As in 1937 Curtin launched his campaign in Perth with a speech which was broadcast nationally. While contending that as prime minister he would lead a government which would 'actively prosecute the war' he also insisted that Australia must ensure its own defence before 'it rushed to do battle across the rest of the world'. 27 He had no qualms about portraying the Menzies Government as conducting the war effort inefficiently 28 nor in playing up party differences while attempting to focus on the longer term by insisting that he would plan for the peace so as 'not hand over the trophies of the new order to profiteers and capitalists'. 29 His approach enabled him also to exploit 'sectional discontent' by making specific promises including special assistance to wheat farmers, increases in pensions and pay to the members of the Australian armed forces while also taking advantage of the vigorous campaign against petrol rationing being pursued by automobile groups and road transport interests. 30

View the ALP policy speech by John Curtin, Perth, 28 August 1940.

Menzies, on the other hand, made no specific promises except to contend 'that greater sacrifices would be required and called for a national effort literally to the point of death or exhaustion'. 'I cannot promise you easy things' he told the electorate but rather 'call upon you to put aside your dreams for tomorrow'. 31 As he had done previously Menzies during the campaign also specifically offered 'generous representation if Labor would join a national government'. 32 In this regard David Day has also suggested that Menzies' ongoing references to the possibility of such a national government undermined his own assertions that Australia needed a single leader and that to vote Labor would be to wreck the war effort. 33