The First Bruce ministry (Nationalist–Country Coalition) was the 16th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 8th Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce. The First Bruce ministry succeeded the Fifth Hughes ministry, which dissolved on 9 February 1923 following the December 1922 federal election and the subsequent resignation of Billy Hughes as Prime Minister. The Nationalists had lost their majority in the election, and had no choice but to negotiate a Coalition deal with the Country Party. However, Country leader Earle Page let it be known that no deal could be made unless Hughes resigned. It is the first ministry that consists of a centre-right Coalition between the senior conservative party and the junior rural party - this Coalition has more or less endured to this day with the modern-day Liberal Party and National Party. The ministry was replaced by the Second Bruce ministry on 18 December 1925 following the 1925 federal election.^[1]

Quick Facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

First Bruce ministry
16th Ministry of Australia
Group photo of the First Bruce ministry
Date formed	9 February 1923
Date dissolved	18 December 1925
People and organisations
Monarch	George V
Governor-General	Lord Forster Lord Stonehaven
Prime Minister	Stanley Bruce
No. of ministers	15
Member party	Nationalist–Country coalition
Status in legislature	Coalition majority government
Opposition party	Labor
Opposition leader	Matthew Charlton
History
Election(s)	16 December 1922
Outgoing election	14 November 1925
Legislature term(s)	9th
Predecessor	Fifth Hughes ministry
Successor	Second Bruce ministry

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Stanley Bruce, who died in 1967, was the last surviving member of the First Bruce ministry; Bruce was also the last surviving member of the Fifth Hughes ministry and the Second Bruce ministry. Earle Page was the last surviving Country minister.