The Portrayal of John Curtin as Australia’s War Time Labor Prime Minister

Abstract

This chapter analyses the way in which school history textbooks represent the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, following the outbreak of war with Japan in 1941. It examines the policy change, when Curtin was offering the US to the Australian public as a new source of hope, fostering public resolve, and claiming a leadership role for Australia in Pacific war. Curtin’s leadership at this time has since been considered by many historians as a turning point in Australia’s international relations; for he made explicit that Australia’s plans to draw closer to the US due to the demands of war, was not the end of ties with Britain. Curtin was one of the few leaders who could challenge Winston ..