1885-1951. Australian Labor prime minister
1945-49. He united the party in fulfilling a
welfare and nationalization programme 1945-49
(although he failed in an attempt to
nationalize the banks 1947) and initiated an
immigration programme and the Snowy Mountains
hydroelectric project. Chifley was minister
of postwar reconstruction 1942-45 under John
Curtin, when he succeeded him as prime
minister. He crushed a coal miners' strike
1949 by using troops as mine labour. He was
leader of the Opposition from 1949 until his
death.