***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Wed, 01 Dec 1999 18:09:22 +1100
   [From]: "Dianne d'Alpoim Guedes" <guedes@thehub.com.au>
     [To]: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Re: sensation - the last laugh

 

Another Australian speaks:
Regarding the possibilities in Australia for open discussion :
 I wonder if Kim Machan has ever lived outside Australia for an extended
period of time.....particularly in a repressive regime where censorship is
pervasive ?
I have, and Australia is by no means repressive.
The media is influential here but so is it in other democracies. In the last
few months the  media  here has helped expose fraudulent artists who are
faking Aboriginal work, corrupt radio broadcasters, and shonky ticket
allocations for the Olympics 2000.

As for the media being "very pedestrian and conservative" that sounds as if
there is only one voice for the Australian people....which is simply not
true. There are both print and broadcast media that present very divergent
points of view, as befits a multi-cultural society.
Yes we unfortunately have a rather conservative govt at present
(conservative by Australian standards), but they have not affected people's
freedom of expression

I will agree with my fellow Australian regarding our embarrasment of a
Prime Minister.  His comments on a "relaxed and comfortable" vision for the
next millenium can only indicate a lack of understanding of the really
shocking visions that await people in other parts of the world. However, I
deplore the fact that most Aboriginal and many Asian people cannot afford
access to the net and so it really is not a vehicle open to all artists in
this country. Both language and financial barriers persist....as they do
elsewhere.
Dianne.