The centre-right’s date with destiny

Robert Menzies knew the importance of October 16, 1944, as he formed a movement to defend ‘democratic liberalism’.

Robert Menzies in Parliament House in the 50s. Picture: National Library of Australia

It was a warm 28C with clear skies and a gentle breeze when the delegates and observers began arriving at the Masonic Hall in Canberra for a special conference to discuss forming a new political party just before 3pm on Friday, October 13, 1944.

The 77 men and women representing 18 centre-right organisations had been invited by Robert Menzies, a former prime minister, to discuss revitalising the non-Labor forces with a new “nationwide movement” to defend and promote “democratic liberalism”.

But as the delegates and ­observers took their seats at wooden trestle tables in the Masonic Hall, there was a healthy mix of optimism and scepticism, but largely goodwill, about whether this attempt to establish a political party would succeed. Little did they know they were witnessing history in the making: the birth of the Liberal Party of Australia. The wartime conference marked the lowest point for the non-Labor ­forces since Federation. The United Australia Party was almost wiped out by John Curtin’s Labor at the August 1943 election.

The UAP received a pitiful 22.4 per cent of the primary vote and only 14 out of 74 seats in the House of Representatives. The UAP, controlled by shadowy business interests, was a spent force.

Menzies had written to state and federal MPs from the UAP, the Nationalist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Ser­vices and Citizens Party on September 7, 1944, inviting them to the conference. The Institute of Public Affairs, the Australian Constitutional League and the Australian Women’s National League also were asked to send representatives.

“The time seems opportune for an effort to secure unity of action and organisation among those political groups which stand for a liberal, progressive policy and are opposed to socialism with its ­bureaucratic administration and restriction of personal freedom,” Menzies wrote. “A successful outcome to such discussion might quickly and completely alter the current of Australian politics.”

The conference was held across three days, October 13 to 16, but did not meet formally on the Sunday. Menzies hosted a cocktail party for delegates at the Hotel Canberra on the Friday night. Two subcommittees established to consider the party’s name, objectives and organisational structure met on Sunday.

Menzies, 49, was the dominant figure at the conference. He had organised it, chaired the proceedings and worked on the sidelines to make sure it was a success. Although Menzies was a respected political figure, some doubted he was the right person to form (and eventually lead) a new party. He had resigned the prime ministership two years earlier after losing the support of his colleagues.

“This conference has been convened in an endeavour to produce unity of organisation among those who do not support socialism as the solution of Australia’s political and economic problems,” Menzies said in his opening address. “The present condition of what I call liberal political organisation in Australia, particularly on the men’s side, is far from satisfactory, and all its implications should at once be considered quite frankly.”

It was a call to arms. Menzies urged the establishment of a ­national party with a federal structure and mass membership. It would not be captive to outside groups such as the UAP had been to business or Labor was to the union movement. The Country Party — which was invited to the conference — would be a coalition partner.

He spoke of a party that would argue for greater freedom, choice and enterprise. “I see the individual and his encouragement and recognition as the prime motive force for the building of a better world,” he said. Menzies said the new party would promote the ­security, opportunity and prosperity for all.

The character of the new party was also outlined. It was to have “a liberal and progressive faith” that supported “political and economic progress”, Menzies suggested. He envisaged a positive party rather than simply a “critic” of Labor. “There is no room in Australia for a party of reaction,” Menzies said. “There is no useful place for a policy of negation.”

The Canberra conference 75 years ago agreed to a new united organisation that would be called “the Liberal Party of Australia”. The draft philosophy and objectives of the party proposed by Menzies was adopted with a few amendments.

A constitution would be developed and work was begun on ­establishing a federal council, state branches and a secretariat.

Men and women in Albury in 1944 after the conference that decided to form the Liberal Party.

A second plenary conference to further establish the Liberal Party was held in Albury, NSW, on December 14 to 16, 1944. The party’s philosophy was further ­developed, a structure was agreed and a constitution adopted. Again, Menzies was the dominant figure, and it was reported that he was the first leader of the party.

Across the next five years, membership swelled to 155,000. But there were organisational challenges, personality clashes and electoral setbacks. In September 1946, Ben Chifley’s Labor government was re-elected. Menzies’ daughter, Heather Henderson, ­recalled he felt as if he had been “run over by a steamroller”. But in December 1949 Menzies led the Liberal Party to power. It would govern for 48 of its first 75 years.

Menzies was not the only person who played a critical role in the formation of the Liberal Party but he was the most important. Others had tried to form a new party or merge existing parties. None succeeded. It is doubtful that anybody else had the authority or capacity to unite the non-Labor forces and lead the new party to government five years later.

The Liberal Party has never ­really been sure which date to celebrate its founding. Some say the Albury conference. Others suggest February 21, 1945, when Menzies announced the new party in parliament. Or the official launch of the party in Sydney on August 31, 1945.

Menzies, present at the creation, was always sure. When the Canberra conference concluded on October 16, 1944, he wrote in his diary: “New party: ‘The Liberal Party of Australia’.”

Troy Bramston is the author of Robert Menzies: The Art of Politics (Scribe)