Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Previous Fragment    Next Fragment
Ch2 House, Government and Opposition / THE MINISTRY / Composition of the Ministry / Coalition Ministries



Download WordDownload Word

House of Representatives                                Ch 2                                                 p 57

 

House, Government and Opposition / THE MINISTRY / Composition of the Ministry

 

Coalition Ministries

On occasions Go vernments have been formed from the combined membership of two (or more) political parties. Coalition Governments have occurred when the numerical strength of one party is less than an absolute majority of the House, or for political reasons by agreement between the parties. The Ministry is composed of members of the coalition parties determined by agreement. Between 1949 and 1972, between 1975 and 1983, and again from 1996, Liberal-National Party (formerly Country Party, later Nationals) coalition Governments were in office.

The Free Trade-Protectionist coalition between August 1904 and July 1905 was known as the Reid-McLean Ministry. Between February 1923 and October 1929 the Nationalist-Country Party coalition was known as the Bruce-Page Ministry. Between June 1909 and April 1910 the existing three non-Labour groups formed a Protectionist-Free Trade-Tariff Reform coalition which was known as the ‘Fusion’ Ministry.