The third Fraser ministry (Liberal–National Country coalition) was the 52nd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 22nd Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser. The third Fraser ministry succeeded the second Fraser ministry, which dissolved on 20 December 1977 following the federal election that took place on 10 December. The ministry was replaced by the fourth Fraser ministry on 3 November 1980 following the 1980 federal election.
As of 1 May 2025, John Howard and Ian Viner are the last surviving Liberal members of the Cabinet of the third Fraser ministry, while Ian Sinclair is the last surviving NCP member.
Cabinet PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio Liberal Malcolm Fraser for Wannon Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party National Country Doug Anthony for Richmond Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Trade and Resources Liberal Phillip Lynch for Flinders Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Minister for Industry and Commerce National Country Ian Sinclair for New England Deputy Leader of the National Country Party Minister for Primary Industry (to 27 September 1979) Minister for Special Trade Negotiations (from 19 August 1980) Leader of the House (to 27 September 1979; from 19 August 1980) Liberal Reg Withers Senator for Western Australia Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 7 August 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (to 7 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (to 7 August 1978) Liberal Tony Street for Corangamite Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Industrial Relations (from 5 December 1978) National Country Peter Nixon for Gippsland Minister for Transport (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Primary Industry (from 27 September 1979) Liberal John Howard for Bennelong Treasurer Minister for Finance (from 23 February 1979 to 27 February 1979) Liberal John Carrick Senator for New South Wales Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 7 August 1978) Minister for Education (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (to 25 August 1978) Vice-President of the Executive Council (from 7 August 1978) Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979) Liberal Andrew Peacock for Kooyong Minister for Foreign Affairs Liberal James Killen for Moreton Minister for Defence Liberal Margaret Guilfoyle Senator for Victoria Minister for Social Security Liberal Eric Robinson for McPherson Minister for Finance (to 23 February 1979; from 27 February 1979) Liberal Ian Viner for Stirling Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Leader of the House (from 27 September 1979 to 19 August 1980) Liberal Peter Durack Senator for Western Australia (in Cabinet from 25 August 1978) Attorney-General Minister for Administrative Services (from 7 August 1978 to 25 August 1978) National Country Ralph Hunt for Gwydir (in Cabinet from 8 December 1979) Minister for Health (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Transport (from 8 December 1979)
Outer ministry PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio Liberal Michael MacKellar for Warringah Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Health (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (from 8 December 1979) National Country Evan Adermann for Fisher Minister for the Northern Territory (to 28 September 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Veterans' Affairs (from 4 July 1978) Liberal John McLeay for Boothby Minister for Construction (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence Minister for Administrative Services (from 5 December 1978) Liberal Kevin Newman for Bass Minister for National Development (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister for Productivity (from 8 December 1979) National Country James Webster Senator for Victoria Minister for Science (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Science and the Environment (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979) Liberal Tony Staley for Chisholm Minister for Post and Telecommunications Liberal Ian Macphee for Balaclava Minister for Productivity (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 5 December 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Treasurer (from 8 December 1979) Liberal Wal Fife for Farrer Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (to 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Education (from 8 December 1979) Liberal Vic Garland for Curtin Minister for Veterans' Affairs (to 4 July 1978) Minister for Special Trade Representations (to 8 December 1979) Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs (from 8 December 1979) Minister assisting the Minister for Industry and Commerce (from 8 December 1979) Liberal Bob Ellicott for Wentworth Minister for Home Affairs Minister for the Capital Territory Liberal Ray Groom for Braddon Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development (to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations (to 5 December 1978) Minister for Housing and Construction (from 5 December 1978) Liberal Fred Chaney Senator for Western Australia (in Ministry from 25 August 1978) Chief Government Whip in the Senate (to 28 February 1978) Minister for Administrative Services (from 25 August 1978 to 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for Education (from 25 August 1978 to 8 December 1979) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (from 5 December 1978) Minister assisting the Minister for National Development and Energy (from 8 December 1979) National Country Douglas Scott Senator for New South Wales (in Ministry from 8 December 1979) Minister for Special Trade Representations (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980) Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Resources (from 8 December 1979 to 19 August 1980) National Country David Thomson for Leichhardt (in Ministry from 8 December 1979) Minister for Science and the Environment (from 8 December 1979)
See also First Fraser ministry Second Fraser ministry Fourth Fraser ministry
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