AH Challenge: Communist Australia
- Thread starter anon_user
- Start date
Not really going to happen without a massive POD somewhere fairly far back.
I heard that to. Funny eh?
1. U.S. is unsuccessful in fighting Japan in the Pacific theater
2. Australia becomes a battlefield, again Japs prevail
3. Economic collapse after the war
4. Revolution! George VI is seen a tyrant or some propaganda is made using him as a scape goat
2. Australia becomes a battlefield, again Japs prevail
3. Economic collapse after the war
4. Revolution! George VI is seen a tyrant or some propaganda is made using him as a scape goat
Wolfpaw
Banned
Would the Japanese necessarily have to prevail against Australia? I mean, what if they just wreck eastern Australia and the place becomes a bombed-out mess?
Maybe you could have tensions rise between the more devastated East and the more intact West in the aftermath of the war?
I dunno, I'm completely spitballing here; I'm not even gonna pretend to know a thing about Australian politics or society or anything like that.
Maybe you could have tensions rise between the more devastated East and the more intact West in the aftermath of the war?
I dunno, I'm completely spitballing here; I'm not even gonna pretend to know a thing about Australian politics or society or anything like that.
Oho! If the ban failed, that suggests that on the whole Australians didn't think it was very realistic for Communist Australians to take over.
If the ban is imposed, that's a sign that a lot of Australians think there is something to worry about. And the very act of declaring the Communists outlaws might well have a boomerang effect, making them seem more legitimate and serious.
Particularly if things seem to be going wrong under leadership purged of all taint of Communism.
So yes, a POD earlier than 1951, to explain why the ban does happen then, but it could be a subtle one.
I suppose that OTL Australia had pretty good times in the 1950s and '60s. What if this were not the case?
Maybe start by having the October 28, 1916 conscription plebiscite pass? That keeps Billy Hughes and his faction in Labor... and means that Labor's responsible for Aussies being conscripted to fight in the trenches in Europe. Keep a stronger conservative faction in Labor, and radicals may turn to the Communists.
It might also help a bit if Australian troops are committed to fighting the Bolsheviks during the early stages of the Russian Civil War.
Not sure where to go from there, though.
It might also help a bit if Australian troops are committed to fighting the Bolsheviks during the early stages of the Russian Civil War.
Not sure where to go from there, though.
Cook
Banned
No.
Australian’s rejected the ban because they thought it was un-Australian to take away people’s choice and because there was political division concerning the ban. Opposition leader Ben Chifley opposed the ban as impractical and an affront to Civil Liberties.
The result split the Labor Party and guaranteed Menzies power for more than a decade.
Most Referendums in Australia fail and no Referendum in Australia has ever succeeded without the full support of both the main political parties.
I see. I did a presentation on the Constitutional Limitations of Australian Government on this very matter. Timeline of the matter is:
13 March 1950
Communist Party Dissolution Bill [No. 1]
Result: Blocked
*27 April 1950
Communist Party Dissolution Bill [No. 2]
Result: Passed
14 November 1950*
Australian Communist Party v The Commonwealth*
Result: Bill is Rejected
22 September 1951
Australian Referendum, 1951
Result: 50.56% Oppose the Question
Opnion of other Australian factions in this time period:
Labor Party: “Fascist and wrong...”
Democratic Rights Party: “Constitutionally incorrect”
Young Liberals: “An abuse of... Australian law”
Wasn't a referendum over the CPA really, more over the limitations that the Menzies government had. Also seriously wrecked the ALP and that's why Menzies lasted so long.
The Communist Party of Australia was not a party with many active members, and there was no chance that the party could have destabilised Australia. However it can be seen that during a period where the working class were suffering in the 1930’s and 40’s, the general policies of the CPA were popular among the Australian working class.
There were numerous times where the Conservative government were undermined by the CPA with Unions, strikes and pretty much what you'd expect. They banned them because:
a) They are a threat to the Liberal-Country Coalition
b) Because of the arising Cold War, there is opinion to do such a thing.
Also, it must be noted that the CPA WAS banned. (Menzies blackmailed the ALP over it with the threat of a Double Dissolution that would have been so massive a whitewash that the Labor party gave it and passed the bill to dissolve the party) However the decision was appealed and then revoked.
There were numerous times where the Conservative government were undermined by the CPA with Unions, strikes and pretty much what you'd expect. They banned them because:
a) They are a threat to the Liberal-Country Coalition
b) Because of the arising Cold War, there is opinion to do such a thing.
Also, it must be noted that the CPA WAS banned. (Menzies blackmailed the ALP over it with the threat of a Double Dissolution that would have been so massive a whitewash that the Labor party gave it and passed the bill to dissolve the party) However the decision was appealed and then revoked.
Guessing Ben Chifley, bank nationalisation, the coal miners strike and ‘The Split’ aren’t ringing any bells then?
Would you call Chifley a communist or a socialist (or both)?
Definitely a socialist, but I guess I can't see him joining Comintern! I mean I hate banks too ...
Also, it would be impossible for Queensland to go Communist or be part of a Communist Australia. Sir Joh wouldn't allow it!*
*Will really have to get a TL started about Sir Joh at some stage..
*Will really have to get a TL started about Sir Joh at some stage..
Simply put: You need a majority in 4 of 6 states (a majority of states) and an overall majority (50% plus one vote nationwide) for any to pass. A 'double majority' if you will. An almost impossibe task given the make-up of the federation, with state leaders often being of opposing parties to the federal leadership.
Cook
Banned
As RJ has said, you need a majority in a majority of states/territories and a majority overall.
And more importantly Australians work on the theory ‘if the bike’s not broken, don’t fuck with it.’