bb1 you haven't read up much on Menzies. he was a great reformer but you have to compare his changes with what went before.
he industrialised our agrarian country, built many dams in Tas as well as Snowy hydro. these were the massive costing policies but also earned Aus greater revenue and sustainability and started Aus on the road to become a "developed economy" - Howard reversed much of what Menzies did. Abbott finished the job and caused govt revenue to fall alarmingly.
as a kid I listened to debates in the home during Menzies' elections. Pop was a labourer and so voted Labor, Nan recognised Menzies' an achievements and successes for the broad community. those arguments were quite heated.
