The development and organisation of the Federal Parliamentary press gallery : 1901-1978

Abstract

This thesis sets out to do four things. In Chapter 1 it tries to establish how the media got into the Australian Parliament, and what right they have to be there. The next three chapters trace the history of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery from the establishment of the Federal Parliament in 1901 to the end of 1978. Chapter 2 describes the Gallery and its work during the years from 1901 to 1927, when Melbourne was the federal capital, and the Federal Parliament met in the State Parliamentary Building. Chapter 3 recounts the history of the Gallery from its move to Canberra in 1927 until the end of World War II. Chapter 4 takes up its history in the years following the war. Chapter 5 analyses the formal structure of the Gallery, and describes its main characteristics as an institution. Chapter 6 gives an account of the contemporary Gallery (circa 1977-79) in the context of its history and organisation. There is a brief conclusion in Chapter 7. Show more