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Patterns and Directions in Australian Politics over the Past Fifty Years

Patterns and Directions in Australian Politics over the Past Fifty Years In 2004 Australian politics is recognisably the same as it was nearly fifty years ago at the time of the first issue of the Australian Journal of Politics and History in 1955. The continuities are evident enough.1 They include the maintenance of the two-party system of Labor versus the Coalition, the continuation of a delicate balance between the federal and state governments and the continuation of tensions between the two houses of parliament. An observer transported forwards from 1955 would recognise some issues and even some ageing personalities, such as Gough Whitlam. We continue to discuss the political role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the media, parliamentary standards, and issues such as immigration and freer trade. There has, nevertheless, also been a considerable transformation of Australian politics. Politics is more professional, the parties smaller but better organised and government more centralised. The neo-liberal promotion of the market has opened up the economy. Some of the institutions that have featured in the so-called Australian settlement have disappeared. These include White Australia, conciliation and arbitration, much tariff protection and much of the British connection.2 Other features that have disappeared include the Democratic Labor Party, so important to the http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian Journal of Politics and History Wiley

Patterns and Directions in Australian Politics over the Past Fifty Years

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References (7)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0004-9522
eISSN
1467-8497
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-8497.2004.00330.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In 2004 Australian politics is recognisably the same as it was nearly fifty years ago at the time of the first issue of the Australian Journal of Politics and History in 1955. The continuities are evident enough.1 They include the maintenance of the two-party system of Labor versus the Coalition, the continuation of a delicate balance between the federal and state governments and the continuation of tensions between the two houses of parliament. An observer transported forwards from 1955 would recognise some issues and even some ageing personalities, such as Gough Whitlam. We continue to discuss the political role of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the media, parliamentary standards, and issues such as immigration and freer trade. There has, nevertheless, also been a considerable transformation of Australian politics. Politics is more professional, the parties smaller but better organised and government more centralised. The neo-liberal promotion of the market has opened up the economy. Some of the institutions that have featured in the so-called Australian settlement have disappeared. These include White Australia, conciliation and arbitration, much tariff protection and much of the British connection.2 Other features that have disappeared include the Democratic Labor Party, so important to the

Journal

Australian Journal of Politics and HistoryWiley

Published: Jun 1, 2004

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