Nationhood
Australia declares war
03 September 1939
Prime Minister Robert Menzies announces that due to Britain declaring war, Australia is also at war.
In the 1930s, although Australia was an independent nation, Australia’s foreign relations were still mostly undertaken by Britain. It was unclear if it was legal for Australia to declare war without the approval of the British Government. The Australian Constitution does not state who has the power to declare war. As the King of England was also the King of Australia, how could the King be both at war and at peace at the same time? Prime Minister Robert Menzies made Australia's position clear when he declared on 3 September 1939: 'Great Britain has declared war and that as a result Australia is also at war.'
In 1941 when Australia declared war on Japan, the new Australian Government took a more independent stance. The Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, made the declaration of war, which was affirmed by the King 6 months later. Australia would gain full independence in foreign relations with the passing of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942.