The opponents of austerity in the Labor Party, of which Lang was among the most prominent figures, had supported repudiating Australia's debt, while supporters of austerity policies would subsequently introduce the national "Premiers' Plan" to achieve those ends.
[2][3] The committee's president was Doug Bardolph, and its secretary was Tom Howard.
[4][5] In July 1931, a by-election was held for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Adelaide, in the wake of Labor MP Bert Edwards being sentenced to jail.
[6] The Lang Plan Campaign Committee decided to separately contest the by-election, and the secretary of the Ironworkers' Union, Martin Collaton, was chosen as their candidate.
[11][12] In October, the Lang Labor Party nominated Bardolph in a Legislative Council by-election for the Central District No.