Tiberius with a Telephone
Page 79
Sheridan, 2006, p. 282.
Bland to McMahon, 7 March 1961, NAA: B142, SC61/32.
Bland to McMahon, 27 March 1961, ibid.
‘Measures to improve discipline on the waterfront’, NAA: A5818, 1041, and ‘Notetaker E J Bunting — notes of meetings 6 February 1961– 3 May 1961’, NAA: A11099, 1/50.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 31, 10 May 1961, pp. 1698–1700.
Calwell, CPD HoR, vol. 31, 10 May 1961, p. 1719.
Killen, CPD HoR, vol. 31, 11 May 1961, p. 1814.
Called ‘The Waterfront Jungle’, these articles discussed the tribulations of William Phillips, a seaman who had faced intimidation and harassment after speaking out against communist influences in the Australian Seamen’s Union. See Bulletin, 15 July 1961, pp. 12–16; 22 July 1961, pp. 12–16; and 29 July 1961, pp. 15–16.
McMahon, ‘Long service leave for waterside workers’, 16 August 1961, NAA: AA1968/119, 16.
‘Report of the committee of inquiry into public service recruitment’, Chairman: Sir Richard Boyer, November 1959, Commonwealth Government of Australia.
Bland to McMahon, 4 September 1961, NAA: B142, SC61/23.
Bunting to Menzies, 10 October 1961, NAA: A4940, C3548.
McMahon to Menzies, 15 July 1961, NAA: M2576, 2.
Calwell’s policy speech, 16 November 1961,
See Maxwell Newton, ‘Remember 1961!’, Incentive, vol. 1, no. 12, 11 April 1972, p. 3.
Calwell, 1972, pp. 204–05.
McNicoll, 1978, pp. 272–91.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 29, 19 October 1960, pp. 2196–98.
Alan Reid interviewed by Daniel Connell, NLA Oral History, TRC 2172, pp. 73–74.
‘Menzies firm: “no rest” until all in jobs’, DT, 30 November 1961, pp. 1, 3; ‘Mr Menzies talks sense on jobs’, DT, 1 December 1961, p. 1.
McMahon to Menzies, 9 November 1961, NAA: M2576, 2.
‘Commonwealth of Australia: legislative election of 9 December 1961’, Psephos,
Killen, 1985, p. 49.
Author’s interview with Bruce and Leanne MacCarthy, 5 August 2016.
Whitington, 1971, p. 270.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 6 January 2017.
See Reid, 1969, p. 40; Reid, 1976, pp. 31–32.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 6 January 2017.
McEwen, 1983, p. 91.
Bland had noted this possibility in September 1961. See Bland to McMahon, 4 September 1961, NAA: B142, SC61/23.
McMahon’s annotation on Bland to McMahon, 21 May 1962, ibid.
McMahon to Bland, cited in Sheridan and Stretton, 2004, p. 94.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Item (r), ‘Submission no. 201 — amendment of the Stevedoring Industry Legislation’, cabinet minute, decision no. 256, 12 June 1962, NAA: A5819, 201.
McMahon to Bland, 31 July 1962, copy in the author’s possession.
Beasley, 1996, pp. 200–07.
Sheridan, 2006, p. 282.
‘Background notes’, undated briefing material about the waterfront, copy in the author’s possession.
McMahon to Cook, 22 May 1963, NAA: M1171/0/807.
Introducing his amendments to enact the agreed-upon terms, McMahon acknowledged that there would likely be problems in the future. See CPD HoR, vol. 40, 10 October 1963, pp. 1671–73.
Peter Coleman, ‘Bill McMahon: from “Christus Veritas” to the Department of Labour’, Bulletin, 10 August 1963, pp. 18–19.
McMahon to Menzies, 13 September 1963, NAA: M2576, 2.
Alan Reid, ‘Waiting for instructions from their bosses’, DT, 22 March 1963, p. 5.
Souter, 1988, p. 451.
McMahon to Menzies, 22 August 1963, NAA: M2576, 2.
McMahon to Menzies, 13 September 1963, ibid.
Menzies proposed the date at his cabinet meeting on 22 October, and, after agreement from his colleagues, announced it that day. See ‘Notetaker E J Bunting — notes of meetings 22 October 1963–4 November 1963’, NAA: A11099, 1/64.
Smart, 1978, pp. 29–30.
‘Notetaker E J Bunting — notes of meetings 22 October 1963–4 November 1963’, NAA: A11099, 1/64.
Santamaria had lobbied Holt for a ‘breakthrough’ in education allowances following the 1961 election, and, when given early news of such a breakthrough, took word to Archbishop Mannix, who commented: ‘I have never stopped speaking about this question in all the years since I came from Ireland. But I thought I had wasted my time. I haven’t wasted my time.’ Overall, Santamaria thought, the move was ‘as politically effective as it was ironic’. See Santamaria, 1987, pp. 261–70.
Mills, 2014, p. 59.
See ‘Commonwealth of Australia Legislative Election of 30 November 1963’, Psephos,
Edwards, 1992, pp. 259–60.
ibid., p. 304.
Pemberton, 1987, p. 197.
Cabinet submission no. 521, ‘Services Manpower Review: summary of conclusions’, November 1964, NAA: A4940/1.
Cabinet minute no. 596, 4–5 November 1964, NAA: 5827, vol. 16.
Labor MPs quoted many of Forbes’ comments back to him after the National Service Bill was introduced.
See Menzies, CPD HoR, vol. 44, 10 November 1964, pp. 2715–24; and McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 44, 11 November 1964, pp. 2836–38.
So much so, in fact, that McMahon’s successor at Labour and National Service, Les Bury, noted that McMahon had informed the cabinet about the ‘main elements of the scheme’ orally only. See cabinet submission no. 117, ‘National Service — extension to aliens’, NAA: A5841, 117.
Ham, 2007, p. 168
Menzies, CPD HoR, vol. 44, 11 November 1964, p. 2785.
Calwell, CPD HoR, vol. 44, 12 November 1964, pp. 2920–28.
‘Australian Senate election of 5 December 1964’, Psephos,
Chapter 17: Exposure
‘McMahon sees an easy Labor win, but tips Greiner for next time’, SMH, 8 March 1984, p. 5.
Bowman diary, 14 March 1984.
ibid., 3 May 1984.
Chapter 18: Preparing the Way
McMahon press release, ‘Miss Wheatley’, 21 January 1969; Mitchell, 2007, p. 40.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
D’Alpuget, 1978, p. 193.
ibid.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
ibid.
ibid.
Peter Kelly, ‘A courageous and persistent man’, Age, 2 April 1988, p. 6.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
ibid.
ibid.
ibid.
This biographical information on Newton is drawn from: Murray Goot, 2012, ‘Newton, Maxwell (1929–1990)’, ADB, vol. 18, Melbourne University Press, Carlton; Cryle, 2008, pp. 1–32; Newton, 1993.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
John Edwards, ‘Inside Billy McMahon’, AFR, 31 May 1971, p. 3.
D’Alpuget, 1978, p. 225.
William McMahon interviewed by John Edwards, NLA Oral History, TRC 168/8.
Author’s interview with Bruce and Leanne MacCarthy, 5 August 2016.
H
enry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Killen, 1985, p. 138.
Peter Kelly, ‘A courageous and persistent man’, Age, 2 April 1988, p. 6.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
Mitchell, 2007, p. 8. As far back as 1956, McMahon’s colleagues had laughed about his bachelorhood: see ‘The egg … and the MP’, Argus, 8 June 1956, p. 3.
Author’s interview with Alan Ramsey, 31 January 2018.
Paul LePetit, ‘Sir Billy: playboy at 18 with a string of racehorses’, Sunday Telegraph, 3 April 1988, pp. 8–9; Mitchell, 2007, pp. 7–8.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
Wheatley told Susan Mitchell that McMahon judged the woman to be not of a ‘high enough social level’ for him: Mitchell, 2007, pp. 7–8.
Julian Leeser, ‘Gracious, stylish and steadfast’, Aus., 5 April 2010, p. 11.
Mitchell, 2007, p. 7.
ibid., p. 16.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
Edwards, 1992, p. 254.
ibid., pp. 361–62.
Martin and Edwards make the same, caveated judgement. See Martin, 1999, p. 519; Edwards, 1997, p. 388. Don Chipp claimed later that Menzies told him he knew who had leaked the news; if true, it is again perplexing that Menzies did not dismiss McMahon, as he had previously threatened.
‘Report of the Committee of Economic Enquiry’, May 1965, vol. 1, para. 17.73.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 7 January 2017.
McMahon to Menzies, unsent letter, 15 January 1962, copy in the author’s possession.
Wilson to McMahon, 4 August 1965, copy in the author’s possession.
ibid.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016; Golding, 1996, p. 221.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 6 January 2017.
Howson, 1984, p. 167.
McEwen, 1983, p. 66.
Maxwell Newton, Incentive, no. 16, 22 September 1965, p. 2.
Menzies, CPD HoR, vol. 47, 21 September 1965, pp. 1078–86.
Supposedly, McMahon urged Barwick to accept the post while the two crossed the tarmac at Canberra airport: Barwick, 1995, p. 209.
‘Federal minister urges “more jobs for wives”’, CM, 9 September 1964, p. 3.
‘Why should they work?’, CM, 10 September 1964, p. 2.
McMahon and Bland, 1 September 1965, NAA: B142, SC61/23.
‘Using our work force efficiently’, Aus., 1 September 1965, p. 8.
Beasley, 1996, p. 210.
Gourley, 1969, p. 185.
Sheridan, 2006, p. 282.
Woodward, 2005, pp. 107–08.
Bland had suggested the prospect of an inquiry to McMahon in March. See ‘Papers maintained by Sir Henry Bland. Waterside 1965’, NAA: M2438, 2, p. 4.
ibid.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
ibid.
Henry Bland interviewed by Allan Martin, NLA Oral History, TRC 2549.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016. See also Short, 1992, p. 234.
McMahon, ‘Chapter 5: The Waterfront Imbroglio’, copy in the author’s possession.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 2 May 2017.
Bland to McMahon, 1 August 1965, NAA: M2438, 1.
Bland to Norman J. Hood, 1 August 1965, ibid.
Bland to Sir Edwin Hicks, 1 August 1965, ibid.
Bland to Wally Talbot, 1 August 1965, ibid.
Bland to McMahon, 3 August 1965, ibid.
Cabinet submission no. 1016, ‘The stevedoring industry’, 25 August 1965, NAA: A5827, 1016.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
‘Notetaker EJ Bunting — notes of meetings 10 August 1965– 7 September 1965’, NAA: A11099, 1/75.
Cabinet minute no. 1203, 1 September 1965, ‘Submission no. 1016 — the stevedoring industry’, NAA: A5827, 1016.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Howson, 1984, p. 174.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 47, 23 September 1965, pp. 1249–56.
Menzies, CPD HoR, vol. 48, 1 October 1965, p. 1594.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Maxwell Newton, Incentive, no. 17, 29 September 1965, p. 2.
Howson, 1984, p. 174.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 48, 29 September 1965, p. 1373.
ibid., 30 September 1965, p. 1478.
ibid., 12 October 1965, p. 1658.
ibid., 30 September 1965, p. 1481.
ibid., 12 October 1965, p. 1653.
Bland to McMahon, 14 October 1965, NAA: M2438, 2.
McMahon’s annotations on letter, Bland to McMahon, 14 October 1965, NAA: M2438, 2. The underlining is McMahon’s. In a letter to Norman Hood dated 4 November 1965, Bland asked the ASIA chairman to destroy the records that had been cited.
Gourley, 1969, p. 174.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, 1975, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Sawer (ed.), 1996.
Hayden and Menzies, CPD HoR, vol. 47, 14 September 1965, p. 808; Hayden, CPD HoR, vol. 48, 14 October 1965, pp. 1861–64.
Bunting to Menzies, 11 November 1965, NAA: A4940, C3548.
Helen Crisp interviewed by Ian Hamilton, 21 September 1982, NLA Oral History, TRC 1170.
Cabinet minute no. 1416, 30 November 1965, ‘Submission no. 1124: employment of married women in the Commonwealth public service’, NAA: A5827, 1124. Hayden brought up the marriage bar in the House two days after the cabinet decision, and was undercut by McMahon’s announcement that it was being studied. See Hayden and McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 49, 2 December 1965, pp. 3484–92.
Mitchell, 2007, pp. 16–17.
Charles ‘Bert’ Kelly interviewed by Bruce Edwards, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/30; Kelly, 1978, p. 92.
See ‘Minister to wed in October’, CT, 25 October 1965, p. 3.
Larry Writer, ‘Sonia McMahon — the truth about my marriage’, AWW, 1 November 2007.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016.
Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
‘Mr McMahon married’, Mercury, 13 December 1965, p. 8.
Bolton, 2015, p. 389. Frame notes that senator Reg Withers recalled Menzies telling him that the Privy Councillorship was a ‘blessing’ on Hasluck’s aspirations. See Frame, 2005a, p. 137.
Author’s interview with Tom Hughes, 16 August 2016.
Maxwell Newton, Incentive, no. 31, 19 January 1966.
Gordon Freeth interviewed by John Ferrell, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/89.
Les Bury interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/70.
Peter Hastings, 1965, ‘McMahon’, Bulletin, 11 December 1965, p. 9; Henry Bland interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/60.
Official transcript: ‘Press, radio and television conference given by Sir Robert Menzies at Parliament House, Canberra, on 20th January, 1966’.
Howson, 1984, p. 202.
Peter Bowers, ‘Out of the shadow into the blaze’, SMH, 27 January 1966, p. 1.
Chapter 19: Lauding the Headmaster
Bowman to McMahon, 12 March 1984, copy in the author’s possession.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 109, 23 May 1978, pp. 2332–34.
McMahon, in ‘The leaders’, This Fabulous Century, 14 November 1978, NFSA.
K.L. Menzies, ‘Menzies on record’, SMH, 22 December 1979, p. 10; Martin, 1999, p. 562. Menzies’ regard for McMahon was subsequently confirmed in letters he had exchanged
with his daughter: Henderson (ed.), 2011.
McNicoll, 1978, pp. 210–31.
‘Menzies’ stinging appraisal of colleagues’, SMH, 22 November 1979, p. 3.
What follows draws on drafts and notes of McMahon’s autobiography, some authored by Bowman, others of unknown authorship. Copies in the author’s possession.
Barwick had a different recollection: see Barwick, 1995, pp. 208–11.
Chapter 20: Protection (I)
Rob Chalmers, IC, 27 January 1966, vol. 19, no. 3, p. 1.
Hancock, 1930, p. 97.
James Jupp, in Davidson (ed.), 1986, p. 81. See also Anderson and Garnaut, 1987, pp. 40–51.
McEwen, 1983, p. 67.
ibid., p. 68.
Veitch, 1996, pp. 237–44. See also Stewart, in Prasser, Nethercote, and Warhurst (eds) 1995, pp. 185–201.
Fadden’s correspondence with Ulrich Ellis, NLA MS1006, Box 30. Fadden was also aggrieved by McEwen’s decision to not appoint him chairman of the Commonwealth Banking Corporation board.
Reid, 1969, p. 44.
McEwen, 1983, p. 85.
Charles ‘Bert’ Kelly interviewed by Bruce Edwards, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/30.
ibid.
Jonathan Gaul, ‘McMahon, the man behind the federal budget’, CT, 13 August 1966, p. 2.
Later, McMahon claimed to have rejected an early Treasury assessment of the economy and demanded that the economy be stimulated. See William McMahon interviewed by John Edwards, NLA Oral History, TRC 168/8.
Rob Chalmers predicted ‘some serious and even violent clashes’ between McMahon and Wilson, and suggested (correctly) that Wilson might not remain long at Treasury. See IC, vol. 19, no. 3, 27 January 1966, p. 1.
John Farquharson, ‘Wilson, Sir Roland (1904–1996)’, SMH, 29 October 1996, p. 33.
Cornish, in King (ed.), 2007, pp. 310–15; author’s correspondence with John Stone, 8 January 2017. Wilson’s retirement was forecast earlier than this: in August, when the budget was handed down, economics editor for The Age Rolf Lie intimated that Wilson was expected to retire soon. See Rolf Lie, ‘The story behind the budget’, Age, 16 August 1966, p. 2.
Treasury 1966, ‘The Australian economy 1966’, Commonwealth of Australia, p. 3.