|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
... Rather, it will focus and comment on the media’s representations of the Tampa crisis – an event (and its outcomes) that largely shaped Australia’s existing policy on asylum seekers. ...
The Tampa – Background
On Sunday 26 August 2001, the Norwegian merchant ship Tampa, was on route from Perth to Singapore when it received a telex message from the Rescue Coordinate Centre of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority located in Canberra. ... After approximately three (3) hours the rescue was complete with 433 asylum seekers joining the crew aboard the Tampa. ... At that time, the Tampa had made contact with Indonesia’s search and rescue agency and had received permission to land the asylum seekers at Merak.
However, as the Tampa made its way to Merak, the Captain was approached by five agitated men who threatened to harm themselves. After consulting with Australian authorities, the Tampa changed its course and headed for Christmas Island. ...
Internationally, the Tampa was the subject a heated diplomatic argument between Australia, Norway and Indonesia. ...
The Daily Telegraph
In comparison to the Age, the Daily Telegraph (“the Telegraph”) engaged itself in greater coverage of the Tampa, both in respect of featured articles and editorial comment.
Prior to the Tampa, three asylum boats had arrived at Christmas Island in the space of six days with almost 1000 people. ...
The Telegraph first reported the Tampa rescue on August 28 2001, marking the beginning of a domestic and international crisis. ... In that edition, a total of four (4) full pages were dedicated to the Tampa, with headlines ranging from “Lost at sea: the
people that no one will take”, “Many names, same people” and “mixed views on what should be done”. ...
The boarding of the Tampa by SAS troops, breakdown in bipartisan support, and the continued diplomatic stand-off between Australia, Norway and Indonesia intensified the reporting of the crisis. ...
Over the remainder of the crisis, editorial features continued to back the Howard Government’s response to the Tampa, with very few exceptions. ... Furthermore, the article continued with “…Mr Beazley is correct in pressing the Government for details of where the Tampa people will end up” (The Daily Telegraph, 31 August 2001, editorial). However, any concern that these comments constituted a shift in the Telegraph’s support was eliminated with the paragraph “ Mr Howard is as proud and protective of that [humanitarian record] as any other Australian and would realise that pushing the Tampa into the high seas is not a resolution to the problem. ...
In a major opinion piece published on 1 September 2001, the Telegraph’s Michael Duffy launched a scathing attack on critics opposed to the Government’s handling of the Tampa, accusing them of “exploiting the Government’s dilemma with emotional
blackmail” (The Daily Telegraph, 1 September 2001, p23). ...
Arguably, the most important piece of editorial comment to be published during the Tampa incident occurred on August 31 2001.
Approximate Word count = 2333
Approximate Pages = 9.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|