Menzies Government (1939–41) in December 1944. The formation of a new party – the Liberal Party of Australia – was formally announced at Sydney Town Hall on 31 August 1945. After an initial loss to Labor at the 1946 election, Menzies led the Liberals to victory at the 1949 election against the incumbent Labor government led by Ben Chifley, and the Coalition stayed in office for a record 23 years. Menzies Government (1939–41) The Menzies Government (1939–1941) refers to the federal executive government of Australia led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Menzies led the United Australia Party in the Australian Parliament from 1939–1941.
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia most notably Dame Enid Lyons (1932–39), who had 12 children (one died in infancy). In 1943, four years after her husband's death in office, she was the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. She was a junior minister in the Menzies Government from 1949 to 1951. Some Prime Ministers' spouses have received official recognition for their services to the community: Tamie Fraser was the first spouse of a Prime Minister to be provided with an official secretary for dealing with her correspondence. There are currently seven living spouses of former prime ministers of Australia: The most