Menzies government (1939–1941)
Menzies government (I) | |
---|---|
In office | |
26 April 1939 – 26 August 1941 | |
Monarch | George VI |
Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
Parties | UAP (1939–1941) Country (1940–1941) |
Status | Minority (to Mar. 1940) Majority (Mar.–Sep. 1940) Minority (from Sep. 1940) |
Origin | Menzies wins 1939 UAP leadership election |
Demise | Menzies' resignation |
Predecessor | Page government |
Successor | Fadden government |
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Prime Minister of Australia First term of government (1939–1941) Second term of government (1949–1966)
Ministries
Elections |
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The Menzies government (1939–1941) refers to the federal executive government of Australia led by Prime Minister
Background
The United Australia Party (UAP) was formed in 1931 as a response to the more radical proposals of Labor Party members to deal with the Great Depression. Led by former Labor minister and fiscal conservative Joseph Lyons, the new party swept into office in 1931 against the Australian Labor Party led by James Scullin.[1] Labor had split over the issue of economic policy, with Lang Labor seeking to cease overseas debt repayments.
Lyons served seven years as prime minister, overseeing Australia's recovery from the Great Depression. Defence issues became increasingly dominant in public affairs with the rise of Fascism in Europe and militant Japan in Asia.[2] Lyons negotiated a coalition with the Country Party, led by Earle Page, following the 1934 election, however the parties continued to differ on some questions of economic policy: the Country Party wanted low tariffs and opposed introduction of a national unemployment insurance scheme.[3]
On 7 April 1939, with the storm clouds of the
The Country Party under Earle Page announced that they would refuse to work in coalition under a Menzies-led government. The UAP selected Menzies to succeed Lyons regardless.[4]
Terms in office
Robert Menzies was sworn in as Prime Minister of Australia for the first time on 26 April 1939, following the death of Joseph Lyons.[6] He led a minority United Australia Party government – Country Party leader Earle Page had temporarily been Prime Minister after the death of Lyons, but he refused to serve in a government led by Menzies, and withdrew the support of the Country Party from coalition with the UAP.
In addition to the office of Prime Minister, Menzies was Treasurer. The
The growing threat of war dominated politics through 1939. Menzies supported British policy against Hitler's Germany (negotiate for peace, but prepare for war) and – fearing Japanese intentions in the Pacific – established independent embassies in Tokyo and Washington to receive independent advice about developments.[7]
On 3 September 1939, the prime minister, Robert Menzies, made a national radio broadcast:
My fellow Australians. It is my melancholy duty to inform you, officially, that, in consequence of the persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.[8]
Australia had entered
A special War Cabinet was created after war was declared – initially composed of Prime Minister Menzies and five senior ministers (RG Casey, GA Street, Senator McLeay, HS Gullet and World War I Prime Minister Billy Hughes).[7]
In January 1940, Menzies dispatched potential leadership rival Richard Casey to Washington as Australia's first "Minister to the United States". In a consequent by-election, the UAP suffered a heavy defeat and Menzies re-entered coalition negotiations with the Country Party.[3] In March 1940, troubled negotiations were concluded with the Country Party to re-enter Coalition with the UAP. The replacement of Earl Page as leader by Archie Cameron allowed Menzies to reach accommodation. A new Coalition ministry was formed including the Country Party's Archie Cameron, Harold Thorby and John McEwen, as well as junior ministers Arthur Fadden and Horace Nock.[7]
In Europe, the Phoney War gave way to a succession of Allied defeats, as Germany overran the Low Countries, Norway and France. By June 1940, the British Empire stood alone against Germany. Menzies called for an 'all in' war effort and with the support of Curtin, amended the National Security Act to extend government powers to tax, acquire property, control businesses and the labour force and allow for conscription of men for the "defence of Australia". Essington Lewis, the head of BHP was appointed Director-General of Munitions Supply to assist with mobilisation of national resources.[7][9]
With the 1940 election looming, Menzies lost his Chief of the General Staff and three loyal ministers in a
Labor narrowly lost the September 1940 Election. The UAP–Country Party coalition and the Labor parties won 36 seats each and the Menzies government was forced to rely upon the support of two independents, Alex Wilson and Arthur Coles, to continue in office.[10]
Menzies proposed an all-party unity government to break the impasse, but the Labor Party refused to join.[7] John Curtin agreed instead to take a seat on a newly created Advisory War Council in October 1940.[10] New Country Party leader Arthur Fadden became Treasurer and Menzies unhappily conceded to allow Earle Page back into his ministry.
In January 1941, Menzies flew to Britain to discuss the weakness of Singapore's defences and sat with
In Menzies' absence, John Curtin had co-operated with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Fadden of the Country Party in preparing Australia for the expected
The UAP-Country Party Coalition held office for another month with Arthur Fadden of the Country Party as prime minister, before the independents switched allegiance. On 3 October, the independents, Coles and Wilson, voted with Labor to defeat the government. John Curtin was sworn in as prime minister on 7 October 1941.[12] Eight weeks later, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
Demise of the United Australia Party
The UAP disintegrated after suffering a heavy defeat in the
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.
See also
- History of Australia
- History of Australia since 1945
- First Menzies Ministry
- Second Menzies Ministry
- Third Menzies Ministry
References
- ^ http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/lyons/elections.aspx [bare URL]
- ^ http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/lyons/in-office.aspx [bare URL]
- ^ a b c d e f Brian Carroll; From Barton to Fraser; Cassell Australia; 1978
- ^ a b http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/lyons/after-office.aspx [bare URL]
- ^ Brian Carroll; From Barton to Fraser; Cassell Australia; 1978
- ^ "Menzies, Sir Robert Gordon (Bob) (1894–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
- ^ a b c d e f g "In office - Robert Menzies". primeministers.naa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-85885-032-3.
- ^ Released from BHP Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner's Advocate 25 May 1940
- ^ a b c "Before office - John Curtin - Australia's PMS - Australia's Prime Ministers". Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ISBN 9781864480399.
- ^ http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/fadden/in-office.aspx [bare URL]
- ^ "Formation of the Liberal Party of Australia". Party History. Liberal Party of Australia – Queensland Division. Archived from the original on 26 April 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
- ^ a b Ian Hancock. "The Origins of the Modern Liberal Party". Harold White Fellowships. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2007.