The portrayal of John Curtin as Australia's war time Labor Prime Minister

This chapter analyses the way in which school history textbooks represent the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, following the outbreak of war with Japan in 1941. It examines the policy change, when Curtin was offering the US to the Australian public as a new source of hope, fostering public resolve, and claiming a leadership role for Australia in Pacific war. Curtin’s leadership at this time has since been considered by many historians as a turning point in Australia’s international relations; for he made explicit that Australia’s plans to draw closer to the US due to the demands of war, was not the end of ties with Britain. Curtin was one of the few leaders who could challenge Winston Churchill and his military policy towards Australia, especially when he asked Churchill for the return of his divisions, fighting Rommel in North Africa to Australia. It is not possible to include every facet or controversy about Curtin’s decision making during World War 2. Historical narratives depicting Curtin’s efforts to pursue Australia’s national interest addresses the hermeneutical challenge of providing sufficient context and guiding questions for students to interpret historical sources in the context of their time and for them to avoid judging Curtin and his decision making from an ahistorical present