The fourth Howard ministry (LiberalNational coalition) was the 63rd ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 25th prime minister, John Howard. The fourth Howard ministry succeeded the third Howard ministry, which dissolved on 26 October 2004 following the federal election that took place on 9 October. The ministry was replaced by the first Rudd ministry on 3 December 2007 following the federal election that took place on 24 November which saw Labor defeat the Coalition.

Cabinet

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
LiberalJohn Howard (1939-) MP for Bennelong (1974-2007)Prime Minister Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (to 29 November 2007)
NationalsJohn Anderson (1956–) MP for Gwydir (1989–2007)Deputy Prime Minister (to 6 July 2005) Leader of the National Party (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (to 6 July 2005)
LiberalPeter Costello (1957-) MP for Higgins (1990-2009)Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (to 29 November 2007) Treasurer
NationalsMark Vaile (1956–) MP for Lyne (1993–2008)Deputy Prime Minister (from 6 July 2005) Leader of the National Party (from 6 July 2005) Deputy Leader of the National Party (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Trade (to 29 September 2006) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 29 September 2006)
LiberalRobert Hill (1946–) Senator for South Australia (1981–2006)Leader of the Government in the Senate (to 20 January 2006) Minister for Defence (to 20 January 2006)
LiberalAlexander Downer (1951–) MP for Mayo (1984–2008)Minister for Foreign Affairs
LiberalTony Abbott (1957–) MP for Warringah (1994–2019)Minister for Health and Ageing Leader of the House
LiberalPhilip Ruddock (1943–) MP for Berowra (1993–2016)Attorney-General
LiberalNick Minchin (1953–) Senator for South Australia (1993–2011)Minister for Finance and Administration Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate (from 27 January 2006)
NationalsWarren Truss (1948–) MP for Wide Bay (1990–2016)Deputy Leader of the National Party (from 6 July 2005) Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 6 July 2005 to 29 September 2006) Minister for Trade (from 29 September 2006)
LiberalAmanda Vanstone (1952–) Senator for South Australia (1984–2007)Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007)
LiberalBrendan Nelson (1958–) MP for Bradfield (1996–2009)Minister for Education, Science and Training (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006) Leader of the Liberal Party (from 29 November 2007)
LiberalKay Patterson (1944–) Senator for Victoria (1987–2008)Minister for Family and Community Services (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues (to 27 January 2006)
LiberalIan Macfarlane (1955–) MP for Groom (1998–2016)Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources
LiberalKevin Andrews (1955–2024) MP for Menzies (1991–2022)Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (to 30 January 2007) Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalHelen Coonan (1947–) Senator for New South Wales (1996–2011)Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
LiberalIan Campbell (1959–) Senator for Western Australia (1990–2007)Minister for the Environment and Heritage (to 30 January 2007) Minister for Human Services (from 30 January 2007 to 9 March 2007) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (to 17 November 2004)
NationalsPeter McGauran (1955–) MP for Gippsland (1983–2008) (in Cabinet from 6 July 2005)Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (from 6 July 2005)
LiberalJulie Bishop (1956–) MP for Curtin (1998–2019) (in Cabinet from 27 January 2006)Minister for Ageing (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Education, Science and Training (from 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues (from 27 January 2006) Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (from 29 November 2007)
LiberalMal Brough (1961–) MP for Longman (1996–2007) (in Cabinet from 27 January 2006)Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalMalcolm Turnbull (1954–) MP for Wentworth (2004–2018) (in Cabinet from 30 January 2007)Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalJoe Hockey (1965–) MP for North Sydney (1996–2015) (in Cabinet from 30 January 2007)Minister for Human Services (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Minister for Workplace Relations (from 10 August 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (from 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalChris Ellison (1954–) Senator for Western Australia (1993–2009) (in Cabinet from 9 March 2007)Minister for Justice and Customs (to 9 March 2007) Minister for Human Services (from 9 March 2007) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (from 17 November 2004 to 9 March 2007)

Outer ministry

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
LiberalIan Macdonald (1945–) Senator for Queensland (1990–2019)Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (to 27 January 2006)
LiberalRod Kemp (1944–) Senator for Victoria (1990–2008)Minister for the Arts and Sport (to 30 January 2007)
LiberalEric Abetz (1958–) Senator for Tasmania (1994–2022)Special Minister of State (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (from 27 January 2006) Manager of Government Business in the Senate (from 9 March 2007)
LiberalGary Hardgrave (1960–) MP for Moreton (1996–2007)Minister for Vocational and Technical Education (to 30 January 2007) Minister assisting the Prime Minister (to 30 January 2007)
LiberalFran Bailey (1946–) MP for McEwen (1996–2010)Minister for Small Business and Tourism
LiberalJim Lloyd (1954–) MP for Robertson (1996–2007)Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads
NationalsDe-Anne Kelly (1954–) MP for Dawson (1996–2007) (in ministry until 27 January 2006)Minister for Veterans' Affairs (to 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade (from 27 January 2006 to 29 September 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services (from 29 September 2006)
LiberalPeter Dutton (1970–) MP for Dickson (2001–2025)Minister for Workforce Participation (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (from 27 January 2006)
NationalsJohn Cobb (1950–) MP for Parkes (2001–2007) (in ministry from 6 July 2005)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services (to 6 July 2005) Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Minister for Community Services (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Assistant Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalBruce Billson (1966–) MP for Dunkley (1996–2016) (in ministry from 27 January 2006)Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade (to 6 July 2005) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Minister for Veterans' Affairs (from 27 January 2006) Minister assisting the Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalGary Nairn (1951–2024) MP for Eden-Monaro (1996–2007) (in ministry from 27 January 2006)Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (to 27 January 2006) Special Minister of State (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalSharman Stone (1951–) MP for Murray (1996–2016) (in ministry from 27 January 2006)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration (to 27 January 2006) Minister for Workforce Participation (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalSanto Santoro (1956–) Senator for Queensland (2002–2007) (in ministry from 27 January 2006)Minister for Ageing (from 27 January 2006 to 21 March 2007)
LiberalAndrew Robb (1951–) MP for Goldstein (2004–2016) (in ministry from 30 January 2007)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Minister for Vocational and Technical Education (from 30 January 2007)
Country LiberalNigel Scullion (1956–) Senator for Northern Territory (2001–2019) (in ministry from 30 January 2007)Minister for Community Services (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalGeorge Brandis SC (1957–) Senator for Queensland (2000–2018) (in ministry from 30 January 2007)Minister for the Arts and Sport (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalDavid Johnston (1956–) Senator for Western Australia (2002–2016) (in ministry from 9 March 2007)Minister for Justice and Customs (from 9 March 2007)
LiberalChristopher Pyne (1967–) MP for Sturt (1993–2019) (in ministry from 21 March 2007)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing (to 30 January 2007) Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing (from 30 January 2007 to 21 March 2007) Minister for Ageing (from 21 March 2007)

Parliamentary Secretaries

PartyMinisterPortraitPortfolio
LiberalWarren Entsch (1950–) MP for Leichhardt (1996–2007)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources (to 27 January 2006)
LiberalTeresa Gambaro (1958–) MP for Petrie (1996–2007)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 30 January 2007 to 21 March 2007) Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (from 21 March 2007)
LiberalChris Pearce (1963–) MP for Aston (2001–2010)Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
LiberalGreg Hunt (1965–) MP for Flinders (2001–2022)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (to 30 January 2007) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalSussan Ley (1961–) MP for Farrer (2001–)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services (Children and Youth Affairs) (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalPat Farmer (1962–) MP for Macarthur (2001–2010)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training
LiberalRichard Colbeck (1958–) Senator for Tasmania (2002–2016)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration (from 27 January 2006)
NationalsSandy Macdonald (1954–) Senator for New South Wales (2000–2008)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade (from 6 July 2005 to 27 January 2006) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (from 27 January 2006 to 30 January 2007)
LiberalBob Baldwin (1955–) MP for Paterson (2001–2016)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources (from 27 January 2006)
LiberalTony Smith (1967–) MP for Casey (2001–2022)Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalPeter Lindsay (1944–) MP for Herbert (1996–2010)Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence (from 30 January 2007)
LiberalBrett Mason (1962–) Senator for Queensland (1999–2015)Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing (from 21 March 2007)

See also

Notes