Australian Government Response to Communism

What was the main reason Robert Menzies introduced a law to ban the Australian Communist Party in 1950?

• To promote economic growth

• To protect individual rights

• To prevent the spread of communism

• To strengthen ties with the Soviet Union

Which human right was arguably weakened by Robert Menzies' that banned the Communist Party?

• Freedom of speech

• Presumption of innocence

• Right of education

• Right to housing

What was the outcome of the 1951 referendum on banning the Communist Party?

• It passed with a majority yes vote

• It failed with a majority no vote

• It was postponed indefinitely

• It was never held

Which theory did the Menzies government believe in that suggested if one country fell to communism, neighbouring countries would also fall?

• The Big Bang Theory

• The Domino Theory

• The Butterfly Effect

• The Chaos Theory

What was the purpose of the ANZUS Pact signed in 1951?

• To promote trade between member countries

• To establish a cultural exchange program

• To cooperate on defence matters and aid each other if attacked

• To create a common currency

Which countries were part of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) signed in 1954?

• Australia, France, New Zealand, Thailand, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the US

• Australia, China, Japan, India, and the US

• Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and the US

• Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the US

What event did Menzies use to frighten voters during the 1954 election campaign?

• The discovery of a new gold mine

• The Petrov Affair involving Soviet spies

• A natural disaster

• A major sporting event

What was the main argument of Dr Herbert Vere ‘Bert’ Evatt against the law banning the Communist Party?

• It would improve economic conditions

• It was an attack on Australia’s democratic freedoms

• It would strengthen ties with the Soviet Union

• It was necessary for national security

What action did the Australian government take in the 1950s to prevent the "domino effect?"

• Signed a peace treaty with Japan
• Increased immigration from Europe
• Established a nuclear weapons program
• Committed troops to the Malaysia and joined SEATO.

What was the strategy called that involved fighting communism wherever it was found, rather than waiting for an attack?

• Defensive Isolation

• Forward Defence

• Strategic Retreat

• Passive Resistance