![]() ![]() Then, with the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941, the Australian mainland itself seemed vulnerable to an invasion. British cities were suffering nightly aerial bombing, and the German submarines were able severely to restrict equipment and supplies reaching Britain. Once the phoney war period was over, the Germans were clearly poised to defeat all of Europe, including Britain. Part of the explanation for this could be the reality of the threat to Australia for much of the war. ![]() Of course there were many divisions and tensions, but overwhelmingly the people seemed to be quite united, particularly in comparison to the World War 1 experience. The Australian people went through six years of war with considerable unity. the prosecution of about one thousand conscientious objectors, and the imprisoning of some of them.the banning of the Communist Party, and the Australia First Movement for opposition to the war.the rationing of clothing, footwear, tea, butter and sugar. ![]() internment of members of the Australia First organisation.the setting of some women's pay rates at near-male levels.restrictions on the costs allowed for building or renovations.the fixing of profit margins in industry.regulations allowing strikers to be drafted into the Army or into the Army Labour Corps.increased enlistment of women into the auxiliary forces.blackouts and brownouts in cities and coastal areas. ![]() the restriction of weekday sporting events.the reduction of the Christmas - New Year holiday period to three days.The government used its powers to make a huge number of laws and regulations affecting all areas of people's lives. This Act did two major things: it effectively overrode the Constitution for the duration of the war - giving the Commonwealth power to make laws in areas where it did not have that power under the Constitution and it effectively overrode the power of parliament by giving the government power to make regulations, that is, laws that required only the signatures of some ministers and the Governor-General. They did this through the authority of the National Security Act of 1939. There have never been such controls since that time.Īs in World War 1, the Commonwealth Government imposed a large number of new controls over people's lives. During 1942, civilians were evacuated south in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory and Australians were put under greater government controls than at any time since the convict era. With the entry of Japan into the war there was a real fear and the threat of an invasion to Australia. The war was increasingly desperate and serious. By September only Britain stood undefeated, and even then it had been badly mauled at Dunkirk, and was suffering the impact of the bombing of its industrial cities. In June 1940, however, the German war machine struck, and the countries of Europe rapidly fell to the German Blitzkrieg of 'lightning war'. From 'Phoney War' to 'All In'!įor those in Australia, the first few months were a period of 'phoney war', when there was little actual combat for our troops and life at home for Australians at this stage was fairly normal. The government deliberately moved more slowly and in a more organised way - they had learned from 1914 when many men in essential occupations had been allowed to enlist, to the detriment of the home front effort. Like to copy this image? Please click here first The only groups not to support the decision were pacifists such as Jehovah's Witnesses, and hard core socialists who opposed involvement because the Soviet Union opposed it. All major political parties, churches and newspapers supported involvement. As in 1914 most Australians seemed to support the decision to be involved in the war. When war broke out in September 1939 the Australian Government was much better prepared for it than in 1914. ![]()
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