Australia in WW2

None any more.

Prior to Federation, the colonies included:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Tasmania
• South Australia (which included what is now the Northern Territory)
• Queensland
• Western Australia

Australia retains seven external (offshore) territories, which are not colonies. These include:

• Coral Sea Islands Territory
• Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island (although Norfolk Island is an Australian territory, a passport is required for anyone, including Australians, to enter it)
• Heard and McDonald Islands
• Ashmore and Cartier Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Macquarie Island and the Australian Antarctic Territory.

There were a number of reasons why Australia's colonies federated.

• Trade: There were steep tariffs imposed on the transport of goods across the borders of the states. Federation would remove these tariffs and allow for free trade between the states.
• Unions and labour laws: It was hoped that labour laws would be standardised across the states with Federation. The great Shearers' Strike of the 1890s had resulted in the formation of workers' unions, and the newly-formed Australian Labor Party saw that unification would allow this standardisation.
• Transport: There was no standard railway gauge across the country and railway lines changed at the colonial borders. It was believed Federation would see the introduction of uniform railway gauges across the states, but in reality this did not occur for another eighty years or so.
• Some Australians wanted a "White Australia" policy. They believed Federation would enable the development and maintenance of a "White Australia", by toughening immigration laws. There was lingering resentment over the Chinese who had come during the gold rush, made their fortune (as they were far more industrious than Australians) and then returned to their own country, taking their fortune with them. Some stayed and set up businesses in towns, but they were always looked down upon. It was hoped by some (not all) that a White Australia policy would ensure employment for Australians. Some colonies were opposed to this policy as they used foreign labour, which was often much cheaper than local labour. An example of this is Queensland, which employed Kanakas (people from the Cook Islands). Under the new constitution, not only the Kanakas, but also the much-feared Chinese, who came to Australia during the gold rush, would not be allowed into Australia. Thus Federation would eliminate unwanted foreigners, providing more employment for Australians.
• Independence from England: Federation was but a small step in the overall independence of Australia, allowing it to move away from the influence of Mother England and become a self-governing nation in its own right. Again, this was a process which took many decades, but Federation certainly enabled that first step.
• Other important laws were expected to be made uniform, such as taxes and banking. This was particularly important in the light of the recent (1892) depression, which was a time of economic instability. Many saw that Federation, in bringing unity, could only bring more stability to the country.
• Defence: Each of the states had its own defence force. Each individual state's defence force was not strong enough to protect Australia's vast coastline from attack. There were distinct advantages in uniting the defence under one command, an important consideration as the German and French presence in the Pacific increased.
• Laws: Laws could be enforced better if accused people could not escape to a neighbouring colony.
• As a result of the goldrushes, Australia was wealthy enough to govern independently of England.
• Patriotism was becoming stronger, with the rise of Australian talents like 'Banjo' Paterson advocating the idea of freedom, the bush life and tossing off authority.
• Sporting teams were representing "Australia", not individual states.
• Having a single economy big enough and robust enough to give confidence to those who want to trade in it.

The Good

The British Empire revolutionised the judicial system in many parts of the world. For example, in India, the notorious gangs or thugees were opposed strongly by British rule. Many of such gangs were entirely wiped out. Also, in China the practices of binding feet & infanticide were largely abolished.

The Empire was also responsible for the wide spread of cultures we have all over the world. By this I mean things like chicken tikka, a dish which was created only when Indians came to England. The Empire spread art and architecture throughout, proof of this can be found in the Victoria Memorial.

Technology: Britain was responsible for the introduction of railways in parts of the world that had previously been limited to more old-fashioned methods of transport. For good (or bad) Britain introduced guns and other devices to Africa.

The Bad

The British Empire, although it did eventually outlaw it, was the major contributor to the slave trade. It persecuted black Africans and effectively wiped out a whole generation of men and women. The Empire also fought many bloody wars and made many terrible decisions.

Take the instance of General Dyer in India. The Empire, under his command slaughtered men, women and children gathered together for their holy festival. They were not given a chance to surrender, or indeed, fight back.

Most definitely.

Darwin, capital city of the Northern Territory, was first bombed on 19 February 1942. The 20 minute attack concentrated on the Darwin RAAF Airfield. At least 243 civilians and military personnel were killed, not to mention the hundreds of Indigenous Australians, the official figure for which will never be known. Darwin's naval base was essentially abandoned following the attack. Darwin went on to be bombed about 60 times up until November 1943.

These initial attacks were the first of about 100 Japanese air raids against Australia during 1942-43. Other attacks included:

• Broome, on the far northwestern coast of Australia, on 3 March 1942. Over 100 killed, mostly Dutch refugees who had been evacuated to Broome following the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies. 24 aircraft were also destroyed, including 16 flying boats.
• Wyndham was bombed at the same time.
• Broome again came under attack on 20 March, as did Derby.
• Horn Island was bombed several times, unopposed, between 14 March and August.
• Townsville in north Queensland experienced a series of attacks on the nights of 25-26, 27-28 and 28-29 July, 1942.
• Eight bombs were dropped on farmland behind a house near Mossman in north Queensland on 31 July 1942. A small child was injured from flying shrapnel. The pilot thought he was bombing Cairns.
• Sydney was another target. On 31 May 1942, three Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour. One of them hit the naval depot ship HMAS Kuttabul, serving as an accommodation vessel. Nineteen Australian and two British sailors on the Kuttabul died, the only Allied deaths resulting from the attack. Ten days later, the mother ship returned and tried to hit the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but failed miserably.

Australia looked upto Britain because it was their mother country but when the British ships were sunk in Malaya and Singapore and Britain fell to japan, Britain was seen not as strong after being defeated and australians felt that they could no longer rely on Britain but instead joined allies with America and kept links with Britain.... Hope that helps u ppl who need the answer. I did my best 2 answer it.

Curtin won and the troops returned home to Australia, but then sent up to New Guinea (at the time controlled by Australia) where they battled with the Japanese. I'm not sure if this is where the fighting of the Kokoda trail happened...

but anyway..the relationship altered and Australia turned to America to find some help with backing up the troops, but Roosevelt (USA prime minister) sided with Churchill, and Australia was left to fend themselves....

Joncey

To the best of my knowledge, i see Australia to have been a distraction for the British. When the Australians landed at ANZAC cove, the British went over to the other side of the island and boiled the billy for a cup of tea. meanwhile the Australians were being defeated by the Turks. I feel that the relationship between the British and the Australians was friendly to the face, but backstabbers. I also feel that the British used the Australians to protect their own men.