ward continued to promote the idea during late 1942 and early 1943, and the idea that it was an actual defence strategy gained support after general douglas macarthur referred to it during a press conference in march 1943, where he also coined the term 'brisbane line'. ward initially offered no evidence to support his claims, but later claimed that the relevant records had been removed from the official files. a royal commission concluded that no such documents had existed, and the government under menzies and fadden had not approved plans of the type alleged by ward. the controversy contributed to labor's win in the 1943 federal election, although ward was assigned to minor portfolios afterward.