<P> The Papuan campaign of 1942 led to a significant reform in the composition of the Australian Army . During the campaign, the restriction banning CMF personnel from serving outside of Australian territory hampered military planning and caused tensions between the AIF and CMF . In late 1942 and early 1943 Prime Minister John Curtin overcame opposition within the Australian Labor Party to extending the geographic boundaries in which conscripts could serve to include most of the South West Pacific and the necessary legislation was passed in January 1943 . The 11th Brigade was the only CMF formation to serve outside of Australian territory, however, when it formed part of Merauke Force in the Netherlands East Indies during 1943 and 1944 . </P> <P> In 1951, during the Korean War, national service was introduced under the National Service Act (1951). All Australian males aged 18 had to register for 176 days training (ninety - nine days full - time) and two years in the CMF . Later the obligation was 140 days of training (seventy - seven days full - time) and three years of service in the CMF . The regular military forces were kept as voluntary . In 1957 the system was changed to emphasise skill rather than numbers . The system was ended in 1959 . </P> <P> In 1964 compulsory National Service for 20 - year - old males was introduced under the National Service Act (1964). The selection of conscripts was made by a sortition or lottery draw based on date of birth, and conscripts were obligated to give two years' continuous full - time service, followed by a further three years on the active reserve list . The full - time service requirement was reduced to eighteen months in October 1971 . </P> <P> The Defence Act was amended May 1964 to provide that National Servicemen could be obliged to serve overseas, a provision that had been applied only once before--during World War II . The 1964 amendments applied only to the permanent military forces and excluded the Citizen Military Forces . In 1965, the Defence Act was again amended to require the CMF to serve overseas which was not included in the 1964 amendments . In March 1966, the Government announced that National Servicemen would be sent to South Vietnam to fight in units of the Australian Regular Army and for secondment to American forces . Requirements for overseas service were detailed by the Minister for the Army Malcolm Fraser on 13 May 1966 . Men who wished to avoid National Service could join the Citizen Military Forces and serve only inside Australia, claim a student deferment, or attempt a conscientious objection application . To be exempted on the basis of conscientious objection, an applicant needed to demonstrate his moral objection to' all' wars in court and be legalised as a pacifist . This meant that the rate of success for conscientious objection applications was generally low . </P>

When was conscription introduced in australia during the vietnam war