▁by ▁the ▁Japanese ▁after ▁Japan ' s ▁entry ▁into ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁The ▁Labor ▁government ▁seemed ▁more ▁effective ▁than ▁its ▁un sett led ▁prede cess or , ▁and ▁the ▁U AP ▁and ▁the ▁Country ▁Party , ▁in ▁opposition , ▁made ▁little ▁political ▁mile age ▁against ▁it . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁federal ▁election , ▁the ▁F ad den - H ugh es ▁Co al ition ▁suffered ▁a ▁massive ▁defeat . ▁The ▁U AP ▁was ▁reduced ▁to ▁ 1 4 ▁members , ▁and ▁the ▁Country ▁Party ▁to ▁just ▁nine . ▁M enz ies ▁became ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁U AP ▁and ▁O pp osition ▁Le ader , ▁with ▁F ad den ▁as ▁deput y . ▁ ▁The ▁United ▁Australia ▁Party ▁dis integr ated ▁after ▁suffering ▁a ▁heavy ▁defeat ▁in ▁the ▁election . ▁Robert ▁M enz ies ▁called ▁a ▁conference ▁of ▁conserv ative ▁parties ▁and ▁other ▁groups ▁opposed ▁to ▁the ▁r uling ▁Australian ▁Labor ▁Party ▁which ▁met ▁in ▁Can ber ra ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁and ▁again ▁in ▁Al bury ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁The ▁formation ▁of ▁a ▁new ▁party   – ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Party ▁of ▁Australia   – ▁was ▁formally ▁announced ▁at ▁Sydney ▁Town ▁Hall ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁After ▁an ▁initial ▁loss ▁to ▁Labor ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 6 ▁election , ▁M enz ies ▁led ▁the ▁Liber als ▁to ▁victory ▁in ▁coal