External

This Section includes years from 1944 to 1953.

1944

The Hon J Curtin (Labor) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W Frost.

  • 5 August 1944, Japanese prisoners of war break out of Cowra prison camp.

1945

The Hon J Curtin (Labor) was the Prime Minister until 6 July, when the Hon F M Forde (Labor) became the Prime Minister.  On 13 July 1945 the Hon J B Chifley (Labor) became the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W Frost.

  • 8 May 1945, hostilities in Europe cease;
  • 2 September 1945, hostilities in the Pacific cease; and
  • the Re-establishment and Employment Act was introduced.  The portions of the Act for which the Commission was the prescribed authority related to supplementation of wages of apprentices, re-employment allowances, re-establishment loans and business re-establishment allowances.

1946

The Hon J B Chifley (Labor) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon C W Frost until 1 November, when the Hon H C Barnard became the minister responsible for Repatriation.

  • Advisory Committee on Medical Services appointed;
  • the Local Medical Officer Scheme was introduced; and
  • the provision of pharmaceutical benefits through local pharmacists.

1947

The Hon J B Chifley (Labor) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon H C Barnard.

  • 29 January 1947, Security Council Commission of Investigations on the Balkans commenced to be a Peacekeeping Force;
  • 1 July 1947, persons who commenced service on or after this date have not rendered service in respect of world War 2;
  • 25 August 1947, Committee of the Good Offices commenced to be a Peacekeeping Force;
  • 26 November 1947, United Nations Special Commission on the Balkans commenced to be a Peacekeeping Force;
  • the Interim Forces Benefits Act was instituted.  It provided that members who enlisted or re-engaged after 30 June 1947 and before 1 July 1949, for a period not exceeding two years, would be eligible for war pensions (but not service pensions) and for such general benefits as were prescribed.  These were the same as for 1914 18 war veterans, excluding service pensions, funeral expenses in respect of dependants, tools of trade, fares for member (and family), freight charges, free passages and furniture grants;
  • Sales Tax Exemption on motor vehicles introduced;
  • introduction by Regulation of Domestic Allowance for a widow with one or two, but not more than two, children;
  • Committee on Prisoners-of-War appointed;
  • the Department came under the provisions of the Public Service Act; and
  • Army Base Hospitals in all States came under the control of the Commission.

1948

The Hon J B Chifley (Labor) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon H C Barnard

  • Special Committee on Prisoners-of-War established by the Commission.

1949

The Hon J B Chifley (Labor) was the Prime Minister until 19 December when the Hon R G Menzies (Liberal) became the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was the Hon H C Barnard until 19 December when Senator the Hon W J Cooper became the minister responsible for Repatriation.

  • 1 January 1949, United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan commenced to be a Peacekeeping Force;
  • 3 January 1949, eligible war service of members of the regular defence force ceased;
  • 8 January 1949, United Nations Commission for Indonesia commenced to be a Peacekeeping Force;
  • the level of Sustenance Allowance for in-patient treatment was raised to the equivalent of the Special (T&PI) Rate;
  • an allowance for loss of earnings was introduced in 1949.  However, this was the rather minor 'attendance allowance' paid under Repatriation Regulation 74A for certain absences from work of less than one day for which sustenance allowance was not available; and
  • following Cabinet's decision to disband the Department of Post War Reconstruction, the Re-establishment Division and responsibility for the Commonwealth Reconstruction and Training Service (CRTS) was transferred to the Repatriation Commission.  Full time training under the CRTS was available to ex-servicemen and women, war widows, and other classes of persons who had been employed in close association with war activities.  Part time training was available to almost all members of the Forces who desired to improve their occupational status.  The final date for the lodgement of applications for training was 30 June 1950;

1950

The Hon R G Menzies (Liberal) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was Senator the Hon W J Cooper.

  • 27 June 1950, operational area in Korea commences;
  • 29 June 1950, operational area in Malaya commences (no naval members eligible);
  • Legislation was amended to include Korean and Malayan War Veterans with operational service (later incorporated in the Repatriation – Far East Strategic Reserve – Act 1956);
  • the Act was extended to provide war and service pension provisions to members of the Forces, Korea and Malaya Operations.  The provisions were the same as for the 1939 - 45 War but excluded free passages for wives and children of members married abroad during war service;
  • the Government decided to provide motor cars (gift cars) to paraplegics and to those ex-servicemen who had lost both legs above the knee.  In appropriate circumstances, special driving controls could be supplied and fitted and an allowance of 120 pounds per annum provided for registration, insurance and general running costs;
  • Recreation Transport Allowance was extended to those veterans with amputation of both arms at or above the wrist;
  • a gratuity equal to the amount of one years pension at the rate being received was provided for the widow of an ex-serviceman on her remarriage; and
  • the rate of Domestic Allowance was increased and paid to all widows with children and widows of 50 years or over. (Domestic Allowance was originally granted in 1947 only to widows with one or two children, but not more than two children).

195l

The Hon R G Menzies (Liberal) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was Senator the Hon W J Cooper.

  • 1 July 1951, cessation of eligible war service of those who enlisted for war service (World War II), or in the citizens forces and called up for duty;
  • Domestic Allowance increased and extended to widows permanently unemployable;
  • Pensioner Medical Scheme came into operation; and
  • the Korea and Malaya Training Scheme was introduced (authorised under Repatriation Regulation 79A).  It catered for 'members of the Forces' (Korea and Malaya Operations) and was a replica of the CRTS.

1952

The Hon R G Menzies (Liberal) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was Senator the Hon W J Cooper.

  • 28 April 1952, World War II is taken to have ended, ratification of Peace Treaty with Japan and the end of the occupation of Japan;
  • travel by air was made available to enable the nominated next of kin of an ex-serviceman receiving hospital treatment for a war caused disability to visit him if he was dangerously ill or, in the event of death, to attend his funeral;
  • the Disabled Members and Widows Training Scheme was established to provide rehabilitation training to enable ex-servicemen of the 1939-45 War, who were substantially handicapped through war caused incapacity, to be satisfactorily re-established in civil life, and for widows of ex-servicemen of that war, if training was necessary, to enable them to follow a suitable remunerative occupation.  Assistance under the scheme included payment of living allowances, subsidised employment and provision of books and fees.  The Minister was given the authority to set up vocational training schemes; and
  • the rate of dependant's pension payable in respect of a child last increased.

1953

The Hon R G Menzies (Liberal) was the Prime Minister.  The Minister for Repatriation was Senator the Hon W J Cooper.

  • the Repatriation Commission and the Australian Dental Association agreed to the inauguration of a Repatriation Local Dental Officer Scheme similar to the Local Medical Officer Scheme;
  • A lower level of Recreation Transport Allowance extended to those Veterans with:
  • amputation of both legs below the knees;
  • loss of one arm at or above the wrist and loss of one leg above or below the knee; or
  • disablement having similar effects to the designated incapacities;
  • income from property, except where it is an annuity or a life interest, disregarded for service pension purposes; and
  • travelling allowance and subsistence for forward and return journeys to Repatriation General Hospitals (RGHs) for medical treatment was provided for war widows.