At the beginning of World War One, Australia had excessive amounts of volunteer soldiers who enlisted, some of which were even rejected (as the recruitment officers were searching for only the fittest). Australia had only promised Britain 20,000 (and 50,000 enlisted originally) so the recruiting officers became very selective and set requirements for enlisting soldiers (e.g they set a minimum height of 168 cms & they had preference for young men who had military expertise).
Once these infantrymen reached the shores of Gallipoli, their numbers diminshed in a very short period. This left Australia in need of more soldiers to fight against our foe (the Germans, Turks and Austro-Hungarians).
In 1916 and 1917, series of two referendums split the country. This was when the issue of conscription was first brought to attention. Billy Hughes, of the Australian Labor Party, and also Australia's PM organised the referendums. These referundums were of course over the matter of conscription, whereby it would become compulsory for any fighting fit man to join the AIF. Both referendums ('16 and '17) were turned down by the public, but only by a small margin.
Supporters of conscription were in most cases Australians of the British Protestant faith, and were mostly from middle or upper socioeconomic groups. People opposing conscription were often Australians of Irish Catholic background, and were mainly from working class families. This was because Ireland suffered from British oppression, and the people did not like the British or their Empire (and of course this was whom the AIF was fighting for). Working class were mostly against conscription because they were more likely to be conscripted than their richer counterparts.
In World War One, the defining factor behind conscription failing to come to fruition was the fact that most of the public believed Australia was not in any real danger, from enemy invasion.
On the contrary, World War Two was entirely a different story. Most Australians felt that they were at risk of invasion by the Japanese Empire, who are a neighbour of ours. As soon as the referendum was called, there was no doubt that conscription was necessary and of course, unlike WW1, the idea was carried. The men of suitable age and fitness were deployed to enemy territory or fronts, where they fought against our enemy, Japanese in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, and the German/Italian coalition in North Africa.
Once these infantrymen reached the shores of Gallipoli, their numbers diminshed in a very short period. This left Australia in need of more soldiers to fight against our foe (the Germans, Turks and Austro-Hungarians).
In 1916 and 1917, series of two referendums split the country. This was when the issue of conscription was first brought to attention. Billy Hughes, of the Australian Labor Party, and also Australia's PM organised the referendums. These referundums were of course over the matter of conscription, whereby it would become compulsory for any fighting fit man to join the AIF. Both referendums ('16 and '17) were turned down by the public, but only by a small margin.
Supporters of conscription were in most cases Australians of the British Protestant faith, and were mostly from middle or upper socioeconomic groups. People opposing conscription were often Australians of Irish Catholic background, and were mainly from working class families. This was because Ireland suffered from British oppression, and the people did not like the British or their Empire (and of course this was whom the AIF was fighting for). Working class were mostly against conscription because they were more likely to be conscripted than their richer counterparts.
In World War One, the defining factor behind conscription failing to come to fruition was the fact that most of the public believed Australia was not in any real danger, from enemy invasion.
On the contrary, World War Two was entirely a different story. Most Australians felt that they were at risk of invasion by the Japanese Empire, who are a neighbour of ours. As soon as the referendum was called, there was no doubt that conscription was necessary and of course, unlike WW1, the idea was carried. The men of suitable age and fitness were deployed to enemy territory or fronts, where they fought against our enemy, Japanese in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, and the German/Italian coalition in North Africa.