The third Gorton ministry spanned the period 12 November 1969 to 10 March 1971.

Submissions, decisions and files

The 1970 Cabinet records consist of 553 submissions with related briefing notes and decisions, and 291 decisions without submission.

Cabinet did not consider all submissions. A number were withdrawn before being considered by Cabinet, while other submissions were only for Cabinet’s information and did not require a decision. Others did not get listed for attention at a Cabinet meeting for some weeks or months due to the pressure of business and reworking of priorities. The submission title usually indicates if the submission was withdrawn.

Copies of decisions without submission are found in the folders of Cabinet decisions. Decision numbers 275, 347, 626 and 695 were not used. Decisions on some 1970 submissions were not made until 1971.

The Cabinet Office and Prime Minister's Department files contain a copy of the submission, briefing papers and relevant decisions. They also contain departmental advice exchanges between officials and ministers not included in the formal Cabinet papers. Withdrawn submissions can also be found in the relevant 'C' or 'CO' file.

Cabinet notebooks

Officials of the Cabinet Office were usually present for meetings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees. In 1970, the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary to Cabinet attended most Cabinet meetings.

Their role included the recording of proceedings so that minutes accurately reflecting the decisions made or conclusions reached could be prepared. These records of proceedings are referred to as Cabinet notebooks. Under section 22A of the Archives Act 1983, Cabinet notebooks (unlike other Commonwealth records) are not available to the public until 50 years have lapsed since their creation.

Viewing the records

Folders containing copies of lists of 1970 submissions and decisions are available for public access in the National Archives' Canberra reading room.

Individual Cabinet records can be requested and viewed through the National Archives' Canberra reading room. Digital copies of submissions (A5869) and decisions (A5873) can also be viewed online in RecordSearch.

At the 25 October 1969 federal election, the Gorton government was returned with its majority reduced from 39 to just seven. Despite being challenged for leadership by William McMahon and George Fairbairn, Gorton retained leadership and put in place a reshuffled third ministry.

The third Gorton government was in place from 12 November 1969 to 10 March 1971 and its Cabinet consisted of the following 13 Ministers in order of seniority.

During 1970 parliamentary sittings and Cabinet meetings were usually held twice weekly and lasted for about four hours.

Cabinet committees

Cabinet committees were first formally established by Prime Minister Menzies in 1950. Their role was to assist Cabinet

• to make decisions more expeditiously and efficiently by having a Committee of Ministers sift through the issues and the facts and present Cabinet with a clear recommendation for action; and
• by relieving Cabinet of much business of lesser importance.

The 1970 Cabinet committees are listed below.

Some of the political figures in Australia in 1970 who are still active in the community are listed below. The roles and titles ascribed to them are those held in 1970.

Government Ministers

Government Members of Parliament

Opposition Members of Parliament

Senior Public Servants