 Despite this increase in the domestic manufacturing industry there was still a significant shortfall in many items . In part this was due to the priority that military consumption and production necessarily had over civilian , however , there was also a considerable scarcity of raw materials and other components required for manufacturing . This was due both to the lack of shipping available from the United Kingdom , as well as the limitations placed upon the flow of such goods from Britain due to their own increased requirements . The result of this was inflationary . Domestic prices went up , while the cost of exports was deliberately kept lower than market value in an effort to prevent further inflationary pressures worldwide . As a result , the cost of living for many average Australians was increased considerably . 
