Due to a credit squeeze, the economy had gone into a brief recession in 1961 and unemployment had risen to high levels. This saw an increase in popularity for Labor; Menzies' case was not helped by an approach seen by the press, notably The Sydney Morning Herald, as inappropriately paternalistic.
In 1961, due to financial constraints, the economy experienced a brief downturn with high unemployment figures. This increase in support for Labor coincided with criticism of Menzies' handling, which was seen as excessively paternalistic by media such as The Sydney Morning Herald.