The Gathering Storm, Redux - Gameplay Thread (WW2 - Early 1940)

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Newly elected Prime Minister Jack 'JT' Lang Hails surprise Victory; Condemns 'Mad-Man' Hugenberg

Australian Capital Territory, - The newly elected Prime Minister of Australia, Jack 'JT' Lang, has hailed his parties surprise victory in the general election as a "victory" for the common-man and prosperity in his first speech outside of Parliament House.

"You voted for a government that will lead this nation with a firm hand for prosperity for all Australians through these troubling times. It is to you that we, The Australian Labor Party, owe our allegiance and it is with your interests we shall lead and fight for the prosperity of The whole Australian Commonwealth"

In his speech, Prime Minister Lang laid out an ambitious and Progressive agenda, including chiefly the establishment of government services for Healthcare among the countries impoverished and a bill to delay further debt payments to Great Britain as part of an effort to balance the newly established Commonwealth's coffers during difficult economic times. The PM indicated that he had made private appeals to the British government to begin negotiations in Sydney for discussion of these issues as well as agreement on a way forward for mutual Commonwealth Prosperity.

Ending his speech, Prime Minister Lang made note of the increasingly dangerous situation in Germany and condemned "that man-man, Hugenberg" as an autocrat that was assaulting the working-class in the interests of his 'wealthy cronies'. The PM indicated that a bill would be submitted to Parliament calling on the Commonwealth as a whole to condemn the actions of the German government and consider possible support to beleaguered Germans Social Democrats.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Prime Minister Lang rallies support for Female Suffrage world-wide

Fresh off the heels of a victorious election campaign, newly inducted Prime Minister Lang has made public his governments push to support female suffragettes world-wide. Calling the move for female suffrage one of the "great battles of our time" Lang connected the campaign to other social justice causes supported by his Labor party during the election campaign such as the establishment of government run medical services and the introduction of a minimum wage.

"Woman, as the Chief Officers running our households for many a century, have a grand perspective to offer our governments and the way in which we do business -- as one of the First Nations to establish the vote for Women upon the foundation of our Commonwealth I want Australia to be a world leader when it comes to campaigning for the rights of all women to equal suffrage."

As part of a Labor campaign seeking to attract the female vote Prime Minister Lang announced that he would be appointing Joan Folette, a labor canvasser from Melbourne, as the Head of a newly established 'Office for Women's Affairs' which would advise the government on issues pertaining to the well-being of Women and ways in which the Australian Commonwealth can assist suffragettes world-wide.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Lang Rails against the Senate, the 'Big Fella' Threatens to push for abolition if Health Care bill isn't passed

Perth, Western Australia, - After the passage of his bill to broad applause in the Australian House for the establishment of a Commonwealth Health Service (CHS) pilot program in Western Australia to explore the concept of creating a similar program nationwide in the future, Lang has railed against the 'do-nothing, feckless, corrupt' Senate in a massive Labor rally in the Western Australian Capital and Metropole of Perth, threatening to go so far as pushing for a referendum on Senate abolition if his Healthcare bill isn't passed.

"The Great Depression has left a great many thousands of our fellow countrymen, many who are citizens in otherwise good standing, destitute and unable to afford the services of a private doctor. This has left children sick with disease in our inner cities, it has led Australian men unable to attend work, Mothers unable to attend to their familial and civic duties, and so much further suffering among our people during already difficult times.

Your newly established Labor government, with a critical eye first and for most to the well-being of the great people of this Commonwealth, has put forth an ambitious proposal to both expand facilities for health and medical services in our communities and provide government funding for the most destitute among us to receive care at these facilities. We believe it's this type of bold leadership that is necessary during these tumultuous times.

However, beucratic and antiquated forces in our Senate are determined to hold back the peoples will, expressed in our newly established mandate, to take bold action to put an end to the suffering of our people during the present economic crisis.

To them I say: I do not think you will be able long to fool the Australian people as to your purposes. You will either bend to the will of the people or see yourselves on the opposite side of the wrath of the great Australian majority, the great laboring majority, and the Senate shall not like to see those consequences if they choose that path."

Lang has announced that ministers in his government intended to submit legislation again in the following month to establish a pilot program for the 'CHS' in Western Australia. While the government would whip its members to the furthest of its abilities, and was even making appeals to rural Senators in the National Party, Lang also personally met with multiple long-time Senators in his party and the opposition to threaten that he would lead a campaign for Senate abolition if his Healthcare bill was shot down.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Australia prepares to welcome British, American delegations to Canberra

Canberra, ACT - Fresh off the heels of a victorious election campaign, the newly established Australian Labor government headed by Prime Minister Jack 'JT' Lang has announced that his government is making preparations for the arrival of both British & American delegations in Canberra within the coming months.

The British visit is expected to cover recent conversations regarding trade regulations, rumors being that the newly elected Lang government has been skeptical of free trade proposals suggested by British PM Ramsay and has pushed for further protections of Australian workers. Furthermore, with a recently announced 4 year suspension of debt repayments, Lang has laid out a tough line, insisting on the British 'responsibility' to its Daughter country to assist during difficult economic times. Negotiators believe a proposal regarding resource extraction and British investment could be possible in exchange for debt relief, but this remains to be seen.

Rumors surrounding the American visit, which is part of a multi-country tour by newly confirmed Treasurer Henry Wallace are more rare, but suggest that Lang shares many domestic and foreign similarities with Wallace and could push for increased ties between the Roosevelt administration and Canberra.

[No War, but the War on Christmas]

Australia shall put its weight behind the Canadian bid in Montreal as a show of Commonwealth camaraderie.