Elected to the House of Representatives for Echuca, Victoria, 1934. Elected to the House of Representatives for Indi, Victoria, 1937, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 1940 and 1943, 1946. Elected to the House of Representatives for Murray, Victoria, 1949, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 1951, 1954 (unopposed), 1955, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1966 and 1969. Resigned 1.2.1971.

Member of the War Cabinet from 1940 to 1941.

Member of the Australian Advisory War Council from 16.10.1941 to 31.8.1945.

Acting Prime Minister from 28.4.1959 to 8.7.1959.

Acting Prime Minister from 1.12.1959 to 13.12.1959.

Acting Prime Minister from 15.4.1960 to 20.6.1960.

Acting Prime Minister from 29.9.1960 to 19.10.1960.

Acting Treasurer from 29.9.1960 to 13.10.1960.

Acting Prime Minister from 22.2.1961 to 30.3.1961.

Acting Prime Minister from 24.5.1962 to 23.6.1962.

Acting Minister for External Affairs from 28.5.1962 to 3.7.1962.

Acting Prime Minister from 13.6.1963 to 13.7.1963.

Acting Prime Minister from 20.6.1964 to 18.7.1964.

Acting Prime Minister from 2.1.1965 to 8.2.1965.

Acting Minister for Defence from 19.1.1965 to 27.2.1965.

Acting Prime Minister from 4.6.1965 to 11.7.1965.

Acting Minister for External Affairs from 12.6.1965 to 4.7.1965.

Acting Prime Minister from 21.4.1966 to 1.5.1966.

Acting Prime Minister from 28.6.1966 to 16.7.1966.

Acting Prime Minister from 29.8.1966 to 19.9.1966.

Acting Prime Minister from 24.10.1966 to 27.10.1966.

Acting Prime Minister from 2.2.1967 to 8.2.1967.

Acting Prime Minister from 28.3.1967 to 10.4.1967.

Acting Prime Minister from 28.5.1967 to 22.6.1967.

Minister for the Interior from 29.11.1937 to 26.4.1939.

Cabinet Minister from 29.11.1937 to 26.4.1939.

Cabinet Minister from 14.3.1940 to 7.10.1941.

Minister for External Affairs from 14.3.1940 to 28.10.1940.

Minister for Air from 28.10.1940 to 7.10.1941.

Minister for Civil Aviation from 28.10.1940 to 7.10.1941.

Minister for Commerce and Agriculture from 19.12.1949 to 11.1.1956.

Minister for Trade from 11.1.1956 to 18.12.1963.

Minister for Trade and Industry from 18.12.1963 to 5.2.1971.

Cabinet Minister from 19.12.1967 to 5.2.1971.

Prime Minister from 19.12.1967 to 10.1.1968.

Deputy Prime Minister from 10.1.1968 to 5.2.1971.

Joint Select: Bankruptcy Act 1924-1933 from 13.11.1935 to 3.12.1936; Commonwealth Bank Bill from 2.10.1942 to 11.2.1943.

House of Representatives Standing: Printing from 28.11.1934 to 21.9.1937; Privileges from 7.3.1944 to 4.12.1947; Standing Orders from 14.3.1962 to 1.2.1971.

Visited Malaya for the negotiations of a Trade Agreement between Australia and Malaya.

Visited Ceylon for trade negotiations with the Government of Ceylon.

Consultant on the Australian Delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organisation, San Francisco, April 1945.

Represented Commonwealth Government at meeting of International Wool Study Group, London, October 1950.

Visited the UK, in connection with negotiations on food contracts, from August 1951 to November 1951.

Represented Australia at meeting of Commonwealth Ministers on supply and production problems relating to raw materials, from August 1951 to November 1951.

Attended Commonwealth Financial and Economic Conference, London, from November 1952 to December 1952.

Attended Preliminary talks in London between Commonwealth representatives on proposals for review of GATT, October 1954.

Led, with the Hon N. O'Sullivan, Australian Delegation to the ordinary and special sessions of GATT, Geneva, from October 1954 to November 1954.

Attended Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, London, from June 1956 to July 1956.

Conducted negotiations in London for a review of the United Kingdom-Australia Trade Agreement, from May 1956 to August 1956.

Conducted negotiations in Geneva for a new international Sugar Agreement from October 1956 to November 1956.

Visited Japan for the negotiations of a Trade Agreement between Australia and Japan, from June 1957 to July 1957.

Leader, Australian Delegation to the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference, Montreal from 23.08.1958 to 06.10.1958.

Conducted Trade talks in Washington, April 1959.

Visited New Zealand for trade discussions, from July 1960 to August 1960.

Visited the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe, March-April, for consultations and discussions on the effects on Australia's trade, of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, 1962.

Accompanied the Prime Minister to the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, London, September 1962.

Attended Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, London, September 1962.

Visited New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe, for trade discussions, from April 1963 to May 1963.

Visited Hong Kong, Japan and the Philippines, for trade discussions and to negotiate new Australia-Japan trade Agreement, from July 1963 to August 1963.

Attended Commonwealth Trade Ministers' Conference, London, from March 1964 to April 1964.

Attended United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva from March 1964 to April 1964.

Attended inauguration of the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly, June 1964.

Leader, Australian Delegation to International Sugar Conference, Geneva, from September 1965 to October 1965.

Attended Commonwealth Trade Ministers' Meeting in London, and trade talks in the United States of America, from May 1966 to June 1966.

Visited Poland and Bulgaria for trade talks, June 1968.

Attended Australia-New Zealand Trade Agreement Talks, New Zealand, February 1967.

Had talks with British Ministers in London and went to Geneva for Final Kennedy Round negotiations of GATT, from April 1967 to May 1967.

Visited Romania to sign Trade Agreement, May 1967.

Attended trade meetings of GATT for talks on programme for future GATT negotiations in agriculture, Geneva, from November 1967 to December 1967.

Attended OECD Ministerial Council meetings, Paris, November to December 1967.

Visited Hungary for trade talks, 1967.

Led Australian Delegation to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, New Delhi, February 1968.

Visited Tokyo for trade talks, February 1968.

Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Country Party from 22.9.1943 to 26.3.1958.

Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Country Party from 26.3.1958 to 1.2.1971.

Appointed a Member of Her Majesty's Privy Council from 1953.

Born 29.3.1900, Chiltern, Australia

Died 20.11.1980

Married

Farmer of Stanhope, Victoria.

Appointed Knight Grand Cross of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, 01.01.1971.

Enlisted AIF from 09.08.1918 to 24.12.1918, Appointment terminated before embarkation for active service, in consequence of the demobilisation of the AIF.