Enemy Aliens
World War I (1914-1918):
- Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey.
- Anti-Germanism: Strong anti-German sentiment led to discrimination and restrictions.
- Legislation & Policies: War Precautions Act and Trading with the Enemy Acts allowed for internment and trade restrictions.
- Actions by German-Australians: Encouraged to prove loyalty by volunteering for service.
- Key Events: Resignation of South Australia’s Attorney General, Herman Homberg.
WW2 (1939-1945):
- Legislation & Policies: National Security Act enforced alien registration and restricted movement.
- Government Actions: Internment camps, including refugees fleeing Nazis.
- Significant Events: The Dunera Incident highlighted harsh treatment.
- Post-War Developments: Repatriation of internees to their countries of origin.
Manpower Controls
World War I (1914-1918):
- Legislation & Policies:
- Voluntary Enlistment initially.
- Conscription Debates: Billy Hughes advocated for conscription, but proposals were defeated in 1916 & 1917 referendums.
- Significant Events & Figures:
- Billy Hughes was Prime Minister during most of WWI and a key figure in the conscription debate.
- Statistics: Over 416,000 enlisted voluntarily, with casualties exceeding 60,000 killed and 156,000 wounded or captured.
World War II (1939-1945):
- Legislation & Policies:
- National Security Act (1939): Government controlled human resources, reserved occupations, and directed labor.
- Manpower Directorate (1942) ensured effective distribution of human resources.
- Government Actions & Significant Events:
- Registration & Direction of Labor (1942) for war work, including women’s employment in munitions factories.
- State-mandated enlistment and compulsory military training introduced.
- The Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and Citizen Military Forces (CMF) were formed.
- Significant Individuals: John Curtin emphasized government control over resources; Essington Lewis played a key role in industrial mobilization.
- Statistics:
- Military Enlistment: Over 993,000 Australians served in armed forces.
- Civilian Workforce: Approximately 2.3 million.
Rationing
World War I (1914-1918):
- Food & Resource Management:
- Encouraged increased food production, especially wheat & wool.
- Australia remained a major producer of wheat & wool.
- Rationing:
- No rationing system implemented during WWI.
World War II (1939-1945):
- Legislation & Policies:
- National Security Regulations and Rationing Regulations were introduced.
- Government Action & Administration:
- Ration Books: Issued containing coupons for rationed items.
- Ration Boards established to oversee the system, including allocations and exceptions.
- Season of Austerity (1942) urged sacrifices for the war effort.
- Meat and petrol were severely rationed, with meat ration as low as 1-2 kg per person per week.
- Rationed Items:
- Food: Meat, tea, sugar, butter, later eggs and milk.
- Fuel & Rubber: Petrol (from 1940), rubber (due to supply issues).
- Impact & Perception:
- Public morale generally accepted rationing as necessary for the war effort.
- End of Rationing:
- Last items (meat & butter) came off ration in 1948 and 1950 respectively.
Propaganda
World War I (1914-1918):
- Legislation & Policies:
- War Precautions Act 1914 introduced regulations including press censorship and control over private correspondence.
- Government Actions:
- Press Censorship: Prohibited criticism of war policies and censored letters to prevent sensitive information leakage.
- Propaganda:
- Used to bolster public morale and support for the war effort.
World War II (1939-1945):
- Legislation & Policies:
- National Security Act 1939 granted extensive powers for information control and censorship.
- Government Actions:
- Media Control: Managed dissemination of pro-war narratives through media channels and public speeches.
- Censorship Regulations: Appointed censors to control newspapers, books, telegrams, and letters.
- Department of Information established to manage propaganda efforts.
- Propaganda:
- Utilized various mediums such as posters, pamphlets, and news dissemination to boost morale and support for the war.
- Significant Events & Figures:
- Banning of Publications critical of Allied strategies.
- Sir Keith Murdoch played a significant role as Director-General of the Department of Information.
- Conscription:
- Initially limited to Australia and its territories but later expanded to support Allied forces.