The idea of Federation of the states had been discussed in Australia from about 1850, with the movement gaining real momentum in 1889 after a speech by veteran New South Wales politician Sir Henry Parkes. By 1893, popular support for Federation began to grow, with the formation of Federation Leagues in most colonies. There was vocal support both for and against federating.

The article below is a reprint from The Bulletin, a weekly Australian magazine published between 1880 and 2008 with a focus on politics and business. It was one of the longest-running magazines in Australia.

A yellowed sheet of paper with the headline "[Co]nventional Lies of the Anti-Federal Party". The "C" and "O" of the word "conventional" is missing as the corner of the page has been torn off. The very small text is set out in four columns

(1899). Conventional lies of the Anti-Federal Party. [S.l. : s.n.] http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135107257

The National Library of Australia owes its existence to Federation, and, from its establishment, the Library set out to document the Federation movement. The National Library of Australia holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of original records relating to the Federation movement. More information about Federation and our collections can be found here: Federation Research Guide

The National Library of Australia owes its existence to Federation, and, from its establishment, the Library set out to document the Federation movement. The National Library of Australia holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of original records relating to the Federation movement. More information about Federation and our collections can be found here: Federation Research Guide

The article is titled “Conventional Lies of the Anti-Federal Party”. The article claims that The Bulletin has identified 17 lies the New South Wales anti-Federal party had told while arguing against federating the colonies. The article goes on to “fact-check” these lies and tell the “truth” about them.

The original article in context can be accessed on Trove here. Along with the original article, The Bulletin of 20 May, 1899, features a comic that makes reference to the Federation debate. Throughout this issue are a range of other articles and commentaries about the Federation debate

A comic panel on yellowed newspaper paper. A large well-dressed man wearing a top hat that says "Capital" is pushing a wheelbarrow marked "Federal Capital" which is full of material marked "Unearned increments". He is pushing it towards a a man dressed in workwear wearing a hat marked "NSW Elector". The title below the comic reads "A One-sided Affair"

(1880) The Bulletin, The Bulletin. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-683703369

This article claims to present the truth about what it considers to be lies spread by the New South Wales Anti-Federal Party. As a media literacy/analysis example, this it can be useful to both see both how the article questions a claim but and also how the article asserts its own ideals into the argument. We can then, in turn, ask critical questions of the article.

Investigate the article by considering the following:

  • Who made this?
  • Why was it made?
  • When was it made? Why else was happening at this time?
  • Where does this information come from?
  • What’s being left out?
  • How could this be interpreted differently by different people?
  • What action/reaction does the creator want from me?
  • What language is being used to convey an ideal, information or perspective?
  • Does the inclusion of facts and figures in the article make the argument more persuasive?
  • The Bulletin claims to fact check the Anti-Federal Party, but where is The Bulletin drawing its facts from?
  • How can we fact check The Bulletins facts?
  • What do we know about the outlet that published this material?

Historical Information

The idea of a Federation of the six Australian colonies was occasionally debated among Australian politicians, officials and others from about 1850 onwards. There was support for the by many officials in Britain, especially after the successful federation of the Canadian colonies in 1867. The first practical step towards federation was the creation of the Federal Council of Australasia in 1885. It met several times between 1886 and 1899, but it had no real powers. New South Wales, while a member of the council, was indifferent.

After support for Federation began to grow following Sir Henry Parkes’s famous Tenterfield Address in 1889, an informal conference in Melbourne was held in 1890, and in March 1891 all the Australian colonies and New Zealand sent delegates to a convention in Sydney. It was chaired by Parkes. A subcommittee comprising Sir Samuel Griffith, Charles Kingston, Edmund Barton and Andrew Inglis Clark drafted a Constitution Bill; however, the colonies were slow to adopt it and there was strong opposition in New South Wales.

The Federal Convention met in Adelaide in March 1897 and was reconvened in Sydney in September 1897 and in Melbourne in January 1898. A draft Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill was presented and, with some amendments, was adopted by the Convention. The Bill was submitted to referenda in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. There were majorities in each colony, but only a very small one in New South Wales, where leading politicians such as George Reid remained unconvinced. In January 1899 the premiers made some amendments, mainly at the request of New South Wales, and new referenda were held in every colony apart from Western Australia. Western Australia held a referendum in 1900 and a majority voted in favour of federating.

The Constitution Bill was given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria in March 1900 and a proclamation was sign by the Queen in September 1900 declaring that on 1 January 1901 the six colonies would be united under the name of Commonwealth of Australia.

The Outlet

  • The Bulletin was one of Australia’s longest-running magazine publications.
  • Throughout its history, The Bulletin’s political and social views changed with different owners and editors.
  • The Bulletin and its views were influential in political and business circles.
  • Many prominent Australian’s wrote for or contributed to The Bulletin throughout its history, including Miles Franklin, Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson.
  • The Bulletin, in its early days, was particularly vocal in its belief of an “Australia for the white man” and was known to print controversial material, particularly relating to race and women.
  • The Bulletin was known for its nationalist views and a strong anti-Imperial/anti-British sense.
  • By the time of the Second World War, The Bulletin was considered an out of touch, conservative publication and readership was low.
  • The Bulletin was restored in the 1960s. In its new form, the magazine took a more inclusive and progressive approach to politics and business.
  • The Bulletin ceased publication in 2008 facing, among other things, a decline in profits and readership in an increasingly digital age.

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Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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