Unlike the other countries engaged in World War I, conscription was not introduced in Australia. All the Australians who fought in World War I were volunteers.

Prime Minister Billy Hughes made two attempts to introduce conscription: two conscription referenda were held in 1916 and 1917. Both lost to the 'no' vote. Feelings on the issue ran high and bitterly divided the community. While many politicians favoured conscription, it was strongly opposed by many in the community.

People's reasons for being either pro or anti-conscription varied: support for conscription usually originated from a sense of loyalty to Britain, which was seen as the Motherland, outrage at Germany's attack on Belgium and France or out of fear for Australia's safety if Britain lost the war. Women were encouraged to shame their male relatives into joining the army.

Some young men wanted to join the army for adventure and excitement. Unions tended to be anti-conscription, because they feared their jobs would be taken by foreign labour or women.

Being anti-conscription was not the same as being anti-war: some of the men already at the front, themselves volunteers, were anti-conscription, because they did not want to fight alongside men who did not want to be there. They considered it could affect their morale and ability to fight cohesively.

Other people, often women, were against war itself. An Anti-Conscription League was formed and the Women's Peace Army, a movement driven by the indomitable Vida Goldstein, mounted a fierce campaign against the war and conscription.

Outspoken Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix, was also vehement in his opposition to the war and to conscription. However, many Catholics raised in Australia supported conscription and the war.

You can search for materials on conscription on the State Library catalogue. Type the word conscription in the search box and click Search. When the list of results appears, you can make your search more specific: click on the Resource type, for example books, pictures or manuscripts, and you can limit by Creation date, that is, the year of publication.

The following websites provide information on the conscription referenda:

Have a look at the Old Heritage Building website which discusses the contentious conscription issue, with photographs and conscription pamphlets. It also discusses the famous personalities involved on both sides of the issue.

The Australian War Memorial encyclopedia briefly covers many topics including conscription, with references you can follow up.