wartime government controls including

describe the controls on civilian life imposed by the wartime government
outline the arguments for and against such controls in wartime

Conscription

Defence Act: conscripts could only serve within Australia.
Oct 1939: conscription introduced for 20-year-olds.
Two forces: 2nd AIF – volunteers; Citizen Military Force (militia) – conscripts
1942 – as war came closer to Australia, conscription increased. Conscripts sent to serve alongside AIF in New Guinea (regarded as part of Australia).
Pressure came from USA for more Australian troops. February 1943, the Defence Act was amended to allow conscripts to serve up to the equator.
Prime Minister John Curtin (ALP) had opposed conscription in 1916 but supported it in 1943. He skilfully managed to convince the ALP to support it.

Curtin: “… anybody in Australia can be called upon to do whatever the government wants.”
“Reserved occupations”: e.g., police, firemen, munitions workers, not allowed to enlist.
January 1942, Directorate of Manpower – men and women directed to move from non-essential work to essential work. By end of 1942, almost 400,000 workers affected.
Women encouraged to join workforce.

Petrol from 1940
Other items from 1942.
Ration book: 112 coupons. Goods had a coupon value as well as a monetary value.
The range of rationed goods increased throughout 1942: clothes, food, firewood, cigarettes.

All media was censored: radio, film, newspapers.
Publication of troop movements forbidden.
Propaganda aimed at vilification of the enemy, to encourage enlistment, to advertise government controls, to prevent loose talk.
Bad news was altered or not reported, e.g., the extent of the bombing of Darwin and its impact.