Ben Chifley

Ben Chifley was an Australian Labor politician and prime minister from 1945 to 1949. His government expanded social services, pursued national development, and sought greater public control of banking.

Australian welfare state: Australia’s system of public programs that provides income support, health care, and other social services. Chifley’s government expanded social provision, including family benefits and a national health scheme.
Nationalization of banks in Australia: The 1947 Labor government plan to transfer private trading banks into public ownership, blocked by the High Court. Chifley’s government pursued this policy to centralize credit and expand public control of finance.
Bathurst, New South Wales: A regional city in New South Wales, Australia, established inland west of Sydney. Chifley was born and raised in the Bathurst district, where he later built his political base.
Robert Menzies: An Australian Liberal politician who served as prime minister from 1939 to 1941 and 1949 to 1966. Menzies defeated Chifley in 1949 and offered a conservative alternative to Labor’s program.
Snowy Mountains Scheme: A major Australian hydroelectric and irrigation project begun in 1949 in the Snowy Mountains. Chifley’s government launched this nation-building project to expand electricity and water supplies.
Chifley government: The Australian federal Labor government led by Ben Chifley from 1945 to 1949. Its legislative program turned Chifley’s postwar aims into federal policy.
Australian railway unions: Trade unions representing workers in Australia’s railway industries. Chifley’s years as a railway engine driver connected his working life to organized labor.
Liberal Party of Australia: An Australian political party founded in 1944 as the principal non-Labor party on the centre-right. Its 1949 victory ended Chifley’s government and began a long period of conservative rule.
1949 Australian coal strike: A major strike by Australian coal miners that lasted from June to August 1949. Chifley’s government deployed troops to keep coal moving, a decision that damaged Labor’s standing.
Commonwealth Employment Service: An Australian government agency established in 1946 to connect job seekers with employers. The service supported the Chifley government’s commitment to employment and postwar economic stability.

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John CurtinRelated: Chifley was Curtin’s close colleague and succeeded him as Labor leader and prime minister.