The True Believers

• 1. Episode 1

  60m

  Just before the end of WWII, John Curtin lays on his deathbed. Who will fill the position? Brilliant legal mind, "Doc" Evatt or unschooled train driver Ben Chifley? With an election to face in 1946, the Labor Party needs to choose wisely.

• 2. Episode 2

  60m

  With a supposed Communist uprising in the coal industry moves are afoot to abolish the party from the Liberal side, but also to nationalise the banks from Labor. The High Court finds that nationalising the banks is not constitutional.

• 3. Episode 3

  60m

  After Chifley wins the election, Evatt spends much time overseas and is elected third President of the United Nations. The Miners' Union gets more concessions, but wants even more. Evatt argues to the Privy Council for bank nationalisation.

• 4. Episode 4

  60m

  Communist demands become so great even the ALP feels the need to oppose them leading to the coal miners' strike of 1949, gaoling of some union members and sending in the army to work the mines.

• 5. Episode 5

  60m

  Menzies is now Prime Minister and starts naming alleged Communists in parliament, subjecting them to gaol and sackings. Chifley's heart is giving up the ghost, and Doc Evatt becomes acting Opposition Leader.

• 6. Episode 6

  60m

  Menzies calls a double-dissolution over his Communist Party prohibition bill in April 1951, which he wins, but loses five seats. On 13 June 1951, Chifley dies following a heart attack in his Canberra hotel room.

• 7. Episode 7

  60m

  Doc Evatt is elected Opposition Leader after Chifley's tragic death, but the odds are stacked against him. Menzies uses the Communist menace as a stick to beat him and milks the Petrov affair for all it's worth.

• 8. Episode 8

  60m

  Following the Petov Affair, Evatt promises pension rises, the abolition of means tests and tax cuts. Noone believes him (even in his own party) and Menzies wins again. Disaffected Victorian ALP members split the party to form the DLP.

Cast

Ed Devereaux

Ben Chifley

John Bonney

Robert Menzies

Simon Chilvers

H.V. Evatt

No photo

John Derum

B.A. Santamaria

Graham Rouse

Arthur Fadden

Nick Tate

Les Hayden

Gary Files

Fred Daly

No photo

Stuart McCreery

Allan Dalziel

No photo

Mary-Lou Stewart

Joanna Malcolm

No photo

Dorothy St. Heaps

Elizabeth Chifley

No photo

Leonie-Martin Smith

Ethel Casey

No photo

Hec Macmillan

Sir William McKell