Curtin as an Election Leader
 

John Curtin's fourteen-year career in federal politics included two terms as member for the Western Australian seat of Fremantle in the House of Representatives: from November 1928 to December 1931 and from September 1934 until his death in July 1945.

From October 1935 to October 1941 he was Leader of the Opposition and subsequently prime minister for the rest of his life. As a consequence, he was the Australian Labor party parliamentary leader during three federal elections-in October 1937, September 1940 and August 1943-each of which was held in the context of looming or actual wartime conflict.

The outcomes of these three elections varied significantly and his unprecedented electoral triumph in 1943 came only after many years of grappling both with internal party divisions and an extraordinarily challenging political environment.

Author: Emeritus Professor David Black, JCPML Historical Consultant

Published by John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library © 2008
 
Background
1937 Election
1937 Election Context of the Election
Election campaign and party policies
Election campaign Curtin's itinerary
Election outcome
 
1940 Election
1940 Election Context of the election
Election campaign party policies
Election campaign Curtin's itinerary
Election outcome
 
1943 Election
1943 Election Context of the election
Election campaign party policies
Election campaign Curtin's itinerary
Election outcome
 
 
  Conclusion References Acknowledgements