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The Sixties seeds society
 May Day March 1976, featuring feminist contingent |
The sixties movements influenced public opinion. There was a readier recognition of issues in the media, in mainstream politics and in the community. The Federal Government of Gough Whitlam (1972-1975) brought in gains that were visibly beneficial to all (universal health care, free tertiary education, suburban services, regionalised welfare, and protection of the national estate) so there was a widespread identification with an overall process of change. Much of what was on the radical agenda and originally met with fear and resistance, now became just 'the way of things'. In short, the movements were successful in many respects. Many elements of the changes began before Whitlam (the end to White Australia, withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam) and many continued after (land rights under Malcolm Fraser's prime ministership).
Greeting card by by Matt Mawson, 1978
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In Queensland the Bjelke-Petersen government continued to provide provocations to engagement and re-engagement through the eighties.
The responses to these were vocal and determined. On the surface the Premier remained supreme. In reality the ground was shifting under him.
The demonstrations on indigenous rights, war and the environment through the eighties, and more recently with the reconciliation walks of 2000 and the anti-war rallies and marches of 2003 (Brisbane participation numbered many thousands), showed that society had been seeded with the sixties values. |
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The Movement moves off campus