Back in the homefront: censorship
The Department of Information was responsible for handling censorship and propaganda. Certain parts of material was deleted and censored from the public.
Analyse the use of censorship by the australian government during wwii:
During WWII, the Australian government used censors to examine items such as books, films, news reports and letters to determine if any parts should be removed. Material that should be removed included things that were believed to be unsuitable or dangerous for moral, military or political reasons. Censorship was used by the Australian government to hide certain information that they did not want the enemy to get a hold of and to promote enthusiasm for the war by hiding facts that would worry or discourage Australians or cause panic and discontent.
The Department of Information was established by the Australian Government to handle censorship and propaganda. The aim of this department was to ensure that national morale remained high and that no information that could assist the enemy was transmitted. They did this through censoring materials they deemed unfit for the public to know about, as well as promoting through propaganda. The National Security Act 1939 gave the Department of Information the power to regulate everything from newspapers to private letters. They were also allowed to regulate radio, film and all printed materials and monitor telephone calls. Soldier's letters were also censored, often by just cutting out words or phrases out of the text to suppress and hide information.
An example of government censorship happened when Darwin was bombed in February 1941. The newspaper article that was published on 21 February in the Melbourne Argus stated:
''17 killed in raids on Darwin, 6 enemy planes shot down...In 2 air raids on Darwin yesterday it is believed that the total casualties were 17 killed and 24 wounded. Nine of the civilian fatalities were members of the Darwin Post Office staff...no vital damage was done to RAAF installations...''
However, in reality, 243 people died and there were 300-400 casualties as a result of the raid. This newspaper article is evidence of how government used censorship to suppress information about the extent of the damage done in the Japanese air raids in an attempt to prevent panic among the Australian public.
The Department of Information was established by the Australian Government to handle censorship and propaganda. The aim of this department was to ensure that national morale remained high and that no information that could assist the enemy was transmitted. They did this through censoring materials they deemed unfit for the public to know about, as well as promoting through propaganda. The National Security Act 1939 gave the Department of Information the power to regulate everything from newspapers to private letters. They were also allowed to regulate radio, film and all printed materials and monitor telephone calls. Soldier's letters were also censored, often by just cutting out words or phrases out of the text to suppress and hide information.
An example of government censorship happened when Darwin was bombed in February 1941. The newspaper article that was published on 21 February in the Melbourne Argus stated:
''17 killed in raids on Darwin, 6 enemy planes shot down...In 2 air raids on Darwin yesterday it is believed that the total casualties were 17 killed and 24 wounded. Nine of the civilian fatalities were members of the Darwin Post Office staff...no vital damage was done to RAAF installations...''
However, in reality, 243 people died and there were 300-400 casualties as a result of the raid. This newspaper article is evidence of how government used censorship to suppress information about the extent of the damage done in the Japanese air raids in an attempt to prevent panic among the Australian public.
eVALUATE Why it was wrong for the australian government to use censorship:
Censorship was not always welcome in Australia. By 1942, many Australians were highly aware of the government's role in handing out information. Many resented and criticised censorship as it was seen as the government hiding the truth and manipulating the Australian public. Many did not trust the information that was published by their government and members of the Australian press were also becoming frustrated with extreme censorship regulations. Newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph printed articles with blank spaces as protest against censorship and to show the public that some parts of the article had been censored.
In a democratic society such as Australia, freedom of speech was, and still is, one of the most important aspects of it. A democratic society is based upon right of freedom of speech and all citizens should be allowed to say what they believe, express opinions, make true statements and communicate with others. Censorship by the Australian Government during World War Two stripped Australians of this right because the government exercised significant powers over censorship and the release of sensitive information to the public. The government also gave the Department of Information the right to suppress information and direct newspapers towards a government-approved opinion. This was why many people objected censorship during World War Two.
By many of the Australian public, censorship was seen as immoral and unfair as it restricted them from the freedom of speech and stripped people of their rights to know the truth about what was happening in their country. Censorship represented the opposite of a democracy as the government controlled everything that went out the the public. An editorial in a special edition of The Daily Telegraph published in 1944 stated ''(censorship) endangers the freedom of the press-and your freedom to think, write, read and express your opinion as you wish within the limits of security''. This was true because everything that was to be published had to run through the Department of Information and even private letters were censored, preventing people from expressing their own opinions.
The Australian Government was said to have abused censorship. Censorship was adopted to stop the enemy from learning important information which was vital for the protection and defence of Australia, and it was also used to maintain public morale and enthusiasm for the war. However, throughout the war period, Australians began to feel that their government was abusing their powers and using censorship as a way to hid their incompetency. Through censorship, the government suppressed the fact that Australia was not ready for war and that military forces were depleted, ships and planes were obsolete and troops were untrained and the Department of Information had to cover the government's unpreparedness for war. Although censorship started off as something vital to the protection of Australia, it soon became a way for the Australian Government to exercise excessive control over their country and to hide facts that they were ashamed to admit to the public.
Eventually, censorship was abused by the Australian Government. It was unfair to the Australian public who had the right to know what was going on in their country and the right to express themselves and say what they thought. The use of censorship in a democratic country was ironic as it restricted citizens from a lot of their rights and it made the government more like a dictatorship as it controlled information that went out the the public who had no say.
In a democratic society such as Australia, freedom of speech was, and still is, one of the most important aspects of it. A democratic society is based upon right of freedom of speech and all citizens should be allowed to say what they believe, express opinions, make true statements and communicate with others. Censorship by the Australian Government during World War Two stripped Australians of this right because the government exercised significant powers over censorship and the release of sensitive information to the public. The government also gave the Department of Information the right to suppress information and direct newspapers towards a government-approved opinion. This was why many people objected censorship during World War Two.
By many of the Australian public, censorship was seen as immoral and unfair as it restricted them from the freedom of speech and stripped people of their rights to know the truth about what was happening in their country. Censorship represented the opposite of a democracy as the government controlled everything that went out the the public. An editorial in a special edition of The Daily Telegraph published in 1944 stated ''(censorship) endangers the freedom of the press-and your freedom to think, write, read and express your opinion as you wish within the limits of security''. This was true because everything that was to be published had to run through the Department of Information and even private letters were censored, preventing people from expressing their own opinions.
The Australian Government was said to have abused censorship. Censorship was adopted to stop the enemy from learning important information which was vital for the protection and defence of Australia, and it was also used to maintain public morale and enthusiasm for the war. However, throughout the war period, Australians began to feel that their government was abusing their powers and using censorship as a way to hid their incompetency. Through censorship, the government suppressed the fact that Australia was not ready for war and that military forces were depleted, ships and planes were obsolete and troops were untrained and the Department of Information had to cover the government's unpreparedness for war. Although censorship started off as something vital to the protection of Australia, it soon became a way for the Australian Government to exercise excessive control over their country and to hide facts that they were ashamed to admit to the public.
Eventually, censorship was abused by the Australian Government. It was unfair to the Australian public who had the right to know what was going on in their country and the right to express themselves and say what they thought. The use of censorship in a democratic country was ironic as it restricted citizens from a lot of their rights and it made the government more like a dictatorship as it controlled information that went out the the public who had no say.