Editing John McEwen (section)

===Opposition, 1941–1949===
McEwen continued to serve on the Advisory War Council following the Fadden government's defeat, remaining as a member for the duration of the war.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=83}} On the council he advocated for "independent and first-hand reports of the [[New Guinea campaign|New Guinea situation]], and was critical of the northern air defence strategy".<ref name=before/> McEwen was elected deputy leader of the Country Party in September 1943, with the position having been vacant since Fadden's elevation to the leadership.<ref name=adb/> He opposed suggestions that the Country Party should merge into the new [[Liberal Party of Australia]], created by Menzies as a replacement for the UAP, and remained defensive of the Country Party's independence throughout his political career.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=121}}

Remaining in [[Opposition (Australia)|opposition]] after the ALP won majority government at the [[1943 Australian federal election|1943]] and [[1946 Australian federal election|1946 elections]], McEwen was "closely involved with Fadden in rebuilding the Country Party, developing its policies, and preparing it for office in partnership with Menzies' rejuvenated Liberal Party".<ref name=adb/> He was a prominent campaigner for the "No" vote in the [[Curtin government]]'s [[1944 Australian Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights referendum|1944 post-war reconstruction referendum]].<ref name=before>{{cite news|url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/john-mcewen/before-office|title=John McEwen: before office|work=Australia's Prime Ministers|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=24 July 2024}}</ref> He was also a leading opponent of the [[Chifley government]]'s attempts to nationalise the private banking sector in 1947 and 1948.{{sfn|Golding|1996|pp=127-128}}