Glossary

afrmative action: a government policy requiring employers to encourage disadvantaged groups, particularly women, to gain promotion or employment afuence: an abundance of material goods or wealth air mobile operation: an operation in aircraft transport forces and their equipment to places where they will engage in ground combat aliens: until 1949 there was no Australian citizenship. Legally Australians either native born or naturalised were British subjects. You became a British subject simply by being born in any of the British Colonies or Dominions (Australia and Canada were Dominions). Anyone else was an alien. alliance: an agreement between nations to work together to protect or advance the interests they share anti-semitism: hostility towards Jewish people appeasement: the name given to the policy that Britain and France pursued towards Germany from the mid-1930s until 1939; their intention was to give in to some of Hitlers demands in the hope of avoiding war arbitration: the hearing or determining of a dispute between parties by a person chosen by both sides or by an appointed arbiter who makes a binding decision arbitration system: the system that allows a dispute to be settled by a government-appointed group that has the power to make decisions aristocrat: a person from the privileged upper class in society armistice: an agreement between opposing sides to stop ghting as a prelude to making peace arms race: competition between nations in the building up of military resources artisan: a person skilled in industry, crafts or art the Ashes: an urn said to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail given to the English captain the year after the 1882 Australian victory over England. The idea came from a notice in the Sporting Times, which said that the body of English cricket should be cremated and the ashes sent to Australia. Since then, the Ashes has referred to the trophy awarded to the victor in the EnglandAustralia Test series and to the series itself. assassination: the murder of an important political or religious gure assimilation: policy which forces people to conform to the attitudes, customs and beliefs of the majority of the population asylum: a temporary refuge asylum seekers: people who have gone to another country to escape persecution and are waiting to see whether they will be accepted for admission as a refugee atrocity: something that is wicked or cruel austerity: living with only basic food, clothing and housing autonomy: self-government in local affairs, while remaining within Indonesia and being subject to its laws aviation: the act of ying by mechanical means award wage: a wage that has been xed by an industrial court and is paid to all employees in a particular occupation baby bonus: a payment to new mothers to help them meet their own and their babys needs baby boom: period between 1946 and 1960 when large numbers of babies were born as a result of the end of war bailiff: an ofcer of the court who collects outstanding payments, conscates goods and so on the Balkans: the name for some countries of the Balkan peninsula in south-eastern Europe in the early twentieth century (Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro) basic wage: the minimum wage that an employer can pay to employees for a particular job bawdy: vulgar or rude Bill: a proposed law introduced into Parliament and not yet passed blitzkrieg: means lightning war and refers to the use of aircraft and tanks to remove opposition before the German soldiers advance Bombora: a surng term referring to waves breaking over a submerged rock shelf; it is the name given to a favourite surng site near Manly boycott: refuse to take part as a protest or to persuade authorities to change something; to stop dealing in or using something with the aim of bringing about change or reform breadwinner: the person responsible for earning the income necessary to support a family or household British empire: the area and peoples living within it that Britain wholly or partly controlled at the beginning of the twentieth century budget: estimate of government income and expenditure buffer: a smaller country or region lying between larger countries as protection against possible attack bulk billing: a 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 Cabinet: a group made up of the Prime Minister, Treasurer and the most important ministers; this is where most important decisions are made on matters to bring before Parliament

468

GLOSSARY

capitalism: a system based on private ownership of property and business, and where government control is limited casual Senate vacancy: a Senate vacancy that occurs when a Senator dies or resigns in the period between elections casualties: those killed, wounded or captured during wartime ceasere: an agreement between two opponents to stop the use of weaponry against one another census: ofcial population count and collection of details from all Australians to make up population gures and assist government planning; carried out every ve years in Australia cheap labour: workers who are lowly paid, whose jobs are not protected and who have little access to the usual worker benets Civil Rights Movement: a program of protest and civil disobedience that African Americans and their supporters undertook in the 1950s and 1960s to overcome racist policies that denied them their civil rights closed shop: a business or industry where work is available to union members only coalition government: a government comprising members of two or more political parties. In Australia, the Liberal, National and Country Liberal parties have a permanent arrangement by which they share government at federal level. The Liberal Party is the dominant partner. Cold War: term used to describe the rivalry and hostility between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies in the period from late 1945 until late 1989. It was a cold war because the two sides did not engage in direct military confrontation with one another. collective agreement: a contract made between an employer and a union on behalf of all the employees represented by the union colonies: countries which are part of an empire but lack independence communism: a political system where the government controls the nations wealth in the belief that the state should provide everyone with an equal share, and where private ownership is very limited communists: supporters of communism, a political system in which property is owned by the community or the state as a whole rather than by individuals compensation: the task of making up for some misfortune or wrongdoing concentration camp: guarded camp holding selected people in which torture, degradation and death were common conscientious objector: someone whose conscience prevents him from participating in military service conscription: the compulsory enrolment of men for service in the armed forces conservation: the process of preserving something by either keeping it in its existing state, restoring it or adapting it to a new use conservative: unwilling to accept change

constitution: a set of rules outlining the structure and powers of an organisation or government constitutional crisis: a severe crisis within government about the use of power; it arises from conict between individuals or groups within government about whether one side has violated the Constitution and conventions about how the Constitution should be interpreted containment: prevention of the expansion of communism, especially by means of military pacts whose members act to keep communism within existing borders cosmopolitan: not limited to one part of the world counterfeit: something that is not genuine and is in imitation of something else crimson thread of kinship: a term used to describe Australias strong links of loyalty to Britain Crown land: a term to describe land which the state owns and the government administers; it is land owned by the public and not by private companies or individuals Cuban Missile Crisis: When the United States declared an air and sea blockade to prevent the Soviet Union placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, there was a real threat of conict between the two nuclear-armed superpowers. defection: changing allegiance or deserting from a duty deation: a drop in the prices of goods and services not accompanied by a drop in the cost of production defoliation: the stripping of foliage on trees; used during the Vietnam War to deprive the Vietcong guerillas of cover that they could use for surprise attacks delegates: people who attend a meeting or conference as representatives of a group or an area, such as a state delinquency: bad behaviour characterised by lack of responsibility and neglect of duty democratic architecture: the view put forward by Louis H. Sullivan (18561924) that architecture could express the ideas associated with democracy desegregation: the process of removing segregation from public places and organisations destitute: poor and without the means of looking after oneself diplomacy: negotiation and cooperation between nations diplomatic relations: the negotiations and agreements between ofcials and governments of different nations; the status of having an ofcial relationship with another country discrimination: making judgements about people based on differences such as race or sex; treating an individual or a group differently on the basis of age, race, religion, sex or some other factor domestic policy: the plans and programs a government makes to tackle issues within the country dominions: former colonies of Great Britain that had achieved a degree of control over their own affairs while still maintaining their loyalty to Britain

GLOSSARY

469

double burden: a term used to describe societys expectation that women continue to perform their unpaid household work while also participating in the paid workforce double dissolution: when a dispute between the House of Representatives and the Senate cannot be resolved, the Governor-General can dissolve parliament and call for new elections for the two houses draft dodger: someone who tries to avoid being conscripted into the armed forces Dreamtime: the time of the creation of the earth, living things and the beginning of knowledge, from which emerged the laws, values and symbols important to Aboriginal society. duo: word indicating two embassy: the headquarters of those who represent their nation within a foreign country escalate: to enlarge or intensify a war eviction: to remove a person from their home because of debt family (or basic) wage: the concept introduced by Justice Higgins in 1907 that set a basic wage for a male breadwinner at an amount that would allow an unskilled worker enough money to support a wife and three children. The Commonwealth Arbitration Court set female wage rates at 54 per cent of this amount on the assumption that the male was the breadwinner. fascism: a political ideology that individuals should serve the state, which should be governed by a strong leader who embodies the national will federation: a political system in which separate states maintain their own government, but give up some of their powers to a central government Federation: the uniting of the six colonies of Australia under a central government on 1 January 1901 feminist: someone who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women, especially in activities beyond their traditional role as home-makers bro: bro-cement sheeting asbestos and cement that has been compressed into a board to be used as a building panel apper: a morally and socially liberated 1920s woman ats: a residence composed of a number of rooms, usually on one oor of a building of at least two storeys foreign policy: the plans, actions and programs that a nation pursues in its relations with other nations and which reect the governments values and goals forward defence: the policy of ghting to prevent the expansion of communism into ones country by containing its expansion elsewhere free trade: a belief that trade should be free from tariffs and protection garden city: a term coined by social reformer Ebenezer Howard (18501928) for cities of limited size that would combine the benets of both city and country life Geneva Convention: an international agreement on the conduct of war, especially on the role of the Red Cross and the treatment of prisoners of war

genocide: the deliberate mass killing of a particular people globalisation: the processes that make it easier for nance, trade and investment to operate on an international level; its critics claim that it results in a nations economy and people being controlled by international corporations go-slow: situation in which workers slow down their work rate in order to cause problems for their employers Governor-General: the Queens representative in Australia gramophone: an early music record player green ban: the refusal of building workers to demolish property or undertake construction work in areas they judged to be of historical, environmental, social or cultural signicance guerillas: small bands of soldiers who harass the enemy by surprise attacks guinea: the equivalent of one pound and one shilling Guomindang: the political party that governed China from 1928 to 1949 heritage: all things that we have inherited from previous generations and which we value hire purchase: a system of paying for goods in regular instalments, while having full use of the goods after the rst payment House of Representatives: the Lower House in federal Parliament human rights: the rights to which people are entitled as human beings humanitarian: concerning the interests and needs of human beings immigration: the movement of people from their own country into another country for the purpose of permanent settlement imports: items brought into a country from abroad inclusive language: language that allows for the participation of women as well as men indigenous: the term used to describe the rst peoples of a particular country. Since the 1980s the Commonwealth Government has dened an indigenous person in Australia as a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted by the community with which he or she is associated. industrial relations: relations between employers, employees and the government, including those related to employers and the role of trade unions inltrate: to enter or penetrate gradually inationary: creating a substantial rise in the price of goods and services innovation: something new, different or original integration: Commonwealth Government policy denoting respect for all cultures and willingness to accept their expression within the broader community internment: the practice of keeping people under guard in a specic area, particularly during wartime

470

GLOSSARY

kamikaze: means divine wind; refers to Japanese suicide pilots legend: a story or belief which has special signicance within a particular group or culture legislation: laws written and approved by parliament Light Horse: troops on horseback; they fought on the ground and used horses to get to and from the battleeld lock-out: situation in which employees are locked out of the workplace until they agree to employers terms Maa: a secret US organisation that engages in a wide range of criminal activities, including those related to gambling Makarrata: a treaty which would recognise Indigenous people as the original owners of Australia and their unique place within Australian society malingerer: someone who pretends illness or disability, especially in order to avoid duty or work mandate: an authorisation to carry out an action; an area of responsibility mandatory detention: the policy, introduced by the Labor government in 1992, of imprisoning asylum seekers who dont have a valid visa until it is decided whether or not to allow them entry into Australia manifesto: a public declaration issued by someone taking an important action mechanics institute: a hall in a country town or suburb with facilities for working people to study and attend educational lectures Medicare levy: a levy, usually amounting to1.5 per cent of a persons taxable income, which Australian taxpayers pay to support the Medicare health system militant: aggressive or combative militias: a military force that exists outside the regular army; its members are civilians who take action in emergencies minister: a member of the party in government who has responsibility for a certain area, such as defence, nance or education (known as a portfolio) mission: a place set up by a church organisation for housing and the religious conversion of local Aboriginal people multiculturalism: Australian Government policy from the mid 1970s onwards whereby migrants can retain their heritage while expressing commitment to the values of the broader Australian community; accepting and maintaining cultural and ethnic differences within a society multilateral treaty system: international treaties, e.g. the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), initiated and facilitated by the UN, to bind nation states to commonly agreed principles on issues of world importance munitions: weaponry, ammunition and other materials used in ghting war napalm: a sticky substance used in ame throwers and re bombs nationalism: a belief that your own country has special qualities that should be valued

native title: legal recognition of the existence of Indigenous peoples law and land ownership before 1788; the term used in the High Court decision of June 1992 which recognised Aboriginal ownership of land before European occupation New Guard: an extreme right-wing organisation which ercely opposed the Labor Party and feared the spread of communism no-fault divorce: the basic principle of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth); it helped remove the social stigma previously associated with divorce nuclear family: the basic family unit comprising parents and children OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development pacist: a person who opposes in principle all war or violence parliamentary democracy: a political system with a government that rules on behalf of the people and which is formed from an elected parliament and led by the Prime Minister pastoralist: landholder of large sheep or cattle property paternalism: the policy or habit of dealing with a country or people by taking on the decision-making role, attitudes and practices of a father dealing with his children pawn: to give something as security in return for money that is borrowed picket line: a group of people guarding a place to prevent work or entry by others political asylum: to provide refuge or a secure home for a person regarded as being at risk from the government of their own country portfolio: the area of responsibility of a minister in Parliament practical reconciliation: Prime Minister Howards policy of viewing the reconciliation process in terms of the outcomes it achieved in health, education, employment and living standards. The policy also means that people neither work to understand past injustices nor accept responsibility for past wrongs. prefabricated: manufactured in standardised parts ready for construction or assembly primary industry: any industry, such as farming, forestry and mining, which is involved in the producing or extracting of natural resources primary production: industries involved in the growing, producing and extracting of natural resources propaganda: information, ideas or argument used to further a cause or damage an opponents cause protection: a policy aimed at managing Aboriginal people by separating them from the larger community and imposing strict controls on their lives psychedelic: a mind-altering experience created by loud music, bright lights, colours and patterns, and sometimes involving use of drugs such as LSD quadroon: a racial term used to classify Aboriginal people of mixed ancestry; a quadroon would be one quarter Aboriginal

GLOSSARY

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ratify: to conrm an agreement made by someone representing the government ration: a xed allowance of food, clothing etc. recession: a decline in economic activity reconciliation: a Commonwealth Government policy aimed at improving relationships between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians. Its key features were a recognition of past injustices and an understanding of how relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians have been shaped by past events, policies and attitudes. referendum: in Australia today, this is a vote in which people indicate their support for or opposition to a proposed change to the Australian Constitution. Before Federation, a referendum was the procedure of referring a proposal to the electors to be accepted (Yes) or rejected (No) (plural: referenda) refugees: people who have left their countries for fear of persecution on the basis of their religion, political beliefs, social position, race or nationality reparations: money which has to be paid as compensation for doing something wrong repatriation: assistance given to an ex-serviceman returning to civilian life, in the form of pensions, medical care and allowances republic: a democracy in which the head of state is appointed or elected reserve labour force: a term used to describe how women have been used as a spare labour force in times of need, leaving their traditional roles in the home and taking up jobs in the paid workforce reserve powers: powers which the Constitution gives the Governor-General to act without government approval using the discretionary powers of the Crown such as withholding royal assent on legislation or dismissing a Prime Minister royal commission: a group of people, usually judges, appointed by the government to investigate some area of public concern Royal Commission: an investigation, usually led by a judge, into an issue of public importance sacred sites: sites that are important to the spiritual or cultural beliefs of an Indigenous group sanctions: penalties or bans imposed on a country to try make it change its behaviour or policy satirised: made fun of or ridiculed secondary boycotts: actions taken by one party to a dispute that harms a third party; also refers to one union going on strike in order to support another union segregate: to set apart or isolate from the main group according to race, religion and so on self-determination: the right of a group to choose and control its own destiny and development Senate: the Upper House in Australias federal Parliament sex-role stereotyping: the dening of a person according to the supposed characteristics of their sex; an oversimplied concept, such as Men like sport or Women like shopping

shares: the parts into which the stock of a company is divided social justice: fairness and improvement in social conditions soldier settlers: soldiers who had returned from World War I and were given low-interest loans to purchase land, stock and equipment for farming stalemate: a situation in war where there is no movement on either side status: a persons rank or social position stevedoring: the process of loading and unloading ships stock market: a market where stocks and shares are bought and sold stockpiling: the holding in reserve of munitions or weapons for possible future use Stolen Generations: term used to describe the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who, while children, Australian state and federal governments forcibly removed from their families. The term usually refers to those taken during the period from about 1910 to around 1970. subversive: a person who attempts to cause the downfall of a government or particular way of life Supply: the money for which Parliament votes to fund the expenses of the government in power sustainable development: development that maintains high economic growth while making careful use of environmental resources in the interests of both current and future generations synchrotron: a large machine that makes electrons move nearly as fast as the speed of light. The electrons then create a very bright beam of x-rays that can produce high-resolution imaging of even very small samples. tariffs: taxes paid on goods coming into a state, which make the total cost of the goods higher than the same goods produced inside the state; the aim is to protect the local industry from competition taxidermist: someone who uses their knowledge of anatomy and dissection to either reproduce or use actual parts of a dead animal for presentation in lifelike form in a permanent display tenure: the possession of something, in this case, land terra nullius: Latin term meaning the land of no-one; according to eighteenth-century law, a land which had no owner could be lawfully taken over by the people of another land trade unions: workers organisations set up to represent and help members with work problems and improve wages and working conditions trauma: a frightening experience which leaves a lasting emotional effect treaty: a written document explaining the terms of agreement between two groups with regard to friendship, military alliance, trade or some other factors Treaty of Versailles: the peace treaty that ended World War I and forced Germany to accept the blame for starting the war

472

GLOSSARY

trench foot: a problem caused by long-term exposure to conditions where feet could not be kept dry; if left untreated, it would result in amputation two-up: a gambling game in which punters predict the results after two coins are thrown into the air heads, tails or odds (meaning one of each) unconstitutional: in violation of the laws of a nation or state vaporised: turned into gas leaving no trace of the person Victoria Cross: named after Queen Victoria, this was the highest military decoration awarded to soldiers within the British empire; Australia created its own VC in 1991 vocation: an activity or career to which someone has a special calling

voluntary administration: a situation where, when a business is in danger of not being able to pay its debts, the owners put the business in the hands of an administrator whose task is to improve the companys nancial situation and reach agreement with those to whom it owes money ward of the state: someone whose legal guardian is the state, the court or a public welfare agency Womens Liberation Movement: the movement aimed at achieving recognition of womens rights, which began in the United States in the late 1960s workers compensation: a scheme that provides payments for workers who suffer a work-related accident or injury yellow peril: a term used in the nineteenth and early twentieth century to describe Asia

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473