The Australian Home-front in World War II
"How and why did the federal Government introduce conscription and censorship on the Australian Home front? What was the role of women on the home front?"Soon after the war broke out in Europe, the Australian government decided to introduce conscription for the defence of Australia and her territories. This meant there would be military conscription as well as industrial conscription. Rationing was introduced along with censorship and the National Security Act of 1939, which meant that all Germans, Italians and Japanese were interned. During the war, women played an important role in the defence forces, the Women's Land Army, in the workforce and with volunteer work.As a result of the more serious situation facing Australia in World War II, conscription was introduced with virtually no opposition. This was because the situation was far more serious than in 1916 because for most of the first two years of the war Britain was fighting Hitler alone and possibility of defeat was great. The fall of Singapore and the advance of the Japanese forces through South-East Asia placed Australia under direct threat> Australia was attack by Japanese forces from Broome to Townsville to Sydney and the Japanese nearly captured Port Moresby
People of category D were males of enemy background who were of military age. Over 3000 women served in the Land Army, making a vital contribution to the war effort. Soldier's letters were censored, telephone calls could be monitored, and a massive government campaign of posters warned against idle talk or gossip. Three major women's organizations emerged: the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF); the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS); the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). " It gave the government the power to round up and intern any person whose loyalty to Australia was questionable and who was suspected of subversive activities. The Women's Land Army played a vital role in helping to keep farms operating during the war. People in category B were those who had the opportunity for sabotage and spying. In 1942, the Women's Employment Board was set up to fix the wages of women who were doing jobs normally done by men. Women volunteers were trained to spot aircraft, to assist with first aid and home nursing, to drive vehicles and deliver goods. The theme of the war years for the civilian population was austerity - cutting consumption, going without, wasting nothing and living simply. Those involved in war work were paid more than women in non-war work, such as clothing and textiles and food production. From the above facts, it can be argued that introducing conscription was a good idea as it meant there would be more troops to defend Australia. I have no hesitation whatever in asking Parliament to do now what it did 25 years ago; that is, to arm the government with the authority necessary to carry on this struggle, which may become a very grim struggle even for Australia before we are much older. It can clearly be seen from the above facts that the women's volunteer work played a vital role in the war as it helped supply troops with items. The WRANS worked mainly in jobs associated with communications such as telegraphists, signallers, clerks, secretaries, coders, cartographers, coast watcher, cinematographer operators, transport drivers, cooks and stewardesses.
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Acceptance Essays
