However, ideological and leadership issues resulted in severe fissures occurring in conservative political forces towards the end of the decade.
This was seen most markedly in the deposing of the Prime Minister Robert Menzies federally in 1941 and the NSW Premier Bertram Stevens in 1939.
The Commonwealth Party was launched on 27 May 1943, sponsored by the Fighting Forces and Civilians' Organisation.
The party's national primary vote was reduced by 8% and it lost 9 of its 23 seats since the 1940 election.
[4] However, during the unity conference on 24 November 1943, the LDP walked out of the conference as they were not willing to support retaining the secretary of the UAP, H. W. Horsfield, as the secretary of the new party, as well as retaining members of his staff.