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Menzies places a ban on the Communist Party for security reasons. It is
removed late in 1941 after Communist assurances of cooperation in the
war effort are accepted by Labor's Attorney-General Evatt. March: The Country
Party re-enters a coalition with the UAP after withdrawing the year before
when Page refused to work with Menzies. March 11: Coal
miners strike for higher pay and a 40-hour week - 200 mines across Australia
stop production. The government orders mines to reopen using volunteer
labour. The strikers return to work two months later after agreeing to
abide by any Arbitration Court award. September: The
Menzies coalition government is weakened after losses to Labor at the
general election. |
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Howard Florey leads the team that develops penicillin as an antibiotic. Australia opens
its first embassies, in Washington and Tokyo. Mr R G Casey
(later Lord Casey) becomes Australia's first ambassador to a foreign country
when Australia and the USA exchange ambassadors. Australian troop
convoys sail to the Middle East; troops see action near Bardia, North
Africa. Communist and
Fascist parties are banned. After the fall
of France, the Commonwealth government takes control of Australia's resources,
production, manpower and people. The ALP and trade unions adopt a win-the-war
policy. An all-party
war council is formed to work with the war cabinet. The government and
opposition each have four representatives. Newsprint is
rationed: daily papers to be less pages. Germans, Austrians
and Italians arrive from Britain on the Dunera. Sent to Australia
as "enemy aliens", they will be interned in camps outside
Melbourne and Sydney. Petrol rationing
begins.
Single men up to 33 years of age are included when call-up is extended. |
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Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Germany invades
Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. The
Nazis warn that listening to foreign radio is an offence punishable by
death. The Dunkirk
evacuation: 299 British warships and 420 other vessels under constant
attack evacuate 335,490 British and French troops. Italy declares
war on Britain and France. Germany, Japan
and Italy sign an economic and military pact. Germany launches
a bombing blitz against Britain. Battle of Britain:
the RAF prevent a German invasion of Britain. Italy invades
Greece. Japan invades
French Indo-China. Blood plasma
is first used in blood transfusions. |
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