Dudley's political weakness makes a procurement delay plausible

Dudley's record in Australia also exposed the limits of his methods. His strained relationship with Labor leader Andrew Fisher made it risky for a governor-general to appear aligned against a major party. Fisher's frugality and socialist background sat uneasily with Dudley's attachment to vice-regal status and ceremony. The regiment Dudley had commanded later went to Egypt and served alongside the ANZACs after he had been seconded away, costing him a possible chance to repair his standing with Australians. Better political restraint could delay the order while leaving the fleet-unit plan intact.