94-441: The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia ( RAA ) is an Australian motor club that provides a range of member services. These services include 24-hour emergency breakdown assistance, vehicle inspection services, insurance services, and a range of additional member benefits. The RAA operates its services on a break-even basis, while generating profit through its commercial and investment activities. The RAA originated as
188-436: A motoring club , motoring association , or motor club , is an organization, either for-profit or non-profit, which motorists (drivers and vehicle owners) can join to enjoy benefits provided by the club relating to driving a vehicle. There is most often an annual membership fee to join. A membership identification card, valid for the time period of membership paid, is typically issued to the member. Member benefits may include
282-551: A bill to ban the Communist Party of Australia in 1950. He expected Chifley to reject it and give him an excuse to call a double dissolution election. Menzies apparently hoped to repeat his "soft-on-Communism" theme to win a majority in both chambers. However, Chifley let the bill pass after a redraft (it was ultimately thrown out by the High Court). However, when Chifley rejected Menzies' Commonwealth Banking Bill
376-526: A blacksmith, was born in Bathurst to Irish immigrants from County Tipperary , while his mother was born in County Fermanagh , in present-day Northern Ireland . At the age of five, Chifley was sent to live with his widowed grandfather, Patrick Chifley I, who had a small farm at Limekilns, New South Wales , while his aunt, Mary Bridget Chifley, kept house for them. Chifley began his education at
470-807: A campaign that focused on the Bruce government 's unpopular labour policies. He accused the government of endangering the White Australia policy by allowing Southern European migrant workers into the country, claiming it had "allowed so many dagoes and aliens in Australia that today they are all over the country taking work which rightly belongs to all Australians". The Labor Party recorded a 6.2-point swing in Macquarie, with Chifley becoming one of three candidates in New South Wales to win seats from
564-451: A divisional delegate to state and federal conferences. He developed a reputation for compromise, maintaining good relations with both the railway management and the more militant sections of the union. However, Chifley was one of the local leaders of the 1917 Australian general strike , and as a result was dismissed from the railway. He and most of the other strikers were eventually reinstated, but lost seniority and related privileges; Chifley
658-780: A few months later, Menzies called a double dissolution election for April 1951 . Although Chifley managed to lead Labor to a five-seat swing in the House, Labor lost six seats in the Senate, giving the Coalition control of both chambers. A few weeks later on 13 June 1951, Chifley suffered a heart attack in his room at the Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra . Chifley at first made light of the sudden chest pains and attempted to dissuade his secretary and confidante, Phyllis Donnelly, who
752-559: A fine Australian. You will all agree that in the circumstances the festivities should end. It doesn't matter about party politics on an occasion such as this. Oddly enough, in Parliament we get on very well. We sometimes find we have the warmest friendships among people whose politics are not ours. Mr Chifley served this country magnificently for years. Chifley was buried at the Bathurst cemetery on 18 June 1951. Chifley married Elizabeth McKenzie (known as "Lizzie") on 6 June 1914. She
846-466: A growing gulf between the sports-minded members and those concerned with more serious matters caused a split in around 1910, which brought RAA close to a premature demise. A determination to concentrate on practical help for members followed, and the Automobile Club (as RAA was called then) became an association. RAA opposed speed limits (still as low as 4 mph in places by the 1920s) and
940-775: A lecturer and instructor at the Bathurst Railway Institute. Chifley drove both goods trains and passenger trains. He was based in Bathurst and worked on the Main Western railway , except for a few months in 1914 when he drove on the Main Southern railway and worked out of Harden, New South Wales . Chifley became involved with the labour movement as a member of the Locomotive Enginemen's Association. He never held executive office, preferring to work as an organiser , but did serve as
1034-615: A long-running extramarital affair with his private secretary Phyllis Donnelly. Day believed that their relationship began shortly after Chifley was elected in parliament in 1928, and continued more or less uninterrupted until his death in 1951; she was present in his room at the Hotel Kurrajong when he suffered his final heart attack. She stayed at the same hotel, and they were known to spend their free time with each other while in Canberra. She also accompanied him on many of his travels. According to Frank Slavin, Chifley's campaign manager at
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#17327810491211128-537: A member of the Labor Party. At the 1931 election , Chifley suffered a negative swing of 16.2 points in Macquarie, losing his seat to John Lawson , the UAP candidate, by just 456 votes on the final count. The Labor Party was reduced to 14 seats out of 75 in the House of Representatives, with five other ministers (including Treasurer Ted Theodore ) and future prime minister John Curtin also losing their seats. During
1222-512: A mid-term Labor government in 1941 following the collapse of the first Menzies government . Although deputy Labor leader Frank Forde was nominally the deputy in the government, Chifley became the minister Curtin most relied on, controlling most domestic policy while Curtin was preoccupied with the Second World War . Of highest importance was war funding, followed by the strong desire to control inflation. In February 1942, he announced
1316-499: A million, RAA reached a point where it's standing in South Australia, and its resources, allowed it to put back into the community some of the support which the community had for so long given the association. RAA has contributed 100 baby capsules, for example, to an infant restraint hire scheme; sponsored alternative energy initiatives (including the annual Pedal Prix and solar-powered vehicles), introduced RAA Family Car of
1410-547: A national health service, the Chifley government was successful in making arrangements with the states to upgrade the quality and availability of hospital treatment. The Mental Institutions Benefits Act 1948 marked the entry of the Commonwealth into mental health funding, where, in return for free treatment, the states were paid a benefit equal to the charges upon the relatives of mental hospital patients. The achievements of
1504-837: A partially dependent spouse; and wives legally separated or likely to be permanently living apart from their husbands became eligible for benefit. Ben Chifley's Government oversaw the creation of the Commonwealth Employment Service , the introduction of federal funds to the States for public housing construction and the Acoustic Laboratories Act 1948, which established the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories to undertake scientific investigations into hearing loss . Although it failed in its attempts to establish
1598-518: A party official, siding with the federal Labor leadership against the Lang Labor faction. He served on a royal commission into the banking system in 1935, and in 1940 became a senior public servant in the Department of Munitions . Chifley was re-elected to parliament later that year, on his third attempt since 1931. He was appointed Treasurer in the new Curtin government in 1941, as one of
1692-458: A path of continuous improvement and modernization. This was reflected in the occupation of the third and final stage of the new headquarters at Mile End in 2004. The city branch returned to its historical and sentimental home at 41 Hindmarsh Square in 2009, with the site having been extensively redeveloped into a green, environmentally friendly complex. In 2007, RAA's second longest serving Chief Executive, John Fotheringham, retired after 19 years in
1786-609: A separate Australian citizenship in 1948 and the founding of ASIO . Science and education was also expanded, with a reorganisation and enlargement of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), alongside passing the Australian National University Act which provided post-graduate facilities in Australia and augmented the supply of staff for universities. Tertiary education extensively benefitted through
1880-468: A subject on which he had become an expert. He submitted a minority report advocating that the private banks be nationalised. After an unsuccessful effort to win back Macquarie at the 1934 Australian federal election , Chifley finally won his seat back at the 1940 Australian federal election on a swing of ten percent. Chifley was appointed Treasurer of Australia when the Labor leader, John Curtin, formed
1974-493: A thousand court defenses, and 20,000 insurance policies. In 1959 the association changed its logo from the Automobile Association of SA to RAA. As motoring and membership grew, RAA moved into larger headquarters, built new technical premises, began its office and vehicle inspection centers in the suburbs, established staffed offices in major country areas, and started its march into the computer age. If this
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#17327810491212068-405: Is held in particularly high regard by the Labor Party, with his " light on the hill " speech seen as seminal in both the history of the party and the broader Australian labour movement . Chifley was born at 29 Havannah Street, Bathurst, New South Wales , on 22 September 1885. He was the first of three sons born to Roman Catholic parents: Mary Anne (née Corrigan) and Patrick Chifley II. His father,
2162-505: Is now listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register as " Ben Chifley's House ", and has operated as a house museum since 1973. Chifley and his wife had no children. She suffered a "serious health problem", probably a miscarriage, in about 1915, and later developed chronic back pain that restricted her mobility. The couple lived mostly separate lives, initially because of her husband's work on
2256-459: The 1946 election , which Chifley won with 54 percent of the two-party-preferred vote . It marked the first time that an incumbent full-term federal Labor government was re-elected. In the post-war years, Chifley maintained wartime economic controls, including the highly unpopular petrol rationing. He did this partly to help Britain in its postwar economic difficulties. Upon becoming prime minister, Chifley continued as Treasurer and remained so for
2350-483: The Australian Constitution , the 1946 Social Services referendum , made possible many of the Chifley government's other legislative initiatives in social welfare and social provision and permitted federal legislation over pharmaceutical benefits and medical and dental services. It also authorised federal legislation with respect to pensions, benefits, and allowances. Such as, in the same year as
2444-651: The Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen – in 1920. He appeared as an expert witness before the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration in 1924, which subsequently implemented a new federal industrial award for the enginemen. Chifley joined the Australian Labor Party at a young age, and was involved in state and federal election campaigns as an organiser. In 1921, he replaced his father on
2538-467: The Blue Mountains to Penrith , on the outskirts of Sydney; it included industrial, agricultural, and mining districts in virtually equal measure. It was one of the most marginal seats in the country, and had last been won by Labor in 1919. Lacking name recognition, Chifley lost the election to the incumbent Nationalist MP, Arthur Manning . However, he reprised his candidacy in 1928, mounting
2632-787: The Lang Labor faction that controlled the ALP in New South Wales. He was a delegate to the party's annual conference in Sydney in April 1939. After a unity conference in August 1939, the ILP members rejoined the ALP and ended Jack Lang's dominance. Chifley was subsequently elected to the ALP state executive. In 1935 the Lyons government appointed Chifley as a member of the Royal Commission on Banking,
2726-576: The Snowy Mountains Scheme , the establishment and nationalisation of Trans Australia Airlines and Qantas respectively, improvements in social services, the creation of the Commonwealth Employment Service, the introduction of federal funds to the States for public housing construction, the establishment of a Universities Commission for the expansion of university education, and free hospital treatment,
2820-567: The treasurer of Australia under Prime Minister John Curtin and later himself from 1941 to 1949. He was notable for defining Australia's post-war reconstruction efforts. Chifley was born in Bathurst, New South Wales , and joined the New South Wales Government Railways after leaving school, eventually qualifying as an engine driver . He was prominent in the trade union movement before entering politics, and
2914-492: The 1940 election, his wife was aware of the relationship and tolerated it. Day also speculated that Chifley may have had a similar relationship with Phyllis's older sister Nell. He assisted her financially in the 1930s, including buying her a house in Bathurst. Day based his conclusions on interviews conducted with the Donnelly family and other Bathurst residents who had known Chifley. His claims have been disputed by members of
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3008-493: The 1970s was RAA's role of providing much of the state's road signposting, a task it had handled for over half a century. In these inflationary times, the cost was escalating alarmingly, and the last straw was the prospect of metric conversion when distances changed from miles to kilometers. RAA rode on that wave of expansion and social development. It had a powerful impact, for in this quarter century, its membership almost quadrupled to 357,000 and cemented RAA's position as one of
3102-425: The 50th Jubilee of Federation (Chifley was invited but had declined to attend). Menzies was deeply distressed and abandoned his normally impassive demeanour to announce in a halting subdued voice: It is my very sorrowful duty during this celebration tonight to tell you that Mr Chifley has died. I don't want to try to talk about him now because, although we were political opponents, he was a friend of mine and yours, and
3196-1152: The Automobile and Motor Cycling Club of South Australia in 1903. In 1904, the name was amended by removing the words 'Motor Cycling.' The club was reconstituted as an association in 1911 and received Royal patronage in 1928. In 1959, the association changed its logo from AA of SA to RAA. The head office of the Royal Automobile Association is located at RAA Place and has branches throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area and in South Australian regional centres. RAA offers several membership types, including Premium, Plus, Standard, and Fleet Membership. RAA benefits are not restricted to South Australia, with members having access to affiliate organizations interstate and overseas, including RACV , RACQ , RACWA , RACT , NRMA and AANT. RAA patrols respond to more than 400,000 calls for emergency roadside assistance each year – with over 90% of problems fixed at
3290-497: The Automobile and Motor Cycling Club. These pioneers embarked on weekend drives in the Adelaide Hills , hill climbs , and reliability trials , forming motorsport in South Australia. At the time, there were no garages, and drivers had to fix any problems on their own. As motorists were reigned in for the first time with regulations, RAA took on the role of the motorists' watchdog, which has continued to this day. However,
3384-851: The British National Health Service , including a free formulary of essential medicines. This was successfully opposed as unconstitutional in the High Court of Australia by the Australian branches of the British Medical Association , who were the precursors of the Australian Medical Association , in the First Pharmaceutical Benefits case . One of the few successful referendums to modify
3478-474: The Chifley family, and some reviewers of his book felt there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Chifley's relationship with either of the Donnelly sisters was sexual in nature. In 1987 the New South Wales Labor government decided to name the planned new university in Sydney's western suburbs Chifley University. Controversy broke out when, in 1989, a new Liberal government renamed it
3572-583: The Coalition won an additional 48. Labor retained a Senate majority however. Chifley was now aged 64 and in poor health (like Curtin, he was a lifelong smoker), but he refused to retire from politics. Though out of government, having retained a Senate majority, Chifley continued as Labor leader and became Leader of the Opposition . The opposition Senate majority would frequently ensure the passing of Labor amendments, or outright blocking, of Menzies Government legislation. Menzies responded by introducing
3666-540: The Great Depression, with no parliamentary salary and no chance of returning to the railway, Chifley survived on his wife's family's money and his part-ownership of the Bathurst newspaper The National Advocate . In 1938, Chifley and most other Labor supporters in Bathurst joined the Industrial Labor Party (ILP), a breakaway organisation formed by Bob Heffron and dedicated to thwarting
3760-498: The Labor governments of Chifley and Curtin in expanding Australia's social welfare services were brought together under the Social Services Consolidation Act 1947, which consolidated the various social services benefits, liberalised some existing social security provisions, and increased the rates of various benefits. Among the government's other legislative achievements included the establishment of
3854-506: The Labor platform objective of democratic socialism . According to a biographer of Chifley, his government embarked upon greater intervention in "economic and social affairs", with policies directed towards better workplace conditions, full employment, and the "equalisation of wealth, income and opportunity". Chifley was successful in steering the economy into peacetime, and undertook a number of social welfare initiatives, as characterised by fairer pensions and unemployment and sickness benefits,
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3948-899: The Plus option. RAA was the first motoring organization in the world to introduce a battery replacement service and the first in Australia to produce a computer CD with touring information – the TravelGuide CD-ROM . During the 1980s, the Mapping Department moved from pen-and-ink drawing to an improved process known as scribing and then to computer mapping . Brand-new operations included the Approved Repair Service and RAA Security Services. Emergency road service has been based at three locations since 1979 and, like most operations, became heavily dependent on computer technology. Together with Technical Services, it
4042-428: The States were introduced to assist them in expanding their agricultural activities. The establishment of a Coal Industry Tribunal and a Joint Coal Board in 1946 also brought significant gains for miners; and life insurance came to be comprehensively regulated. Among the Chifley government's legislation was the post-war immigration scheme , the establishment of Australian citizenship , the beginning of construction of
4136-528: The Year (which has since been incorporated into the national awards for Australia's Best Cars) and participates in the ANCAP crash testing program in search of safer motoring. By the start of 2010, total membership was 580,000, almost 61% of the state's 953,948 licensed drivers. Now the total memberships of RAA in South Australia is 665,321. Since RAA's 100th anniversary in 2003, the organization has continued along
4230-413: The advisory service previously handled by the solicitors. The Touring Department planned caravan parks and initiated the 'star' grading accommodation classification scheme, which is still used, and published its first touring guide books. Late in the 1950s, RAA employed its first cartographer and began drawing in-house the regional maps from which today's maps take their lineage. A notable casualty of
4324-535: The aim of controlling a huge accumulation of purchasing power. Following the death of Curtin in July 1945, Forde became prime minister since he was the ALP deputy leader. In the ensuing leadership ballot, Chifley defeated Forde to replace him as prime minister and Curtin as leader of the ALP. Once the war ended in September, normal political life resumed, and Chifley faced Robert Menzies and his new Liberal Party in
4418-550: The association organizing a Vehicle Theft Summit in 2000. Similarly, the quest to lower the number of deaths and injuries on the roads resulted in the RAA Road Safety Summit during the same year. The association's quest for improved roads played a part in achieving the sealing of the Stuart Highway and the creation of the new Crafters Highway and Southern Expressway . With membership soaring past half
4512-657: The banks . This provoked massive opposition from the press, and middle-class opinion turned against Labor. The High Court found Chifley's legislation to be unconstitutional. The government appealed the decision in the Privy Council , but it upheld the High Court's decision. However, Chifley's government did succeed in passing the Banking Act 1945 and the Commonwealth Bank Act 1945 which gave
4606-581: The battlefields of Europe during World War I . RAA bought its first freehold office at 49 in Hindmarsh Square , Adelaide, and moved in in 1928, shortly before the 20,000th member was enrolled. Following the outbreak of World War II , RAA formed and operated the Civil Defense Transport Auxiliary, surveyed and mapped the state's roads for the military authorities, provided research into alternative fuels, and supported
4700-437: The benefit. Furthermore, from July 1947, funeral benefits could be paid in respect of claimants for Age Pension or Invalid Pension who would have qualified had they lived. Under the Social Services Consolidation Act 1947, an additional benefit became payable in cases where a man with one or more dependent children had a female partner, where he was not receiving benefit for his wife; a partial additional benefit became payable for
4794-565: The board of The National Advocate , a local newspaper that functioned as the mouthpiece of the labour movement. In 1922 and 1924, Chifley unsuccessfully contested Labor preselection for the NSW Electoral district of Bathurst . He was eventually chosen as the Labor candidate for the Division of Macquarie at the 1925 Australian federal election . Macquarie was a large and diverse electorate, covering an area from Bathurst east across
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#17327810491214888-418: The cause in other ways. The period of austerity and hard times was caused by increasingly strict petrol rationing and unprecedented inflation. By 1947 the motoring organizations knew that rationing was no longer necessary and campaigned to remove it. Prime Minister Ben Chifley refused. Against a backdrop of RAA accusations that petrol was being used as a political weapon, Chifley was defeated in an election at
4982-438: The ceremony, but they and their families were eventually reconciled. The McKenzies were relatively wealthy, and Chifley was seen as "marrying into money, or as much money as he could hope to marry into in the context of the relatively class-bound society of Bathurst". After their marriage, Chifley's father-in-law gave the couple a house on Busby Street, Bathurst, which they would occupy for the rest of their respective lives. It
5076-492: The city's first central off-street parking, and battled to get the Eyre Highway sealed. It succeeded with all three and kept an eye on other new features like parking meters , speed radar, seat belts , and breathalyzers. Member services continued to evolve and improve. RAA Travel Service, Driver Training, Travelers Shop, and Finance Service all began in this period. In contrast, an in-house Motoring Road Rules service began
5170-562: The construction of new universities, technical colleges, and 200,000 houses. The amount of reforms undertaken was such that, between 1946 and 1949, the Parliament of Australia passed an at-the-time record 299 Acts of Parliament , which was well beyond the previous record of 113 Acts by the Second Fisher government . Among other measures, the Chifley government passed legislation to establish universal health care modelled on
5264-480: The end of 1949. The incoming Government quickly removed rationing. Since the early 1920s, RAA called for a single Road Traffic Act to replace about a dozen different Acts and hundreds of regulations. RAA participated on the committee which put together the Act, which came into force in 1937. The early 1950s saw a massive increase in car ownership and spiraling RAA membership, soaring past 75,000. Road Service changed, with
5358-471: The entirety of his prime ministership. To date, Chifley is the last prime minister to have been his own Treasurer for a period that was not transitionary, as happened in 1972 and 1991 with Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke respectively. Chifley was also the longest-serving Labor Treasurer until this record was broken by Paul Keating in 1991 and Keating, like Chifley, would become prime minister. Feeling secure in an unprecedented position, Chifley looked toward
5452-689: The establishment of the Australian National University and the Commonwealth Education Office. The establishment of the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme to provide ex-servicemen with the opportunity to undertake a university education, with an interim five-year scholarships established to encourage other able students to attend universities. This was alongside annual grants to universities to provide
5546-614: The establishment of the Australian National University , the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and the Snowy Mountains Scheme . Some of the new legislation was successfully challenged in the High Court , and as a result the constitution was amended to give the federal government extended powers over social services. Some of Chifley's more interventionist economic policies were poorly received by Australian business, particularly an attempt to nationalise banks. His government
5640-497: The face of more pressing concerns. There was little appetite for policy development, and Chifley instead concentrated on finding savings in his department that could be redirected to unemployment relief. He opened up unused military camps to the homeless, and also distributed surplus military clothing. Chifley was somewhat reluctant in his support of the Premiers' Plan , but believed there was no better alternative and felt bound by
5734-610: The familiar motor cycle outfits replaced by vans, and the Guides became Patrols and started using two-way radios, operating 24 hours a day out of new premises in North Adelaide . By RAA's Golden Jubilee in 1950, there were 140 staff, supported by seven country offices and 99 road service depots. Service figures in 1953 showed 66,000 road service jobs, almost 40,000 touring inquiries, 12,000 vehicle inspections, 84,000 technical inquiries, 1,300 motoring road rules inquiries, almost
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#17327810491215828-403: The few Labor MPs with previous ministerial experience. The following year Chifley was additionally made Minister for Postwar Reconstruction , making him one of the most powerful members of the government. He became prime minister following Curtin's death in office in 1945, defeating caretaker prime minister Frank Forde in a leadership ballot . At the 1946 Australian federal election , Chifley
5922-440: The following: Ben Chifley Prime Minister of Australia Term of government (1945–1949) Ministries Elections Joseph Benedict Chifley ( / ˈ tʃ ɪ f l i / ; 22 September 1885 – 13 June 1951) was an Australian politician and train driver who served as the 16th prime minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as
6016-441: The government control over monetary policy and established the Commonwealth Bank as Australia's national bank. During the 1948 Queensland railway strike , Chifley barred striking workers from being eligible for unemployment benefits. A prolonged and bitter strike in the coal industry began in June 1949 and caused unemployment and hardship. Chifley saw the strike as a move by the Communist Party to challenge Labor's place as
6110-441: The government's economic response against criticism from two factions within his own party – economic conservatives led by Joseph Lyons and left-wing populists led by Jack Lang . His loyalty paid off in March 1931, when the Labor caucus chose him to fill one of the vacancies in cabinet caused by the resignations of Lyons and James Fenton . Scullin appointed him Minister for Defence, a portfolio that had been disregarded somewhat in
6204-431: The government. At the 1929 election , Chifley was re-elected on a 10.7-point swing as Labor won a landslide victory. James Scullin became the new prime minister, the fourth member of his party to hold the office. As a backbencher with little parliamentary experience, Chifley did not stand for election to the Scullin Ministry , but did join the Public Accounts Committee. As the Great Depression worsened, he defended
6298-552: The local state school, which was known as a "half-time school" due to it being too small to offer daily classes; it shared a single teacher with a neighbouring community. He moved back to his parents' home at the age of 13, following his grandfather's death in January 1899, and attended a Patrician Brothers school for about two years. He was a voracious reader from a young age, and would later supplement his limited formal education by attending classes at night schools or mechanics' institutes . After leaving school, Chifley's first job
6392-429: The necessary staff and accommodation for the influx of assisted students and ex-servicemen. In addition, returned soldiers were also provided with a war gratuity and entitlement to special unemployment allowances, loans, vocational training, and preference in employment for seven years. In July 1948, the Dairy Industry Fund was created with the purpose of stabilising returns from exports, and further financial grants to
6486-468: The necessity for a reasonable equality of sacrifice, and capable of managing a wartime economy of complexity and difficulty. Financing the war by increased taxation, loans from the Australian public, and central bank credit, he ensured that the nation did not become burdened with overseas debt, as it had been after First World War . Every budget was accompanied by his strictures on 'vigorous self-denial', labour discipline and restriction of consumer demand with
6580-407: The party of the working class, and he sent in 13,000 army troops to break the strike. Early on in the strike, Chifley and H. V. Evatt froze Miner's Federation funds and "introduced legislation aimed at starving the workers back to work". In 1949 in the House of Representatives , Chifley stated that the Labor Party was a "bulwark against communism", and that the most effective way of weakening
6674-516: The pegging of wages and profits, the introduction of controls on production, trade and consumption to reduce private spending, and the transfer of surplus personal income to savings and war loans. On 15 April 1942, more price controls were introduced. On 23 July, a uniform income tax was attained when the States were defeated in the High Court of Australia . The Australian Dictionary of Biography claims Chifley proved himself to be his country's greatest treasurer – fiscally responsible, able to transmit
6768-440: The principle of cabinet solidarity . His endorsement of the plan, which required cuts to wages and pensions, was received poorly in his own constituency. Many in the local labour movement defected to Lang Labor , which opposed the plan, and his own union expelled him in August 1931. Joseph Lyons reportedly offered Chifley the treasurership as an inducement to join the new United Australia Party (UAP); Chifley declined and remained
6862-498: The production of the state's first detailed road map. In 1913 it also began direction signposting. Early in the 1920s, the association was restructured to become a fully-fledged service organization. Staffing levels grew from zero early in 1920 to about three dozen by the decade's end. By then, Road Service, Technical, Touring, and Motoring Road Rules services were established, and the RAA Motor Insurance Policy
6956-553: The railways and later because of his political career. She rarely travelled outside Bathurst and never lived in Canberra, even while her husband was prime minister. She usually visited the city for only special occasions. Her health prevented her from campaigning for her husband, and she was known to have little interest in politics. Nonetheless, the couple "seemingly enjoyed a close and caring relationship throughout his life". She survived her husband by 11 years, dying in 1962. According to his biographer David Day , Chifley engaged in
7050-538: The referendum, when concessional rate radio licences were introduced for pensioners, and were later extended to widow pensioners and also to television licences. The following year, in 1947, specific racial disqualifications other than those referring to Aboriginal Australians were removed, while the Wife's Allowance became payable to de facto wives who had lived with the pensioner for at least three years. The subsequent federal legislation in relation to pharmaceutical benefits
7144-546: The reorganisation and enlargement of the CSIRO, and the establishment of the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service . As noted by one historian, Chifley's government "balanced economic development and welfare support with restraint and regulation and provided the framework for Australia's post-war economic prosperity." In 1947, Chifley announced the government would initiate a nationalisation of
7238-405: The revenue-raising tactics of police speed traps . This prompted a response from South Australians – an increase in membership possibly without equality in the world – a growth of 1,379 percent in the decade from 1920. Proliferating speeding prosecutions led to free road rules advice for members (the first formal service) as early as 1911. Other member benefits included a list of country hotels and
7332-409: The roadside. The primary aim of the patrol is to get vehicles going again. If that is not possible, RAA will arrange for the towing of a vehicle. RAA Premium members are entitled to an unlimited number of calls for roadside assistance, and Standard members allowed four calls per year. On 30 September 1903, a small group of South Australian motoring enthusiasts established a social motoring club called
7426-488: The role due to health problems, with Ian Stone appointed as his successor. The start of 2010 has seen improvements made to the website www.raa.com.au, transforming it into an interactive tool rather than a site for information – all aimed at benefiting members. The association has also refreshed the RAA brand, now looking towards the future. In terms of advocacy, in 2010 RAA launched a new policy, Mobility for Life, which embraces
7520-500: The state's most influential organizations. As the 1980s began, South Australia had an uncertain economy that sometimes slid into recession . This more competitive era saw the association expand its services and combat competition in areas like emergency road service. The most critical advance in membership benefits since the start of the service era was the introduction in 1987 of RAA Plus, whose benefits proved so popular with South Australians that almost 30 percent of members now choose
7614-538: The strength of the Communist Party was "improving the conditions of the people". Despite this, Menzies exploited the rising Cold War hysteria to portray Labor as soft on Communism. These events, together with a perception that Chifley and Labor had grown increasingly arrogant in office, led to the Liberal election victory at the 1949 election. While Labor won an additional four seats in a House of Representatives that had been expanded from 74 seats to 121 seats, Menzies and
7708-900: The use of all forms of transport, at all stages of life. RAA Security Services was rebranded Secure Services as demand increased for Personal Alert Systems among retirees, which are worn as a pendant and activated in the event of an emergency to summon help. This reflected a changing RAA, offering services beyond motoring. RAA has branches in the Adelaide central business district , Mile End , Elizabeth , Modbury , Marion , Morphett Vale , West Lakes . RAA has offices in Berri , Clare , Kadina , Mount Barker , Mount Gambier , Murray Bridge , Naracoorte , Port Augusta , Port Lincoln , Port Pirie , Renmark , Tanunda , Victor Harbor , Whyalla , Broken Hill ( New South Wales ). Automobile association An automobile association , also referred to as
7802-542: Was a prime consideration when a new property at Mile End was constructed, which has since become the association's headquarters. Today the Richmond Road facility includes a branch office, Child Safety Centre, and Vehicle Inspection Centre. Growing concern over car theft led to initiatives like RAA's steering wheel lock, the full metal jacket to make cars more difficult to steal and a vehicle etching scheme to deter professional thieves. This ongoing campaign culminated in
7896-475: Was also a director of The National Advocate . After several previous unsuccessful candidacies, Chifley was elected to parliament in the 1928 federal election . In 1931, he was appointed Minister for Defence in the government of James Scullin . He served in cabinet for less than a year before losing his seat at the 1931 federal election , which saw the government suffer an electoral wipeout . After his electoral defeat, Chifley remained involved in politics as
7990-724: Was as a cashier's assistant at a local department store. He later worked at a tannery for a period, and then in September 1903 joined the New South Wales Government Railways as a "shop boy" at the Bathurst locomotive shed . Over the following decade, he was promoted through the ranks to engine-cleaner and fireman , and then finally in March 1914 to engine-driver. The position of driver was considered relatively prestigious, and Chifley had to sit various examinations before being certified. He developed an intimate technical understanding of his locomotives, and became
8084-636: Was deemed constitutional by the High Court. This paved the way for the introduction of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), an important component of Australia's modern public health system. From July 1947, a prepayment of Maternity Allowance could be made up to four weeks before the expected date of the birth of the child. Moreover, eligibility for maternity benefits was extended to mothers who were classified as an alien but had lived in Australia for 12 months residence. Then again that same year, eligibility for Child's Allowance
8178-432: Was defeated at the 1949 Australian federal election , which brought Robert Menzies ' Liberal Party to power for the first time. He stayed on as Leader of the Opposition until his death, which came a few months after the 1951 Australian federal election ; Labor did not return to government until 1972. For his contributions to post-war prosperity, Chifley is often regarded as one of Australia's greatest prime ministers. He
8272-415: Was demoted from engine-driver to fireman. Despite repeated lobbying, their pre-1917 benefits were not restored until 1925. After the strike, the state government of William Holman also de-registered their union, placing it at a severe disadvantage against other railway unions . Chifley worked to secure its re-registration, which occurred in 1921, and was also involved in the formation of a national union –
8366-477: Was extended to those wives whose husbands were in asylums and to single invalid pensioners who had the custody, care and control of a child. An additional benefit of five shillings per week for the first child became available to a beneficiary who had custody and spent an equivalent or more of the benefit on the child. Amendments were also made to legislation on Child Endowment to allow Australians temporarily absent from Australia and newly arrived migrants to receive
8460-567: Was in place. In 1928 the association was granted the prefix 'Royal' by King George V , a sign of recognition from England and the State Government (which had to approve the application first) with which it still had bitter battles. This acknowledged the association's role in guiding the State into a radically new era and its tireless work (particularly that of its members) in providing transport for wounded and sick soldiers returning from
8554-566: Was making him a cup of tea, from calling a doctor. As his condition deteriorated, however, Donnelly called Dr. John Holt, who ordered Chifley's immediate removal to hospital. Chifley died in an ambulance on the way to the Canberra Community Hospital . He was pronounced dead at 10:45 pm. Menzies heard of Chifley's demise while attending a parliamentary ball at King's Hall in Parliament House to celebrate
8648-408: Was re-elected with a slightly reduced majority – the first time that an incumbent Labor government had won re-election. The war had ended a month after he took office, and over the following three years his government embarked on an ambitious program of social reforms and nation-building schemes. These included the expansion of the welfare state , increased the post-war immigration to Australia , and
8742-436: Was the State's most potent period of motoring growth, though, by the 1970s, it was balanced by less buoyant issues. There were fears that the world was running out of crude oil, growing concerns about pollution, and differing opinions on the development of freeways and, indeed, on the future of the motor car. Under a backdrop of ever-increasing taxes and charges, RAA fought to improve petrol-selling hours in Adelaide, lobbied for
8836-544: Was the daughter of a more senior railways employee, George McKenzie. The couple began courting in 1912, but had known each other since childhood. The McKenzies were Presbyterian, and Elizabeth did not want to convert to Chifley's Catholic faith. Due to the Catholic Church's opposition to mixed marriages, the couple chose to marry in a Presbyterian church in Glebe, Sydney. Their parents opposed the union and did not attend
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