As an inexperienced leader Menzies struggled to manage the UAP, which was divided over its war policies. In Menzies resigned and was replaced as prime minister by Arthur Fadden, leader of the Country Party. In , the Liberal Party, in coalition with the Country Party, won a resounding election victory, which began a period of Coalition Government that would last for 23 years.
In response to the Cold War atmosphere of the early s, believing communism was a serious threat, Menzies tried, unsuccessfully, to have the Australian Communist Party banned through a referendum.
The issue of communism, however, was to prove a much more difficult problem for his Labor Party opponents, a factor which contributed to his electoral success. This economic boom led to labour shortages, which, in turn, saw the introduction of mass migration programs from Europe, an initiative started under the Chifley Labor Government and continued by Menzies. Culturally, during the Menzies era, Australia maintained a close affection for Britain and the monarchy, even though the importance of this relationship was less significant than its developing relationship with the United States.
A key policy was to stamp out Communist influence in the union movement and end disruption caused by strike action; goals to be achieved by abolishing the Communist Party. The Act was declared invalid in March Menzies then sought power to outlaw the Communist Party through a referendum in September The referendum on government power to ban the Communist Party occurred in a climate of mounting Cold War tension between Western and Soviet power blocs.
National Library of Australia This period was one of rapid development, almost continual economic growth, rising standards of living and very low below two per cent unemployment rates. Two major public spectacles of the mids became the focus of national attention, prompting outpourings of national sentiment — the Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh in and the Melbourne Olympic Games in Both events were strongly promoted by the government.
Museum of Australian Democracy. As well as being Prime Minister, Menzies at different times held other ministerial and acting ministerial positions.
Menzies travelled widely in Australia and overseas on government business. As such, he played an important ambassadorial role on behalf of both Australia and the Commonwealth of Nations. One particularly important excursion abroad was his trip to Cairo in September as head of a five-nation delegation mediating in the Suez crisis.
The commitment of the Menzies government to its alliances with the UK led to the establishment of UK nuclear weapon testing facilities in Australia. The test program continued from — An increasingly close alliance with the USA resulted in the establishment of American military communications bases in the s as well as other defence and science installations.
From the Menzies government sent military observers and then troops, including conscripts, to Vietnam to assist the South Vietnamese government and US military forces in the war against the Communists.
A devoted royalist, during his second period as prime minister Menzies received numerous honours and awards, including the imperial titles Companion of Honour , Knight of the Thistle , Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports , and Chief Commander US Legion of Merit , as well as 20 honorary doctorates. His total of 18 years as Prime Minister, and his unbroken year tenure of office during his second period in the position is the longest of all Australian Prime Ministers.
His second period as Prime Minister has remained an inspiration to Liberal Party members. Prime Minister Robert Menzies looking through a roll of steel at the official opening of the steel mills at Port Kembla. State Library of New South Wales. Robert Menzies devoted himself to authorship in retirement. The most important new legislation resulted from the need to put Australia on a war footing.
This legislation included:. The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to country, community and culture. Prime Ministers of Australia Robert Menzies. Parliament of Australia website survey. Parliament of Australia. Your browser does not support JavaScript and some functionality on this web page will be lost.
Permalink Prev Next Return to results list 1 results. Date AM. Source Parliamentary Library. Current member No. Electorate Kooyong. Parliamentary Appointments Member of the War Cabinet from to Member of the Cabinet Economic Committee from to Member of the Australian Advisory War Council from Acting Treasurer from December to February Acting Minister for External Affairs from Acting Minister for External Affairs from 6.
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