Was Harold Holt A Success Or A Failure?
Background:
Harold Holt was born in Stanmore, New South Wales on 5 August 1908. He was the elder of two children. Holt was enrolled at Wesley College in Melbourne, which happens to be where the future Prime Minister Robert Menzies had been a star pupil as well. It is argued that due to a lack of parental love, is mothers early death and his parents’ divorce caused many feelings of loneliness and insecurity in Holt. Holt did very well in school, winning a scholarship to the University of Melbourne doing a degree in Law. He excelled in both academics and sports, and later worked in a bar. Holt graduated with a bachelor in Law in 1930.
Ideologies:
Holt had strong beliefs in putting more into the war effort in Vietnam, which was a much discussed …show more content…
Failures:
Holt had a scandal involving the miss use of an air craft, this, and his refusal to sack the present minister of Air to control the situation led to his loss of much support and heavy criticism. Another arguable failure was the briefness of his term, it limited any personal and political impact, the short time span means he is over looked when compared to his predecessors. Another controversial issue that is remembered to have caused a lot of criticism is his decision to use troops to take control of cargo facilities during a waterside dispute in Bowen, Queensland in 1953.
Achievements:
As Minister for Immigration (1949–1956), Holt was responsible for relaxing the White Australia policy and as Treasurer under Menzies, he initiated major fiscal reforms including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and launched and guided the process to convert Australia to decimal currency. As Prime Minister, he oversaw landmark changes including the decision not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound, and the 1967 constitutional referendum in which an overwhelming majority of Australians voted in favor of giving the Commonwealth power to legislate specifically for indigenous
Harold Holt was born in Stanmore, New South Wales on 5 August 1908. He was the elder of two children. Holt was enrolled at Wesley College in Melbourne, which happens to be where the future Prime Minister Robert Menzies had been a star pupil as well. It is argued that due to a lack of parental love, is mothers early death and his parents’ divorce caused many feelings of loneliness and insecurity in Holt. Holt did very well in school, winning a scholarship to the University of Melbourne doing a degree in Law. He excelled in both academics and sports, and later worked in a bar. Holt graduated with a bachelor in Law in 1930.
Ideologies:
Holt had strong beliefs in putting more into the war effort in Vietnam, which was a much discussed …show more content…
Failures:
Holt had a scandal involving the miss use of an air craft, this, and his refusal to sack the present minister of Air to control the situation led to his loss of much support and heavy criticism. Another arguable failure was the briefness of his term, it limited any personal and political impact, the short time span means he is over looked when compared to his predecessors. Another controversial issue that is remembered to have caused a lot of criticism is his decision to use troops to take control of cargo facilities during a waterside dispute in Bowen, Queensland in 1953.
Achievements:
As Minister for Immigration (1949–1956), Holt was responsible for relaxing the White Australia policy and as Treasurer under Menzies, he initiated major fiscal reforms including the establishment of the Reserve Bank of Australia, and launched and guided the process to convert Australia to decimal currency. As Prime Minister, he oversaw landmark changes including the decision not to devalue the Australian dollar in line with the British pound, and the 1967 constitutional referendum in which an overwhelming majority of Australians voted in favor of giving the Commonwealth power to legislate specifically for indigenous