The Forde ministry (Labor) was the 31st ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 15th prime minister, Frank Forde. The Forde Ministry succeeded the Second Curtin ministry, which dissolved on 6 July 1945 following the death of former prime minister John Curtin - the second of three occasions where a sitting prime minister died in office. Since Forde was the deputy Labor leader, it was a caretaker ministry until the Labor caucus could elect a new leader. Treasurer Ben Chifley was ultimately elected over Forde on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister along with his ministry the following day.^[1]

Quick Facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

Forde ministry
31st Ministry of Australia
Frank Forde Ben Chifley
Date formed	6 July 1945
Date dissolved	13 July 1945
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	The Duke of Gloucester
Prime Minister	Frank Forde
No. of ministers	18
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Liberal–Country coalition
Opposition leader	Robert Menzies
History
Legislature term(s)	17th
Predecessor	Second Curtin ministry
Successor	First Chifley ministry

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Frank Forde, who died in 1983, was the last surviving member of the Forde Ministry; Forde was also the last surviving minister of the Scullin government, the Curtin government, and the First Chifley ministry.