Australia's Response to the Threat of Communism
Australia’s Response to the threat of Communism
Australia’s Response to the threat of Communism
Australia’s response to the threat of communism after WW2 was extraordinary. Australia and its politicians immediately recognised what could happen of a result of the domino theory. With the Soviet Union influencing so many countries and causing China, Vietnam, and North Korea to turn Communist it was only matter of time until it reached Australia, and all in all this was when Australia took action.
At the end of WW2 in 1945 the world thought that peace was about, but that was when the lashings of communism rained upon the world. This was when Robert Menzies took advantage of Australia’s fear and hatred for communism and used to win himself many elections. Menzies who was the opposition leader in 1949 and made a speech in this year about his fight against communism that nearly 4000 people attended in Hurstville, NSW. It was quoted next day in a newspaper article with the headline, “WE WILL THRASH REDS”. “We are going to declare war on Communists; we are going to give them a thrashing.” Many speeches including lines just like these were what won the Menzies over to the majority of Australia. Australians wanted to stay a democracy they wanted someone who could lead them away from all this and respond against communism and that’s why they choose Menzies. This was one of the main reasons for Menzies becoming Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister. What also helped Menzies in his campaigning, as quoted in the newspaper article about Menzies, was that he was going to ban the Bank Nationalisation Act, which would nationalise all banks in Australia making them into the public ownership of the government. This was extremely important for Australia as if this act was allowed to keep going it would be one of the first steps to communism.
Another Aspect that won over the people of Australia for Menzies and his non-communist government was the Petrov Affair. The Petrov
Australia’s Response to the threat of Communism
Australia’s response to the threat of communism after WW2 was extraordinary. Australia and its politicians immediately recognised what could happen of a result of the domino theory. With the Soviet Union influencing so many countries and causing China, Vietnam, and North Korea to turn Communist it was only matter of time until it reached Australia, and all in all this was when Australia took action.
At the end of WW2 in 1945 the world thought that peace was about, but that was when the lashings of communism rained upon the world. This was when Robert Menzies took advantage of Australia’s fear and hatred for communism and used to win himself many elections. Menzies who was the opposition leader in 1949 and made a speech in this year about his fight against communism that nearly 4000 people attended in Hurstville, NSW. It was quoted next day in a newspaper article with the headline, “WE WILL THRASH REDS”. “We are going to declare war on Communists; we are going to give them a thrashing.” Many speeches including lines just like these were what won the Menzies over to the majority of Australia. Australians wanted to stay a democracy they wanted someone who could lead them away from all this and respond against communism and that’s why they choose Menzies. This was one of the main reasons for Menzies becoming Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister. What also helped Menzies in his campaigning, as quoted in the newspaper article about Menzies, was that he was going to ban the Bank Nationalisation Act, which would nationalise all banks in Australia making them into the public ownership of the government. This was extremely important for Australia as if this act was allowed to keep going it would be one of the first steps to communism.
Another Aspect that won over the people of Australia for Menzies and his non-communist government was the Petrov Affair. The Petrov