House Of Representatives Members – 17th Parliament 1943-1946

This is the full list of members who served in the Seventeenth House of Representatives from 1943 until 1946.

Prime Minister John Curtin’s Labor government had taken office in October 1941, following the defeat of the Fadden government in a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. Curtin was elected in a landslide at the elections on August 21, 1943, defeating the Fadden-led coalition. In a 74-member House, the ALP won 49 seats (+17). The United Australia Party was reduced to 14 seats (-9), whilst the Country Party (in various incarnations) won 9 seats (-4). There were two independents, plus a member with limited voting rights from the Northern Territory.

The ALP polled 49.94% (+9.78%) of the primary vote. The UAP polled 16.05% (-14.17%). The Country Party secured 6.96% (-6.74%). Independent candidates polled 12.15% (+4.08%).

On a two-party-preferred basis, the ALP polled 58.20% (+7.90%) to the UAP’s 41.80%.

The election was the ALP’s biggest election victory of all time. The party won 65% of all the seats in the House and the largest two-party vote it has ever secured.

Prime Minister John Curtin died on July 5, 1945, two months after the war in Europe ended and one month before the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Frank Forde served as prime minister for eight days. In the Caucus ballot for a new leader, Forde and Norman Makin unsuccessfully ran against Ben Chifley, who became PM on July 13, 1945. Forde would go on to lose his seat at the 1946 election.

Robert Menzies was the prime mover in the formation of the Liberal Party during this Parliament. He again became leader of the United Australia Party, and Leader of the Opposition, following the 1943 election. On August 31, 1945, he became the first leader of the Liberal Party, a position he would hold until January 26, 1966. Eric Harrison became Deputy Leader.

There were three by-elections in the Seventeenth Parliament.

• 1945: Fremantle (WA) – John Curtin (ALP) died; replaced by Kim Beazley (ALP).
• 1946: Wimmera (Vic) – Alexander Wilson (Independent) resigned and was appointed Administrator of Norfolk Island; replaced by Winton Turnbull (Country Party).
• 1946: Henty (Vic) – Arthur Coles (Independent) resigned and was appointed Chairman of the Australian National Airways Commission; replaced by Henry (Jo) Gullett (Liberal).

The first table shows the state-by-state breakdown of the House following the 1943 election.

The second table lists the 78 members who served in the 17th House of Representatives, 75 elected in 1943 and three who entered via by-elections. *The Northern Territory member (Adair Blain-Ind) had voting rights only for matters affecting the territory and is therefore excluded from the calculations of party strength in the House.