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ANZAC’s contested legacy

By Henry Reynolds Apr 25, 2022 Australian and New Zealand soldiers marching to Westminster Abbey to commemorate the first Anzac Day, London, 25 April 1916. Image: Wikimedia Commons The evidence suggests that the Federal government sees Anzac as an attractive tool to open a new front in the culture wars and one where the Labor party might well be wedged. The ongoing discussion between State and Federal education ministers about a national curriculum drafted by the Australian Curriculum Assessment Authority is still not finalised. There have been a number of sticking points, none more persistent than what history should be offered … Continue reading ANZAC’s contested legacy

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Yumi and Ben: the militarisation of Australia and the democratisation of hate

Published: March 6, 2012 1.59pm AEDT Author Ben WadhamSenior Lecturer, Flinders University Disclosure statement Ben Wadham does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republish this article Last week the world became a very scary place for television host Yumi Stynes when she quipped that Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, looking buffed, ripped and tattooed in a public swimming pool, was “… going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if … Continue reading Yumi and Ben: the militarisation of Australia and the democratisation of hate

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War narratives, Anzacs and the media 

This website is about a project i’ve thought about for long time: militarism and its consequences. My focus is the Australian media’s relationship with the military, and why there’s not enough scrutiny of defence? What makes defence so untouchable, so immune to criticism? And why is Anzac so sacrosanct? Over the time of this project i will explore these issues and hopefully find some answers to that why question. Please join me. Continue reading War narratives, Anzacs and the media