Economy

The war was a huge boon to the Australian economy.

This Ian Gall cartoon appeared in the Sydney Daily Telegraph in 1945. The left arm of the magnet represents War Industries, the right arm represents Fighting Forces and the magnet itself is depicted as representing Manpower Changes.

As many Australian primary products were purchased as could be produced; and secondary industries manufactured many new items for the Services. Rationing and restrictions meant that there were few consumer goods available, so personal savings rose. Manpowering and essential industries also meant that there was near-full employment.

This cartoon appeared in The Courier Mail (Brisbane) in May 1942. It depicts a government official exhorting a shop-keeper to display prominently a list of 8,000 grocery items whose prices have been fixed. The shop-keeper replies: "We can display the list prominently, but how about the goods?"