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He was a Catholic who married a staunch Presbyterian in a Presbyterian church, and as a result drew criticism within Catholic circles his entire life, despite remaining within the Catholic church.
Chifley was famously a man who rose from working class roots, to work as an engine driver (forming the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen along the way), and eventually to the position of Prime Minister.
And after his election defeat of 1949, Chifley remained the leader of the Labor opposition until the time of his death in 1951, more than holding Menzies to account the entire time. It was Chifley's strong opposition which drove Menzies to call the double dissolution election of 1951 where Menzies lost seats in the House, but gained control of the Senate.
During their time in office the Chifley Government:
- Opened Australia to a new wave of immigration (largely from , significantly boosting Australia’s population.
- Ensured the Federal Government took primary responsibility for social services.
- Legislated to create a public health system, paving the way for the creation of Medibank and subsequently Medicare in the 1970s and 1980s (something Menzies was unable to do despite the good economic times).
- Created a government owned airline ‘Trans Australian airlines’.
- Began building the Snowy Hydro Electricity Scheme.
- Ran a successful constitutional referendum which paved the way for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Legislated for the construction of the Australian National University.
- Created a fully independent Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Assisted many former Asian colonies to achieve independence through the United Nations.
- Played a major role in writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the efforts of then UN President HV Evatt.
- Invested in the creation of the Holden motor company, Australia’s first car company.
- Significantly invested in affordable housing for returned soldiers and the less fortunate.
- Increased investment in education and social security.
- Waged a campaign to rid Australia of Tuberculosis (which Springborg is looking to reverse on Queensland by withdrawing support for the TSI clinics)
History seems to be telling us repeatedly that Nation-building projects are the kind of thing that Labor takes on when it is needed, and when they see its importance for the nation's future. Liberal and Coaltion governments in contrast find reasons not to act (usually based on questionable arguments of economics or affordability), instead choosing to ride on the waves of success created by predecessors braver and more insightful than themselves.
Looking at the policy framework the Abbott opposition recently released, they seem to be following the same tired old pattern of roll-back, cut-back, look back (to an imagined better past) and sit on your hands for as long as possible. We are in a time of immense change, where nations will need to be proactive, nimble, forward thinking, and change oriented because those who aren't will be left far behind.
In the second half of this year we will need to ask ourselves which party is best placed to meet these challenges... ?