The COVID-19 virus pandemic has been likened by our political leaders to a war like situation. We have been directed to ‘stay at home’ and practice social isolation in order to stop the spread of the virus. Many businesses have been ordered to close and many people are working from home. Our streets are quiet and empty.
The last time drastic restrictions were imposed on civil liberties of Australians and the economy heavily regulated by Government was during the Second World War.
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and military advance southward in Asia in December 1941 leading to the fall of Singapore in February 1942, Australia was in a perilous position. The nation was not prepared for war in our region.
The Federal Government was empowered pursuant to the National Security Act 1939-43 to take complete control of Australia’s resources, industry and people for the duration of the war. Over 1300 regulations were to be issued under the Act during the course of the war covering most social and economic aspects, ranging from agreements to wool tops. The Government formulated and implemented a ‘total war’ plan that imposed wide ranging regulation of civil liberties, the economy and industry.
“The full Cabinet today directed the War Cabinet to gazette the necessary regulations for the complete mobilisation and complete ordering of all resources, human and material, in this Commonwealth for the defence of this Commonwealth. That means clearly and specifically that every human in this country is now whether he or she likes it or not, at the service of the Government to work in the defence of Australia.”
Prime Minister John Curtin, quoted in The Argus, 18 February 1942
In light of the current restrictions placed on our lives in Australia, it is interesting to recall the regulations imposed in the 1940s in the cause of the war effort. It highlights that it is not unprecedented for our governments to severely restrict and regulate civil liberties and industry in times of crisis. Fortunately the 2020 regulations are not as wide ranging or restrictive as those of the 1940s.
The regulation of life in Australia in the 1940s included the following:
- Petrol rationing commencing in October 1940. The basic ration from August 1941 to 1944 was around 800 miles (1300 kms) per year for a private car. Petrol rationing continued until January 1950.
- Rationing of clothing was announced on Friday 8 May 1942 with quotas to apply limiting retail sales to a weekly quota of 75 per cent of their 1941 sales. This lead to a panic buying by consumers that day prior to the commencement of the scheme on the following Monday – see The Age article 12 May 1942.
- Later ration books were issued to citizens with 112 detachable coupons for clothing as a yearly ration. There was a coupon value and price set for each type of garment.
- Food was also rationed – half a pound (275gms) of tea per month; 1 pound (450gms) of sugar per week with extra allowance at food preserving time; Butter was 8 ounces (226 gms) a week (June 1943), later reduced to 6 ounces (1944); Meat was 2 pound (1kg) a week (Jan 1944). There were quotas for fruit and vegetables.
Rationing continued into the late 1940s, with tea the last lifted in July 1950.
- Breach of rationing regulations under the National Security Regulations incurred a £100 fine or 6 months jail. More serious breaches were dealt with under the Black Marketing Act 1942 carrying a £1,000 fine.
- Controls were imposed on rents, foreign exchange and trade and banking.
- A Directorate of Manpower was established who had total power to direct and allocate civilians to defence and civil employment positions, with first priority to the armed services followed by defence industries and then civil jobs. Certain organisations and occupations were designated as ‘protected’ from military conscription.
- Identity cards were issued to all persons over 14 years that were required to be carried with them at all time.
- Men were conscripted into the Citizen Military Forces (224,428 enlisted) and those who volunteered served with the Australian Imperial Force (460,466 enlisted).
- Military services for women were established with each of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Australian Women’s Army Service carried out support roles with whom 24,028 enlisted. The Australian Corps of Signallers had its training base at Ivanhoe Grammar School during the war.
- Women also carried out vital civil work with defence support industries and in agricultural production, the latter through the Australian Woman’s Land Army. By 1944 a total of 855,000 women were in wartime employment.
- The Commonwealth took over the collection of income tax at uniform rates, with the States receiving an annual grant allocation returned (the arrangement remains in place today).
- Payroll tax was introduced to contribute toward financing the war. (The tax is still imposed and collected by the States).
- Nightime blackouts were imposed on lights in houses, and lights on cars, trams and trains were covered over with a metal slit.
- Reporting by newspapers and radio broadcasters were subject to controls by the Director General of Information.
- A new manufacturing industry arose to produce items not previously made in Australia. For example, an aircraft industry was developed. (Today we have learnt again the importance of local manufacturing industry).
Air raid shelters and trenches were dug in public parks and householders were urged to build a slit trench or shelter in their backyards. Air raid drills were conducted. However, open trenches inevitably filled with water following rain!
Not everything was subject to restrictions which apply to many activities today. There was no such thing as ‘social isolation’. Sporting activities, such as VFL football, were still conducted. There were entertainment activities. Dances were very popular. Cinemas were open. Volunteer groups, such as the Country Women’s Association, Red Cross and the Australian Comforts Fund, did an enormous amount of work for the war effort.
Wars invariably lead to social change. Australia changed radically in the years after 2WW. In view of the wide ranging impact of the current virus COVID-19 virus pandemic it is also likely that life in Australia will be different to some degree once the current restrictions are lifted. How different, time will tell.
By Graham Thorley, Heidelberg Historical Society
