It succeeded the Tonkin ministry on 8 April 1974, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1974 election nine days earlier.
Ultimately, tensions over rural and education issues and, ultimately, milk quotas for dairy producers led to a split, and on 20 May 1975, National Country Party leader Ray McPharlin had led the party (and its three Ministers) out of the Coalition.
[2] On 8 April 1974, the Governor, Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards, constituted the Ministry.
He designated 12 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the Ministry on 5 June 1975.
[5] The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index.