Did you know… The only ever elected member of the Communist Party of Australia was Fred Patterson – in the Bowen / Collinsville Electorate, 1944. The Communist Party appealed to many unionists as it advocated many of the same socialist ideals. The Australian Coal Strike of 1949 was backed by the Communist party and became the first strike in Australia in which armed troops were called to (possibly due to the looming Cold War and general government concerns regarding Communists).
If you’d like to learn more about the mining industry, the government and the strike of 1949, have a look at this incredible documentary on SBS:
www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/11903555530/Dirty-Business-How-Mining-Made-Australia-Promo
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