AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN THE MEDIA

Portrayal Of Australian Women In The Media

Portrayal Of Australian Women In The Media

Introduction

During the post-war interval, the privileges and freedoms of Australian women have modified dramatically. This is chiefly due to the unrelenting and tenacious achievements taken right through the women's liberation movement. While this motion was taking position, another renowned anti-discriminatory motion was going on in America - the American Civil Rights motion - commanded by Martin Luther King. This, in a way, would have nurtured and compelled the women in their conflict for their cause: women's privileges and freedoms.

Firstly, a major figure in the post-war liberation movement for women was Germaine Greer. Greer organized many demonstrations aimed at achieving a variety of goals. Her influence on the movement was significant because it saw the eventual success of it. Her contribution to the changing rights and freedoms of Australian women was second to none, some may say.( McAllister, 2003 149)

In 1975, Gough Whitlam's Labor Government faced a hostile senate. They held a minority of seats in the senate, even though they were the party in office at the time. The events that followed led up to the first sacking of an Australian government in their history, on Remembrance Day, 1975.

Discussion

Gough Whitlam was a superb orator, a handsome and tall man and packed full to the brim with fabulous visions for the future of Australia. His motto, 'It's Time', symbolized that it was time for Labor - after the lengthy reign of the Liberal Government - to rise to power. Whitlam pledged a myriad of promising reforms and was consequently voted into Prime Ministerial office by the people of Australia.

As time passed, Gough Whitlam's reforms began to run low on funding, necessary for their establishment. This was due to the fact that the senate was not passing his party's supply bills - the money for resources needed to run the country and fund government operations.

Gough Whitlam was rapidly losing popularity with the Australian public as a result. Inflation was ever rising, reaching the monumentally high rate of 17%, and unemployment was at 5%. Gough Whitlam just didn't seem to be producing the goods.

Many people started to question his ability to run the nation, as corruption and incompetence started to show in his party's actions.

The media played a significant part in the Whitlam government demise, portraying Labor in a negative light. This alleviated the problems the Whitlam Government faced during their demise.

The Media tended to focus on obscure mishaps, blowing them far out of proportion. These included the in-depth coverage of the purchase of the 'Blue Poles' painting ($1,000,000) which was seen as wasting tax money, and the affair of a Labor Senator with Juni Morosi.

To add to the dilemma, an oil crisis further added to the social and economic downfall in Australia.

There was one person who had a vast amount of power, and had the ability to put an end to these series of crises - John Kern, the Governor ...