Ben Chifley - 16th Prime Minister of Australia

Ben Chifley was the 16th prime minister of Australia. Joseph Benedict Chifley was his full name. He was in parliament from 13 July 1945 - 19 December 1949. Ben was 60 years old when he was elected into parliament. In 1941 Chifley became Finance Minister, in John Curtin's Labor Government. John Curtin died in July 1945, and eight days later, Ben Chifley won the Leadership Ballot. Chifley went up against Robert Menzies, in the 1946 election, and won with 54% of the 'two-party preferred vote'. Ben Chifley became one of the most highly regarded Australian Prime Ministers.

Joseph Benedict Chifley (known as Ben) was the 16th prime minister of Australia. He was in parliament from 13 July 1945 - 19 December 1949. Ben was 60 years old when he was elected into parliament. His career before this time was as a locomotive engineer. He was also involved in the beginnings of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen. Even before his engagement in parliamentary activities, he showed leadership qualities. In 1941 Chifley became Finance Minister, in John Curtin's Labour Government. John Curtin died in July 1945, and eight days later, Ben Chifley won the Leadership Ballot. Chifley went up against Robert Menzies, in the 1946 election, and won with 54% of the 'two-party preferred vote'. Ben Chifley became one of the most highly regarded Australian Prime Ministers of all time.

In 1945 Chifley introduced The Commonwealth and State Housing Agreement Act 1945. It gave opportunities in aiding the construction of houses. Under this agreement, a person who is fully or partly dependent upon compensation or pension, as a result of having served in the Merchant Navy during the 2nd World War, was able to redeem financial assistance in order to purchase real estate. Ben Chifley was interested in providing legislations that were beneficial to all parts of the community. The agreement was trying to increase 'basic wage' and help people who were 'dependent' on pension or compensation. This especially includes people who were 'members of the forces'. Members of permanent forces (other than Australian imperial forces) and members of the citizen forces. That was because people who fought in the war, weren't able to have as much money, because they were living on 'basic wage'. Also a lot of them would have suffered injury and mental impairment, while fighting in the war and that would decrease their capacity to undertake physical labour after the war was over, resulting in minimal wage and very little funds.