Was Harold Holt A Success Or A Failure?
Background:
Harold Holt was born in Stanmore, New South Wales on 5 August 1908. He was the elder of two children. Holt was enrolled at Wesley College in Melbourne, which happens to be where the future Prime Minister Robert Menzies had been a star pupil as well. It is argued that due to a lack of parental love, is mothers early death and his parents’ divorce caused many feelings of loneliness and insecurity in Holt. Holt did very well in school, winning a scholarship to the University of Melbourne doing a degree in Law. He excelled in both academics and sports, and later worked in a bar. Holt graduated with a bachelor in Law in 1930.
Ideologies:
Holt had strong beliefs in putting more into the war effort in Vietnam, which was a much discussed …show more content…
aspect in the area of foreign policy in his time in office. He believed in the value of the Australian dollar, as well as rights for indigenous people.
Ambitions:
Holt wanted to see Vietnam efforts strengthened as much as possible, he support the war, and this is one aspect of ambition he is well known for.
Perspectives:
Holt saw work as very important; he excelled in many areas due to clear dedication.
He also saw Menzies as a mentor. Holts perceived that Vietnam efforts where of the utmost importance.
Lobby groups:
The united Australia party lobbied for him.
Part affiliations:
Holt was in the United Australia, after 1945 it was Liberal Party of Australia.
Time in Office:
Holt actually spent a total of 32 years in Parliament; this would include many years as a senior Cabinet Minister. Yet he was Prime Minister for just 22 months before he happened to tragically disappear in December 1967 when swimming in Victoria, and was said drowned.
Due to this he is usually over looked as a prime minister.
Election platforms:
In 1966 Holt fought his general election as Prime Minister. He focused his campaign on the major issues surrounding Vietnam and the Communist threat in Asia. The opposition believed in the opposite, and although people were starting to oppose to the war, they still had majority support, thus the United Australia Party won the election. This election platform won him the election.
Policies:
When Holt was minister for Immigration in the 1950s, He was responsible for the relaxation of the White Australia policy. When Menzies held office, and Holt was below him as Treasures he would start major reforms and change, this would including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia. During his office as Prime Minister, he would oversee change; this would include decisions not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound. In 1967 indigenous Australians benefited from a referendum result overseen by Holt.
He also played part in the child endowment act 1984, when he was a labor minister. Opposition:
The Labor leader Arthur Caldwell was greatly opposed to Australia's part in the war and promised that Australian troops would be brought home if Labor won office, and opposition to overseas service by Australian conscripts had long been part of ALP policy.
Although domestic opposition to the war was beginning to build, Australia's involvement in Vietnam still had the majority support.
Failures:
Holt had a scandal involving the miss use of an air craft, this, and his refusal to sack the present minister of Air to control the situation led to his loss of much support and heavy criticism. Another arguable failure was the briefness of his term, it limited any personal and political impact, the short time span means he is over looked when compared to his predecessors. Another controversial issue that is remembered to have caused a lot of criticism is his decision to use troops to take control of cargo facilities during a waterside dispute in Bowen, Queensland in 1953.
Achievements:
As Minister for Immigration (1949–1956), Holt was responsible for relaxing the White Australia policy and as Treasurer under Menzies, he initiated major fiscal reforms including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and launched and guided the process to convert Australia to decimal currency. As Prime Minister, he oversaw landmark changes including the decision not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound, and the 1967 constitutional referendum in which an overwhelming majority of Australians voted in favor of giving the Commonwealth power to legislate specifically for indigenous
Australians.
1954 he was voted one of Australia’s best dressed man.
Innovations:
New legislations that would stem a new age of multiculturalism (relaxation of the white Australia policy), and the establishment of the reserve bank of Australia.
Annotation:
The cartoon depicts Holt being pushed aside by a shark (representing the senate), his facial expression representing disorientation. The setting of sea is an allegory of his mysterious sea disappearance. The cartoon is alluding that the senate is the reason for his disappearance and demise, further alluding that the senate was mighty and powerful.
Harold Holt was born in Stanmore, New South Wales on 5 August 1908. He was the elder of two children. Holt was enrolled at Wesley College in Melbourne, which happens to be where the future Prime Minister Robert Menzies had been a star pupil as well. It is argued that due to a lack of parental love, is mothers early death and his parents’ divorce caused many feelings of loneliness and insecurity in Holt. Holt did very well in school, winning a scholarship to the University of Melbourne doing a degree in Law. He excelled in both academics and sports, and later worked in a bar. Holt graduated with a bachelor in Law in 1930.
Ideologies:
Holt had strong beliefs in putting more into the war effort in Vietnam, which was a much discussed …show more content…
aspect in the area of foreign policy in his time in office. He believed in the value of the Australian dollar, as well as rights for indigenous people.
Ambitions:
Holt wanted to see Vietnam efforts strengthened as much as possible, he support the war, and this is one aspect of ambition he is well known for.
Perspectives:
Holt saw work as very important; he excelled in many areas due to clear dedication.
He also saw Menzies as a mentor. Holts perceived that Vietnam efforts where of the utmost importance.
Lobby groups:
The united Australia party lobbied for him.
Part affiliations:
Holt was in the United Australia, after 1945 it was Liberal Party of Australia.
Time in Office:
Holt actually spent a total of 32 years in Parliament; this would include many years as a senior Cabinet Minister. Yet he was Prime Minister for just 22 months before he happened to tragically disappear in December 1967 when swimming in Victoria, and was said drowned.
Due to this he is usually over looked as a prime minister.
Election platforms:
In 1966 Holt fought his general election as Prime Minister. He focused his campaign on the major issues surrounding Vietnam and the Communist threat in Asia. The opposition believed in the opposite, and although people were starting to oppose to the war, they still had majority support, thus the United Australia Party won the election. This election platform won him the election.
Policies:
When Holt was minister for Immigration in the 1950s, He was responsible for the relaxation of the White Australia policy. When Menzies held office, and Holt was below him as Treasures he would start major reforms and change, this would including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia. During his office as Prime Minister, he would oversee change; this would include decisions not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound. In 1967 indigenous Australians benefited from a referendum result overseen by Holt.
He also played part in the child endowment act 1984, when he was a labor minister. Opposition:
The Labor leader Arthur Caldwell was greatly opposed to Australia's part in the war and promised that Australian troops would be brought home if Labor won office, and opposition to overseas service by Australian conscripts had long been part of ALP policy.
Although domestic opposition to the war was beginning to build, Australia's involvement in Vietnam still had the majority support.
Failures:
Holt had a scandal involving the miss use of an air craft, this, and his refusal to sack the present minister of Air to control the situation led to his loss of much support and heavy criticism. Another arguable failure was the briefness of his term, it limited any personal and political impact, the short time span means he is over looked when compared to his predecessors. Another controversial issue that is remembered to have caused a lot of criticism is his decision to use troops to take control of cargo facilities during a waterside dispute in Bowen, Queensland in 1953.
Achievements:
As Minister for Immigration (1949–1956), Holt was responsible for relaxing the White Australia policy and as Treasurer under Menzies, he initiated major fiscal reforms including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and launched and guided the process to convert Australia to decimal currency. As Prime Minister, he oversaw landmark changes including the decision not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound, and the 1967 constitutional referendum in which an overwhelming majority of Australians voted in favor of giving the Commonwealth power to legislate specifically for indigenous
Australians.
1954 he was voted one of Australia’s best dressed man.
Innovations:
New legislations that would stem a new age of multiculturalism (relaxation of the white Australia policy), and the establishment of the reserve bank of Australia.
Annotation:
The cartoon depicts Holt being pushed aside by a shark (representing the senate), his facial expression representing disorientation. The setting of sea is an allegory of his mysterious sea disappearance. The cartoon is alluding that the senate is the reason for his disappearance and demise, further alluding that the senate was mighty and powerful.