 Blamey was involved in discussions with the government over the size of the Army to be maintained . Now that the danger of invasion of Australia had passed , the government reconsidered how the nation 's resources , particularly of manpower , should be distributed . Blamey pressed for a commitment to maintain three AIF divisions , as only they could legally be sent north of the equator where the final campaigns would be fought . He urged that the Empire Air Training Scheme be curtailed , and opposed MacArthur 's proposal to use the Australian Army primarily for logistic support and leave combat roles principally to American troops . 
