Historical information
Mr Chifley's last major public speech, made at the annual conference of the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party on the day before his passing away. Chifley spoke at the State Banquet at Parliament House, Canberra, on Tuesday 12 June 1951, and in the House of Representatives on the afternoon of the day that he died (13 June 1951), but those speeches were more formal.
Ben Chifley was the sixteenth Prime Minister of Australia and a former railway engine driver. He was treasurer in the Curtin government and became Prime Minister after Curtain's death. He lost the 1949 and 1951 federal elections. The 1951 loss was due to his opposing Menzies' proposal to ban the Communist Party.
The document was donated by Mr John Mildren, former federal member for Ballarat and former lecturer at Ballarat College of Advanced Education.
Significance
Rare. Significant to the history of the Labor Party and to political commentary in Australia. Pertinent to political issues in the 1950s.
Physical description
Paper, A5, stapled, two tone (brown and white)
Inscriptions & markings
Photograph on the front cover of JB Chifley, title and price (3D). Back cover: sketch of JB Chifley (creator of the sketch is unknown).