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Media and Leadership Coups: From Menzies to Abbott

Cortez Reed

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Published in Disposable Leaders: Media And Leadership Coups From Menzies To Abbott

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The media has played a significant role in the overthrow of three Australian prime ministers: Robert Menzies in 1966, Malcolm Fraser in 1983, and Tony Abbott in 2015. In all three cases, the media helped to create a climate of public opinion that was hostile to the prime minister, and this ultimately led to their downfall.

Disposable Leaders: Media and Leadership Coups from Menzies to Abbott

4.5 out of 5

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Menzies was the longest-serving prime minister in Australian history, and he was widely respected for his leadership during World War II. However, in the early 1960s, his government began to lose popularity due to a number of factors, including the Vietnam War and the of compulsory military service. The media played a major role in this decline in popularity, with newspapers and television news programs heavily criticizing Menzies' policies.

In 1966, a group of Liberal Party backbenchers decided to challenge Menzies for the leadership of the party. The media was quick to back the challengers, and this helped to create a sense of momentum behind their campaign. Menzies was eventually forced to resign, and he was replaced by Harold Holt.

Fraser became prime minister in 1975 after the death of Gough Whitlam. He was a popular figure at first, but his popularity soon began to decline due to his economic policies. The media played a major role in this decline in popularity, with newspapers and television news programs heavily criticizing Fraser's policies.

In 1983, a group of Liberal Party backbenchers decided to challenge Fraser for the leadership of the party. The media was quick to back the challengers, and this helped to create a sense of momentum behind their campaign. Fraser was eventually forced to resign, and he was replaced by Bob Hawke.

Abbott became prime minister in 2013 after the Liberal Party defeated the Labor Party in the federal election. He was a popular figure at first, but his popularity soon began to decline due to his economic policies and his social conservatism. The media played a major role in this decline in popularity, with newspapers and television news programs heavily criticizing Abbott's policies.

In 2015, a group of Liberal Party backbenchers decided to challenge Abbott for the leadership of the party. The media was quick to back the challengers, and this helped to create a sense of momentum behind their campaign. Abbott was eventually forced to resign, and he was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull.

The role of the media in the overthrow of these three prime ministers is a complex one. The media did not simply report on events; it also played a role in shaping public opinion. By creating a climate of public opinion that was hostile to the prime minister, the media helped to make their downfall inevitable.

The power of the media to shape public opinion is a dangerous one. It is important to be aware of this power, and to be critical of the information that the media presents. We must not allow the media to be used as a tool to undermine our democracy.

Disposable Leaders: Media and Leadership Coups from Menzies to Abbott

4.5 out of 5