John Curtin: Labor PM (1941-1945)
Introduction
No other individual shaped Australia's course in World War II more than Prime Minister John Curtin. He committed Australia to the War more decisively than his predecessor Robert Menzies. Curtin took steps to develop a war economy, improve Australia's home defences and military services, and promote enthusiasm for war. See image 1
After the fall of Singapore, he changed Australia's traditional foreign policy to rely not on the mother country Britain, but the United States. He believed that the decisive factor in winning World War II would come from American military power.
On the home front, Curtin introduced conscription for service in the south west Pacific, despite opposing conscription aggressively during World War I. Curtin also led a policy of austerity which encouraged Australians to give up their daily luxuries to help support the war effort.
A complex and troubled man, Curtin put aside his personal demons to lead Australia through the War.
The Menzies era
Australia's Prime Minister at the outbreak of World War II was Robert Menzies. He led a coalition of the United Australia Party and the Country Party. He was an able leader, however he was disliked by many political leaders.
Upon the British declaration of war on Germany, Menzies announced to Australia that 'Britain has declared war on Germany, and, as a result, Australia is also at war'. Menzies was loyal to Britain and has been described as 'British to the Bootstraps'.
He introduced censorship, price control and government regulation of civilian life. He began to put Australia on a war footing but stopped at conscription for home defence, control of resources, manpower, and production.
In early 1941, Menzies travelled to North Africa and spent four months with Australian and British troops. During his absence, however, Australia was rife with activity. Key industries fell victim to crippling strikes, and the debate renewed over whether or not Menzies was the right man to provide Australia with aggressive war-time leadership.
By August he was facing criticism from members of his own political party. Menzies was indecisive - he was not willing to commit to full mobilisation of a war economy. In the 1940 elections, the Labor Party, led by John Curtin, made significant gains. Menzies had appealed to Curtin to form a coalition government, but Curtin blatantly rejected Menzies. The lack of confidence in his leadership led him to resign.
The Governor-General asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Country Party, Arthur Fadden, to form a new government. Fadden was unable to fill the role of Prime Minister himself for long - he worked tirelessly for 40 days from August to October. By October, though, independent parties in parliament withdrew their support for Fadden and turned to the Labor Party.
On 7 October 1941, two independents crossed the floor to defeat Fadden's government. Labor was victorious and Curtin formed the Labor government.
Curtin's early political career
John Curtin was born in Creswick, Victoria, in 1885. He was the son of a policeman. He left school at age 13. He worked as secretary of the Timberworkers' Union of Victoria.
During World War I he was a pacifist (he did not believe in violence or war). He publicly opposed the issue of conscription when in 1916 he was the Victorian secretary of the Anti-Conscription League. His views landed him in jail for a brief period.
In 1928, he entered politics and federal parliament as member for Fremantle. When James Scullin retired from leadership of the Labor Party in 1935, Curtin filled the position easily. He focused on uniting the scattered Labor Party and providing strong leadership.
He had a complicated life and personality - his youth was filled with hardship and he battled alcoholism. Privately, he was a lonely man, shy and modest.
In the political arena, however, he was a determined and resolute fighter with a strong sense of nationalism and pride. He was a persuasive speaker.
He was a successful war-time leader because he was committed to Australia's war effort and did not cut corners in achieving his goals.
Curtin in power
Once in power, Curtin committed Australia to the war completely, independent of British foreign policy.
On 27 December 1941, Japanese troops advanced down the Malay Peninsula. Singapore was threatened and should Singapore fall, as she did on 15 February, 1942, Australia would be next for Japanese imperial ambitions.
Curtin declared war on Japan before Britain and he announced on 27 December 1941:
'The Australian Government regards the Pacific struggle as ... one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the direction of the ... fighting plan. Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom'.
It was a revolutionary move which did not win him total support - Australia had always relied on England for leadership in wars and the promise of protection from attack. His turn to America was a pragmatic move that put Australia's interests first. Curtin allowed America to use Australia as a naval and air force base for her vast military arsenal. See image 2
Curtin also stood his ground before the imposing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. An agreement was made between Churchill and US President Theodore Roosevelt that troops would not be sent to the Pacific but to Europe and India. Curtin had to insist that the Australian troops returning from the Middle East defend Australia rather than India.
Curtin worked tirelessly to unite Australians. At times, this desire to put Australia on a war footing conflicted with his personal beliefs.
Although he was previously a union leader who fought for the rights of workers to be recognised and improved, Curtin made clear that he would not tolerate strikes, lock-outs, or union dissent during the war and threatened to use the navy to break up any activities.
In 1942, Curtin introduced the 'Austerity Campaign'. The campaign encouraged Australians to give up everyday luxuries, channel their money into war loans, and provide labour for the many munitions factories. Curtin led by example - he worked long hours, lived simply and made great sacrifices. See image 3
Among the domestic reforms Curtin put into place, he imposed uniform taxation legislation. He centralised economic control and raised revenue through the tax legislation. He increased price control and rationing.
Although it was not Labor Party policy or his moral preference, Curtin introduced conscription for overseas service in 1943 for the first time in Australia.
Due to the drain on Australian manpower resources to support the war economy, Australia did not have enough troops to send to the war front. Conscription was limited to the Pacific area. In 1943, a federal election resulted in Curtin being confirmed as Prime Minister of Australia.
Despite his determined leadership in the War, Curtin was not to live to see peace in Europe, or the threat of Japan neutralised.
The death of PM Curtin
On 5 July 1945, John Curtin died. He was regarded as an inspiration to the Australian people and was highly respected by members of all political parties. All Australians mourned his loss. He was in failing health and the stress and frustrations of deciding the fate of Australians proved too taxing. He was a peaceful man who made his mark during war.
Curtin was succeeded by Ben Chifley as Labor leader and Prime Minister. The war in the Pacific ended on 15 August 1945. Chifley sought to increase social services to help rebuild Australia and her citizens' lives. He increased taxation to create the welfare state. He ended wartime control and reversed the war economy in 1946.
