HISTORY REVISIONAustralia as a global citizenThe United NationsParts to the UNThe United Nations has 6 main parts:The General Assembly Representatives from all member states UNs main discussion forumThe Security Council Five permanent members 10 members with 2 year terms Responsible for maintaining international peace and securityThe Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 54 members with 3 year terms Organises UNs social and economic program Promotes human rightsThe Trusteeship Council Established to administer trust territories Five permanent members of the Security Council Convened if required, the Council has not been in operation since 1994The International Court of Justice Judicial organ of the UN 15 independent judges with nine year terms.The Secretariat Does the administrative work of the UN Headed by a Secretary-General who is the main spokesperson of the UN. The Secretary-General has a five year term which can renewed indefinitelyAustralias role in the United Nations Australia played a vital role in the establishment of the United Nations and in its early years of operation, as it was one of its founding members but also partaking in its programs, and is an active member in its operations. Australia helped drew up the policies, powers and principles which would form the UN. Doctor Evatt led Australias delegation to the San Francisco Conference. He supported the participation of smaller countries in the discussions and decision making about the principles, powers and policies which would form the basis of the United Nations. Dr Evatts role as the President of the General Assembly from 1948-49, played a key role in the formation of Israel and was the first chairperson of its Atomic Energy Commission. Evatt also presided over the General Assembly session in which members unanimously passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Australia has contributed to the early years of operation also through its contribution as part of the United Nations during the Korean War. Australia also promotes its national concerns through participating in national discussions on aid programs, disarmament and nuclear safeguards, environment protection, global trade and finance, health, human rights, international security and refugee issues. Through addressing these issues, Australia is an active member in UN multilateral treaties and UN organisations such as UNESCO and the World Health Organisation.Australias support for the United Nations Australia has shown its support to the conventions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Australia has shown its support further, by introducing legislation that has similar principles to the conventions it supports. Australian family law reflects the principle of the best interest of a child, while the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act 1986 incorporates these conventions with principles related to civil and political rights, the rights of the child and disabled people and non-discrimination in the workplace. Australia has also shown its commitment to removing discrimination further with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 aimed at removing racism within Australian society and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 aimed at removing gender-based discrimination within Australian society.Definitions Asylum Seeker: According to the Australian Human Rights Commission:An asylum seeker is a person who has fled their own country, due to persecution and applied for protection in another country as a refugee. Refugee: A refugee is a person who has left their own country and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality or political opinion. Mandatory Detention: Mandatory detention is the policy of imprisoning individuals suspected of violating immigration policy, including violation of visa terms, illegal entry or unauthorised entry into a particular nation. Mandatory detention is the policy also of imprisoning asylum seekers while refugee claims are being verified.Australia and INTERFET INTERFET was the response to the humanitarian and security crisis that occurred in East Timor in September 1999. This crisis was the violent actions taken by Indonesian-backed pro-integration militia as a response to the result of the 1999 Referendum for Independence, where East Timor voted for full independence from Indonesia. The results of the militias actions included violence, arsoxn, looting. The result of this meant that housing, schools, irrigation systems, water and power supplies were destroyed. In addition to this, there were numerous deaths, as well as many refugees fleeing to West Timor or the mountains. Australias role in INTERFET was firstly in establishing it, in order to improve the situation in East Timor. Australia pressured the United Nation to send a United Task Force (UNTAET) to help with the situation. Australia led and directed INTERFET. INTERFET was important in improving the security and infrastructure within East Timor. Australia sent directly to East Timor, humanitarian aid in order to help displaced people return to their homes. Australia provided 5500 of the 9000 personnel and also provided the force commander Major-General Peter Cosgrove. Australia also provided a clearance diving team that ensured the beach was clear of mines, when they landed at East Timorese territory in West Timor. Australia played an important role in the transitioning East Timor from violence to peace, stability and able to establish a provisional government.Australia and UNESCO Australia contributed to UNESCO through representation. Gough Whitlam served as Australias ambassador to UNESCO from 1983-1986, during which he was a member for both the International Commission on International Humanitarian Issues and the World Heritage Committee. He strongly advocated Australias fulfilling its commitments to supporting UN initiatives in human rights, the environment and the preservation of our heritage. Australia showed its continual support to UNESCO, despite United States, Britain and Singapore withdrawing support over views that UNESCO was badly managed and anti-western. Australia has amplified this support, through its involvement in a wide range of UNESCO programs. One of these include the Memory of the World (MOW) program, founded in 2005, which hopes to preserve important documents that otherwise be destroyed over time. Australia had established its own Australian Memory of the World Register in order to achieve this.Australias peace keeping role The 1990s were significant in Australian history of peacekeeping, as this decade defined Australias role in the development humanitarian intervention and Australia played a key role in maintaining peacekeeping in the countries. The role that Australia played in keeping peace in Cambodia was to bring peace to Cambodia after decades of civil war. Australia helped Cambodian refugees in Thailand to establish a legal system and police force in the lawless refugee camps. Australia signallers played a vital role as part of UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC). Australias foreign minister Gareth Evans and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade played an important role in the negotiations for peace. ADF personnel, police officers, and electoral workers ensure that the 1993 Cambodian election was free, fair, and overwhelming supported by the people. Australia needed to provide humanitarian support to Somalia, because Somalia was a famine stricken country caused by clan warfare and drought, and Australia as an active member of UN, took part in the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) and the UN-sanctioned United Task Force (UNITAF) in Somalia. Australians responded to the aftermath of Rwandas 1994 genocide by deployed a medical contingent, and as part of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), helped re-establish the Kigali Central Hospital in Rwandan capital.Australias involvement in Regional AgreementsANZAC PactThe ANZAC Pact was a pact signed during World War II in 1944, between Australia and New Zealand. Some of the terms of agreement include: The two governments agree to act together in matters of common concern in the South West and South Pacific. The two governments agree that, within the framework of a general system of world security, a regional zone of defence compromising of the South-West and South Pacific areas should be established and that this zone should be based on Australia and New Zealand, stretching through the arc of islands, north and north-east of Australia to Western Samoa and the Cook Islands. The two governments agree that the regulation of all air transport services should be subject to the terms of a convention which will supersede the Convention relating to the Regulation of Aerial Navigation. The two governments declare that no change in a sovereignty or system of control of any of the islands in the Pacific should be effected except as a result of an agreement to which they are parties or in the terms of which they have both convened. The two governments agree to promote the establishment of a regional organisation with advisory powers, to secure common policy on social, economic and political development directed towards the advancement and well-being of native peoples themselves.ANZUS TreatyThe ANZUS treaty was a treaty signed between Australia, the US and New Zealand during the Korean War in 1951, some of the terms of agreement include: The nations undertake to settle any international disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and to refrain in their international relations from the threat of use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purpose of the United Nations. In order to more effectively achieve the objective of this treaty the nations separately and jointly by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack. The nations will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political dependence or security of any of nations is threatened in the Pacific. The treaty does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and obligations of the nations under the Charter of the United Nations or the responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of international security. The nations hereby establish a council to consider matters concerning the implementation of this treaty. The Council should be organised to meet at any time.In 1984, the treaty relationship changed when New Zealand banned the entry of US ships it believed to be nuclear powered and to have nuclear weapons capacity. In 1986, the United States suspended its ANZUS commitment to New Zealand.SEATO (also known as the Manilla Pact)The United States organised the formation of SEATO, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation, in September 1954. SEATO united its members Australia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States in an alliance to protect countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific that felt threatened by communism. It was dissolved in 1977.The Colombo PlanThe Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia (changed to the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific), was established with aims of identifying and providing what the less developed countries in region needed to improve their economies and living standards. They also had the aims of promoting friendship among the Asia-Pacific region and encourage international economic cooperation.The Colombo Plan provides support for the economic and social development of least developed areas of the Asia-Pacific region. This involves the more advanced member states providing and sharing the knowledge of technology and technical expertise with less advanced neighbours. The Colombo Plan provides programs to develop skills in public administration, private development, drug advice, publications and the use of databank systems. They are also committed to develop human resources, and reduce economic inequality in the region.Summary: The Colombo Plan was designed in order to benefit the poorer and less developed nations of the Asia Pacific region. With Australia taking a key role in its formation, shows that Australia has an active role in achieving its goals and aims. Australia suggested that more wealthy nations should try to help the developed of undeveloped nations through programs which provide and share knowledge of technology and train people in areas of public administration, private development, drug advice and use of databank systems. The Colombo Plan promotes social development of the poorer nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia has being contributing to this with its humanitarian aid in Cambodia and East Timor, and its aid to the Asia-Pacific region. The Colombo Plan promotes economic development of the poorer nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia contributes to this through its treaties in APEC and with ASEAN countries. Through this it promotes trade between the nations to stimulate each other economies.

People, power and politics Gough WhitlamContributions positive and negative The contribution of Gough Whitlams government was significant as it introduced as it introduced new policies, which improved human rights in Australia, Australias international relations with other nations, and Australias education system. These policies shaped the way for governments to come, to improve Australia as a global nation and also to improve Australias living standards and productivity. Australian support for Vietnam War was dropping and dissatisfaction with the governments decision to send troops to Vietnam was growing. Whitlam abolished conscription for national service, and released draft dodgers (someone who tried to avoid conscription) from prison. He also withdrew any remaining troops from Vietnam. Whitlams promoted human rights and support for the UN through implementing policies to improve the rights of Indigenous Australians, women and also migrants. Indigenous Australians despite having the right to vote (they got given that in 1962), there was still inequality. His policy of self-determination encouraged Aborigines to be responsible for their own well-being, while at the same time the government would promote their well-being, living standards and address the inequality. Whitlams international policy included the policy of multiculturalism which instead of try to integrate migrants into Australian way of life, promote independent development of cultures in Australia. This included removing precedence for white people in migration. Whitlam promoted womens rights through his legislation. He established an Office of Womens Affairs to promote policies that would address the inequality. He also introduced an adult wage to replace the old system of separate wages for men and women. The government also introduced an allowance to help single mothers support their children, removed the sales tax on the contraceptive pill and began home tutoring skills for migrant women so they could learn English and be less isolated from the Australian community. The Family Law Act 1975 removed the social stigma that society had attached to divorced women. Whitlam also aimed to improve the Australian education system, by firstly abolishing higher education fees which enabled those who could not afford tertiary education, to have equal access to the education system. He established the Australian Schools Commission to establish the needs of individual schools needed. This involved taking over responsibility from states of the funding of schools, particularly tertiary education funding. Nearly 70% of school funding went to upgrade needy government schools. His government was responsible for introducing the Disadvantaged Schools Program to focus on overcoming students alienation from schools. Whitlam introduced national health insurance to Australia in 1974 under the name Medibank. The introduction of Medibank meant that within public hospitals health professionals worked for a salary or received time-based payments rather than a fee for service. It resulted in work beginning on the planning and development of a wide range of community health services, especially with regards to womens health. The scheme was accompanied by bulk-billing which meant that the patients could see doctors who bulk-billed without having to pay a consultation fee. (Bulk billing was the system where the person providing the medical service agrees to accept government payment of 85 per cent of the scheduled fee for the service he or she provides rather than taking the fee directly from the patient). In addition to this, private medical services remained available as well. Whitlam had many smaller policies. These included a program to bring sewerage to all urban areas, the creation of Australian passports (that did not refer to Australians as British subjects), the encouragement of decentralisation (this led to the creation of Albury-Wodonga), the creation of the Australian Film Commission, the Australian Council, the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, and a National Film and Television School and the construction of the Australian National Gallery. He also established the Australian Legal Aid Office to provide representation for those who could not afford it. He also established the Trade Practices Commission and the Law Reform Commission Despite this, due to his large amounts of overspending. Whitlam contributed to economic problems. He also strained relations with the United States and Britain, through neglecting these relationships by focusing on Asian nations.

Key Policy - multiculturalismDifferences between multiculturalism and old policy of integrationThe old policy of integration was a policy denoting respect for all cultures and willingness to accept their expression within the broader community. However, the new policy of multiculturalism, which is a policy of accepting and maintaining cultural and ethnic differences in a society, encourage people more freely to express their culture within Australian society.Non-discriminatory immigration policy and citizenshipThe removing of what remained of the White Australia Policy, and also preferences for white people in entry to Australian, was part of this acceptance and maintaining of cultural and ethical differences in Australian. This was also implemented in other areas of immigration policy such as tourist visas, and applications for citizenship. Immigrants from the United Kingdom no longer took precedence over other immigrants in being granted citizenship.Support for migrantsSupport for migrants included radio programs in community languages, the establishment of migrant education centres and also multilingual welfare officers and interpreters were provided for emergency telephone calls.Key Event Whitlams dismissalEvent leading to the DismissalComposition of the Senate Despite having the majority in the House of Representatives, Labor did not have a majority in the Senate, so its Bills might not pass through. Labor had 26 members, while the Liberal/Country coalition had 26 members also, (Democratic Labor had 5 members, and there were 3 independents). In March 1974, the coalition threatened the passage of the supply bills through the Senate. The supply bills are what granted government the right to funding of their policies. The response of this by Whitlam was to call a double dissolution, dissolving both houses and calling a general election. The results of this election, Labor continued to have a majority in the House of Representatives, but not in the Senate. On two occasions, the convention to replace a casual Senate vacancy with someone else of the same party, was broken by NSW Liberal Premier Tom Lewis who replaced retiring senator Lionel Murphy with independent Cleaver Bunton; and also by QLD Country Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen who replaced deceased senator Bert Milliner with an independent hostile to the Labor Party called Albert Field. This meant that Labor had a hostile Senate, meaning likely that their bills couldnt be passed.Role of the Opposition in blocking Supply Labor Party Treasurer Bill Hayden introduced the Budget into Federal Parliament on 19 August 1975, which required the passage of supply bills (bills which secured government funding) in both Houses of Parliament to become operable. On 14 October 1975, Opposition leader Malcolm Fraser decided to try to force the government to hold an early election by having members of his coalition postpone the vote on Supply in the Senate, effectively blocking it. This strategy meant that Whitlams government had only the funds to govern until 30 November 1975. After a series of ministerial scandals in 1975 and in the midst of public concern about the Labor Partys economic credibility, many Australians had lost faith in the Whitlam government. As the political deadlock continued, people began to blame the opposition for the problem and demand that it pass the bills. A number of Opposition members wanted to cross the floor and vote with the government to get these bills passed.Role of Governor General The Prime Minister is the head of government, and the Governor-General is the British monarchs representative in Australia (the British Monarch is the head of state). Many Australians thought that the Governor-Generals role was mainly a ceremonial one representing the British monarch in Australia. Fraser wanted the Governor-General (Sir John Kerr) to intervene the deadlock by sacking the Prime Minister and his government. Kerr discussed the issue with Sir Roden Cutler, the most senior of the governors, and also the chief justice of the High Court, Sir Garfield Barwick.Events on the day of the DismissalAt about 1pm on Tuesday 11 November 1975, Australias Governor-General Sir John Kerr, sacked Gough Whitlam and his federal Labor government. Kerr then appointed Malcolm Fraser, the leader of the Opposition, until new elections decided who would hold office.Positives and Negatives of Whitlams Dismissal The positives of Whitlams Dismissal, is it allowed government to function, by resolving the crisis regarding the passage of supply bills. It also represented a victory for those who believed the government was mismanaging the economy. For a lot of people, it provoked anger and hostility, as people questioned whether a Governor-General (whom no one had voted for) had the power to sack a government that the people had democratically elected.Its significance The dismissal brought to public attention issues relating to the reserve powers and conventions in the application of the Constitution. It also brought discussions on the role of the Governor-General, and also tarnished the role of the Governor-General, as people questioned and debated over Kerrs actions. Despite losing the December 1975 election, Whitlams contribution to Australian society was significant, and this was highlighted by the dismissal.Key Individual Governor-General John KerrJohn Robert Kerr graduated from law from Sydney University in 1938. In 1966, Kerr became a judge of the Commonwealth Industrial Court and in 1972 Chief Justice of New South Wales Supreme Court. In July 1974, on the recommendation of Gough Whitlam, he became Governor-General, the Queens representative in Australia. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and the Governor-General is the British monarchs representative in Australia (the British Monarch is the head of state). Many Australians thought that the Governor-Generals role was mainly a ceremonial one representing the British monarch in Australia. Fraser wanted the Governor-General (Sir John Kerr) to intervene the deadlock by sacking the Prime Minister and his government. These are part of the reserve powers of the Governor-General, as stated by the constitution.