It succeeded the Second Rudd Ministry after a federal election that took place on 7 September 2013.

[2] Abbott expressed regret at the low number of women in cabinet, but still received strong criticism on the lack of female representation in the ministry, including from members of his own party.

[4][5][6][7] Following the defeat of Abbott by Malcolm Turnbull in the Liberal leadership spill of 14 September 2015,[8] the ministry was replaced by the First Turnbull Ministry.

The initial arrangement of the Abbott ministry remained virtuallya unchanged from the initial swearing-in of the Cabinet on 18 September 2013 until the reshuffle that was announced on 23 December 2014.

The whips of the House of Representatives were rearranged following Tony Abbott's sacking of Phillip Ruddock on 13 February 2015.