James Scullin vs Sultan bin Abdulaziz

James Scullin became Prime Minister of Australia on October 22, 1929, leading a Labor government just days after the Wall Street Crash. His government faced the onset of the Great Depression, with rising unemployment and economic contraction, and struggled to implement effective policies.

Scullin's government appointed Sir Isaac Isaacs as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia in 1930, over the objections of King George V. This act asserted Australian autonomy in constitutional matters and was a significant step in the evolution of Australian sovereignty.

Scullin's government adopted the Premiers' Plan in June 1931, a set of austerity measures agreed with state premiers to combat the Depression. The plan included cuts to government spending, wage reductions, and increased taxes, which were deeply unpopular within the Labor Party and led to splits.

Scullin's government was weakened by a split in the Labor Party, with the formation of the Lang Labor faction led by New South Wales Premier Jack Lang. This division, along with defections to the new United Australia Party, led to the collapse of Scullin's government in late 1931.

Scullin's Labor government was decisively defeated in the December 1931 federal election by the United Australia Party under Joseph Lyons. The election marked the end of Labor's term, with the party reduced to a small minority in parliament.

Sultan negotiated the Al-Yamamah arms deal with the United Kingdom, one of the largest arms export agreements in history. The deal involved the sale of Tornado fighter jets and other military equipment to Saudi Arabia, strengthening bilateral ties.

As Defense Minister, Sultan played a key role in coordinating Saudi military operations during the Gulf War, including the deployment of Saudi forces alongside the US-led coalition to liberate Kuwait. He oversaw the modernization of the Saudi military.

Sultan bin Abdulaziz was appointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia by King Abdullah. As Crown Prince, he held the positions of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation, overseeing the Saudi military for decades.