapman - Swiss Studios (cropped).jpg	Minister for Trade and Customs (to 26 May 1924) Minister for Health (to 26 May 1924)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Percy Stewart (1885–1931) Template:Post-nominals for Wimmera (1919–1931)	File:Percy Stewart 1924.jpg	Minister for Works and Railways (to 8 August 1924)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Eric Bowden (1871–1931) Template:Post-nominals for Parramatta (1922–1929)	File:Eric Bowden 1925 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Defence (to 16 January 1925)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	William Gibson (1869–1955) Template:Post-nominals for Corangamite (1918–1929)	File:William Gibson - Talma & Co (cropped).jpg	Deputy Leader of the Country Party Postmaster-General
Template:Australian party style|	Country	Llewellyn Atkinson (1867–1945) Template:Post-nominals for Wilmot (1906–1929)	File:Llewellyn Atkinson.jpg	Vice-President of the Executive Council
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Victor Wilson (1877–1957) Senator for South Australia (1920–1926)	File:Sir Reginald Victor Wilson.jpg	Honorary Minister (to 16 January 1925) Minister for Markets and Migration (from 16 January 1925)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Thomas Crawford (1865–1948) Senator for Queensland (1917–1947) (in Ministry from 14 February 1923)	File:Thomas Crawford (Australian politician).JPG	Honorary Minister (from 14 February 1923)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Herbert Pratten (1865–1928) Template:Post-nominals for Martin (1922–1928) (in Ministry from 13 June 1924)	File:Herbert Pratten - May Moore (cropped).jpg	Minister for Trade and Customs (from 13 June 1924) Minister for Health (from 13 June 1924 to 16 January 1925)
Template:Australian party style|	Country	William Hill (1866–1939) Template:Post-nominals for Echuca (1919–1934) (in Ministry from 8 August 1924)	File:William Hill 1926 (cropped).jpg	Minister for Works and Railways (from 8 August 1924)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Sir Neville Howse (1863–1930) Template:Post-nominals for Calare (1922–1929) (in Ministry from 16 January 1925)	File:Neville Howse - Lafayette (cropped).jpg	Minister for Defence (from 16 January 1925) Minister for Health (from 16 January 1925)
Template:Australian party style|	Nationalist	Charles Marr (1880–1960) Template:Post-nominals for Parkes (1919–1929) (in Ministry from 16 January 1925)	File:Sir Charles Marr (cropped).jpg	Chief Government Whip in the House Honorary Minister (from 16 January 1925)