Mallee: the safest electorate in Australia experienced a wheat farmer-fueled political rebellion in 1941

Prior to the seat being created in 1949, Wimmera voters ended up with their member of parliament having to choose what party would lead the nation.

The price of wheat and disgruntled Wimmera farmers played a decisive role in choosing the prime minister during a threat of Japanese invasion.

Deakin University Geelong senior politics lecturer Geoff Robinson said back in 1941, independent Member for Wimmera Alexander Wilson switched his support to Labor and removed Prime Minister Robert Menzies from power.

“In return the Labor party supported the setting up the Australian Wheat Board and greater regulation of wheat marketing,” he said.

“It was a big concern for Mr Wilson.

“Wimmera had a big effect on national policies because wheat farming was such a big issue, there were a lot more wheat farmers, and they were wanted the government to do something about their plight.”

Dr Robinson said Wimmera’s political leanings in 1941 were an early predecessor to right-wing populist uprisings against the Coalition in Queensland, such as Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter.

“The attitude in the wheat belt used to be let’s go back to the old days of industry regulation and the government looking after farmers,” he said.

“It’s now something of the past.”

Protectionism and populism have been on the rise again globally, with Britain voting to leave the European Union and Donald Trump becoming the presumptive Republican candidate for the US presidential election.

Dr Robinson said people were more likely to support candidates like Mr Trump during times of economic uncertainty.

However, he said Mallee was not as rebellious as far north Queensland.

“These days the culture of the Mallee is rusted-on conservative,” he said.

At the time of the First World War, the Country Party split up over military conscription and a rebel faction represented Wannon.

“For a time the Country Party were willing to align themselves to Labor, which was then more willing to support agrarian socialism,” Dr Robinson said.

“Wheat prices were collapsing and you saw the Country Party having a big influence.”