Misreading Menzies and Whitlam: Reassessing The
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The Removal of Whitlam
MAKING A DEMOCRACY to run things, any member could turn up to its meetings to listen and speak. Of course all members cannot participate equally in an org- anisation, and organisations do need leaders. The hopes of these reformers could not be realised. But from these times survives the idea that any governing body should consult with the people affected by its decisions. Local councils and governments do this regularly—and not just because they think it right. If they don’t consult, they may find a demonstration with banners and TV cameras outside their doors. The opponents of democracy used to say that interests had to be represented in government, not mere numbers of people. Democrats opposed this view, but modern democracies have to some extent returned to it. When making decisions, governments consult all those who have an interest in the matter—the stake- holders, as they are called. The danger in this approach is that the general interest of the citizens might be ignored. The removal of Whitlam The Labor Party captured the mood of the 1960s in its election campaign of 1972, with its slogan ‘It’s Time’. The Liberals had been in power for 23 years, and Gough Whitlam said it was time for a change, time for a fresh beginning, time to do things differently. Whitlam’s government was in tune with the times because it was committed to protecting human rights, to setting up an ombuds- man and to running an open government where there would be freedom of information. But in one thing Whitlam was old- fashioned: he believed in the original Labor idea of democracy. -
Whitlam As Internationalist: a Centenary Reflection
WHITLAM AS INTERNATIONALIST: A CENTENARY REFLECTION T HE HON MICHAEL KIRBY AC CMG* Edward Gough Whitlam, the 21st Prime Minister of Australia, was born in July 1916. This year is the centenary of his birth. It follows closely on his death in October 2014 when his achievements, including in the law, were widely debated. In this article, the author reviews Whitlam’s particular interest in international law and relations. It outlines the many treaties that were ratified by the Whitlam government, following a long period of comparative disengagement by Australia from international treaty law. The range, variety and significance of the treaties are noted as is Whitlam’s attraction to treaties as a potential source of constitutional power for the enactment of federal laws by the Australian Parliament. This article also reviews Whitlam’s role in the conduct of international relations with Australia’s neighbours, notably the People’s Republic of China, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Indochina. The reconfiguration of geopolitical arrangements is noted as is the close engagement with the United Nations, its agencies and multilateralism. Whilst mistakes by Whitlam and his government are acknowledged, his strong emphasis on international law, and treaty law in particular, was timely. It became a signature theme of his government and life. CONTENTS I Introduction .............................................................................................................. 852 II Australia’s Ratification of International Treaties ................................................. -
The Institute's Seventieth Volume: the Journal, Its Origins and Its
Australian Journal of International Affairs ISSN: 1035-7718 (Print) 1465-332X (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/caji20 The Institute’s seventieth volume: the journal, its origins and its engagement with foreign policy debate James Cotton To cite this article: James Cotton (2016): The Institute’s seventieth volume: the journal, its origins and its engagement with foreign policy debate, Australian Journal of International Affairs, DOI: 10.1080/10357718.2016.1167836 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2016.1167836 Published online: 18 May 2016. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 18 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=caji20 Download by: [203.219.87.178] Date: 04 July 2016, At: 18:46 AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2016.1167836 COMMENTARY AND PROVOCATION The Institute’s seventieth volume: the journal, its origins and its engagement with foreign policy debate James Cotton University of New South Wales, ADFA, Canberra, Australia ABSTRACT KEYWORDS Australian Outlook, published initially in 1947, was Australia’s first Australian Institute of journal devoted exclusively to the analysis of Australia’s foreign International Affairs relations and of international affairs. It emerged from a context publications; Australian where nationalist and internationalist sentiments were taking on foreign policy analysis; international relations new prominence and in a time of heightened public awareness of discipline global issues. The journal came to provide a unique venue for academic and expert commentary, especially on the international politics of Australia’s region, as well as on a wide range of topics from defence and trade to great-power dynamics. -