Gavin Long argues that the Labor opposition urged greater national self-reliance through a buildup of manufacturing and more emphasis on the Army and RAAF , as Chief of the General Staff , John Lavarack also advocated . In November 1936 , Labor leader John Curtin said " The dependence of Australia upon the competence , let alone the readiness , of British statesmen to send forces to our aid is too dangerous a hazard upon which to found Australia 's defence policy . " . According to John Robertson , " some British leaders had also realised that their country could not fight Japan and Germany at the same time . " But " this was never discussed candidly at … meeting ( s ) of Australian and British defence planners " , such as the 1937 Imperial Conference
1937 Imperial Conference
1937 Imperial Conference
History of Australia (1901–45)