Menzies didn't start the dismantling of the Whie Australia. That move had to wait for his retirement. Incidentally the move (cautious and unofficial - it was only the Whitlam government that officially abandoned it) was motivated largely by the fact that, with Britain entering the Common Market, Australia needed new trading partners and the obvious choice was Japan.
And the net was loosened immediately following ww2, and apparently Australia let the Baltic countries know that their applications will now be favourably considered. Their descendent Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians carry on.
Papua was part of Australia at that time - so Japan invaded part of Australia. Also Japanese military equipment was found on the Moore River in WA. I am not aware of any definitive explanation for the latter rudeness!
I went to Monash University in Melbourne in the late 70’s. One of the tallest ( and ugliest 😂) buildings was known by students (and probably lecturers) as the Ming Wing.. a reference to Menzies. Probably a reference completely lost on current students. And not all of us have a broad nasal Aussie accent. I still get asked ( by non Brits) if I’m English😮
The other riff on Menzie’s name - referring to an ill timed sale of steel to an Asian country just before WWII - was Pig Iron Bob. And yep, we were much more strongly Socialist ( pensions, universal education etc), with strong labour unions, in early Federation.
Arthur Fadden was NOT the only “interim” (caretaker) prime minister from the Country Party. There was Earle Page, PM for 19 or 20 days in April 1939, following the death of Joe Lyons. Also “Black” Jack McEwan for 22 days in December 1967 to January 1968, following the death of Harold Holt.
Fred Paterson, a Queensland Rhodes Scholar and barrister, was elected to parliament in 1944, representing a remote area for the Communist Party. He remains the sole communist party member of parliament since it's original Australian foundation in 1920.
Very interesting. As for Robert Menzies having been considered a possible replacement for Winston Churchill: Would that even have been possible at the time, and would it be today? It strikes me as a bit unlikely that a foreigner could have been a member of a British cabinet, let alone lead one.
Back then, yes.@@blogbalkanstories4805 Even today, Australians who are living (even just on a temporary work pass) in the UK can vote in any election. My brother voted in the Brexit referendum.
In theory it was possible only because the prime minister is appointed by the monarch, who could appoint anyone, but in reality by the 1940s it would have been politically impossible to appoint someone from the House of Lords, let alone from Australia.
Menzies didn't start the dismantling of the Whie Australia. That move had to wait for his retirement. Incidentally the move (cautious and unofficial - it was only the Whitlam government that officially abandoned it) was motivated largely by the fact that, with Britain entering the Common Market, Australia needed new trading partners and the obvious choice was Japan.
And the net was loosened immediately following ww2, and apparently Australia let the Baltic countries know that their applications will now be favourably considered. Their descendent Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians carry on.
I think Arthur Caldwell was Immigration Minister.
Australia were attacked over 100 times by Japan - people think Darwin was only bombed once. Curtin was pivotal in shifting Australia's focus.
Papua was part of Australia at that time - so Japan invaded part of Australia. Also Japanese military equipment was found on the Moore River in WA. I am not aware of any definitive explanation for the latter rudeness!
I went to Monash University in Melbourne in the late 70’s. One of the tallest ( and ugliest 😂) buildings was known by students (and probably lecturers) as the Ming Wing.. a reference to Menzies. Probably a reference completely lost on current students.
And not all of us have a broad nasal Aussie accent. I still get asked ( by non Brits) if I’m English😮
The other riff on Menzie’s name - referring to an ill timed sale of steel to an Asian country just before WWII - was Pig Iron Bob.
And yep, we were much more strongly Socialist ( pensions, universal education etc), with strong labour unions, in early Federation.
Arthur Fadden was NOT the only “interim” (caretaker) prime minister from the Country Party.
There was Earle Page, PM for 19 or 20 days in April 1939, following the death of Joe Lyons.
Also “Black” Jack McEwan for 22 days in December 1967 to January 1968, following the death of Harold Holt.
Don’t worry, Australians don’t know much about Australian PM’s. You won’t get much past Menzies, Whitlam & Hawke.
Fred Paterson, a Queensland Rhodes Scholar and barrister, was elected to parliament in 1944, representing a remote area for the Communist Party. He remains the sole communist party member of parliament since it's original Australian foundation in 1920.
Champagne socialist by the sound of it!
No shortage of those in the Greens, ALP & Teals!
Very interesting.
As for Robert Menzies having been considered a possible replacement for Winston Churchill: Would that even have been possible at the time, and would it be today? It strikes me as a bit unlikely that a foreigner could have been a member of a British cabinet, let alone lead one.
Chalk and Cheese!
Different times.
True. But would it have been legally possible?
Back then, yes.@@blogbalkanstories4805
Even today, Australians who are living (even just on a temporary work pass) in the UK can vote in any election. My brother voted in the Brexit referendum.
In theory it was possible only because the prime minister is appointed by the monarch, who could appoint anyone, but in reality by the 1940s it would have been politically impossible to appoint someone from the House of Lords, let alone from Australia.
Heard of Joe Clark
Perhaps a little less mockery would have improved this podcast!
They’re just jealous 😂
@@alisonlilley3039 oh my antipodean friend, who isn't?
It was the liberal party by 1949
New Zealand still superior.
this is the strangest podcast ever, totally misses dozens of PM'S next to useless
That's why it's called Australian prime ministers: Edmund Barton - Robert Menzies
And not Australian prime ministers
Dozens?
Minim requirement for dozens is 24 prime ministers.
There has been 22 prime ministers in Australia…
Quit ya winging
It also tells you they are going to be continuing it “tomorrow”
Have some self awareness mate