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Clip description
In March 1931 Joe Lyons left the ruling Labor Party. He joined the new United Australia Party and became prime minister in January 1932.
Curator’s notes
Joe Lyons’s rapid transition from disaffected minister in the Scullin government to Prime Minister of Australia says much about the turbulent state of Australian politics during the Depression. After crossing the floor in parliament and automatically removing himself from the Labor Party, Lyons joined ranks with the opposition Nationalist Party and formed the United Australia Party – the predecessor of the conservative Liberal Party. This segment also highlights the role Dame Enid Lyons played in her husband’s success.
This clip is interesting for telling a fascinating story without the use of moving image footage or re-creations. Instead, the filmmakers draw on newspaper clippings, cartoons, pamphlets and still photographs from the time as illustration. Roger Climpson effectively modulates his narration to add urgency and a sense of historical importance at key points in the story.
