Editing Arthur Fadden (section)

===Leader of the Opposition (1941–1943)===
[[File:Australia Needs A National Government (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Election advertisement used by the Coalition at the [[1943 Australian federal election]]]]
Following the fall of his ministry, a joint UAP-Country Party meeting endorsed Fadden as [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]], even though the UAP was nominally the senior coalition partner. As a result, Menzies resigned as UAP leader. The UAP was so bereft of leadership that it was forced to elect 79-year-old former Prime Minister [[Billy Hughes]] as its new leader. The Coalition sank into near-paralysis in opposition. Even allowing for Curtin's personal popularity, as well as the significant advantages which an incumbent government in a Westminster system has in wartime, Fadden proved a disappointment as Leader of the Opposition; he was unable to get the better of Curtin.  The Coalition suffered a crushing loss in the [[1943 Australian federal election|1943 election]]. It was reduced to 19 seats, including a mere seven for Fadden's Country Party. Accepting responsibility for this severe defeat, Fadden then handed the Opposition leadership back to Menzies, who had resumed the UAP leadership.