Sir Robert Gordon Menzies was our twelfth and longest serving Prime Minister, though first serving a short tenure from 1939-1941, he is well-known for making one of the most astonishing comebacks in Australian political history, leading Australia for a second time from 1949-1966. He contributed the most to Australian society and government during his second time serving as leader of our nation. He is most remembered for forming the Liberal Party of Australia in 1944. Menzies also supported Britain in declaring war against Nazi Germany. He later established the Australian Universities Commission in 1959 which later oversaw a period of economic boom from 1950-1966.
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies was born on December 20th 1894 in the small town of Jeparit, …show more content…
On October 6th 1928, he was elected to the Legislative Council, the upper house of the Victorian Parliament. Four years later, the United Australia Party (UAP) won government in the Victorian State election in May 1932. Menzies became Victoria’s Attorney-General and Minister for Railways. In 1934, Menzies was approached to stand for the federal seat of Kooyong as a UAP candidate and later, he won the seat in the Australian House of Representatives, which he held till his retirement from politics in 1966. He was named Attorney-General and Minister of Industry but later became the deputy party leader of the UAP in December 1935. The UAP was a strong leadership party and had many ideas to contribute to Australian society and government, but their coalition partners were not keen about the proposal of a national insurance plan that would provide medical cover and pensions for working people. Menzies later resigned as attorney general and deputy party leader but was elected as leader of the UAP and became Prime Minister on April 26th 1939 after Prime Minister Lyons suddenly died of a heart attack in
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies was born on December 20th 1894 in the small town of Jeparit, …show more content…
On October 6th 1928, he was elected to the Legislative Council, the upper house of the Victorian Parliament. Four years later, the United Australia Party (UAP) won government in the Victorian State election in May 1932. Menzies became Victoria’s Attorney-General and Minister for Railways. In 1934, Menzies was approached to stand for the federal seat of Kooyong as a UAP candidate and later, he won the seat in the Australian House of Representatives, which he held till his retirement from politics in 1966. He was named Attorney-General and Minister of Industry but later became the deputy party leader of the UAP in December 1935. The UAP was a strong leadership party and had many ideas to contribute to Australian society and government, but their coalition partners were not keen about the proposal of a national insurance plan that would provide medical cover and pensions for working people. Menzies later resigned as attorney general and deputy party leader but was elected as leader of the UAP and became Prime Minister on April 26th 1939 after Prime Minister Lyons suddenly died of a heart attack in