Title

The Big Issues Videos

Euthanasia

Should euthanasia be legalised? Do doctors support legalisation? Is the position of the community changing? Can the with-holding of medical treatment be considered the same as 'euthanasia'? What is the potential for abuse? What legal safeguards are needed? Would death have more or less dignity if euthanasia became more generally accepted? Would the acceptance of euthanasia devalue life?

(32 min) - Year of Production 1995

Australian Culture

Gender

Progress in the position of women? The workplace? (equal pay, flexible child care policies......) Sexual harassment? To what extent have attitudes lagged behind changes to the law? How can women's desire for a career be reconciled with their de-facto role in many families as primary care-giver? Is there a 'glass ceiling' in place preventing women from reaching the top? Affirmative action? What changes have occurred in male-female relationships? For the better? For worse? How has feminism changed? Is there a 'backlash' to further change? What 'men's issues have surfaced? Are we paying attention to men?

(36 min) - Year of Production 1995

Wealth & Poverty

How is 'poverty' defined? How widespread is it? Absolute and relative poverty. The 'working poor'. The safety net . Unemployment. Economic dislocation and 'restructuring'? Affordable housing. Families. Australia - a materialist society? The role of the education system. A 'wealth tax' or 'death duties'. What are the major causes of poverty? Health issues. The welfare state - but who creates the wealth to pay for it? The effects of poverty.

(36 min) - Year of Production 1995

The Republic

A Republic - Yes or No? How important is the issue? The pros and cons of changing. Public support and opposition. Is it a distraction? The Republic - disrespectful to the British or acknowledging our multicultural community? Which republican model should we follow? What sort of person should be president? How should this position be selected? What powers would they have? When should Australia become a republic? Ho w likely is change?

(36 min) - Year of Production 1995

Politics

What motivates politicians? The public perception of politicians.'Toeing' the party line - the two party system. 'Independents' and 'independence'? Election obsession - are parliamentary terms too short? Are we 'over-governed'? The influence of big business and media. Should voting be compulsory? Is there an argument for lowering the voting age? The political process and young people.

(28 min) - Year of Production 1995

Environment

The Green movement: current priorities; membership and its power and influence. The response of business. The balance between environmental and employment concerns. The role of government. The Greens in parliament? The media: coverage of environmental issues. Are things getting better? How much do people really care? What can individuals do? The future...

(34 min) - Year of Production 1995

Law

How well does the law and the legal system work? Does the law work only for the very rich and the very poor? Legal reform: how achievable is it? Changes to the law - technology, medical advances (IVF). The selection and review of judges. Media reporting of the law. The US practice of 'contingency fees' for lawyers. The danger of 'too much litigation'. Barristers and solicitors - a 'restrictive trade practice'? Family law. Criminal law. Young people and the law: the system of juvenile punishment. Are we all equal before the law? Quasi-legal and judicial bodies? (Small Claims Tribunal etc.)

(38 min) - Year of Production 1995

Animal Rights

How should animals be treated? The exploitation of animals for human benefit. Are attitudes changing? Is the public more interested in the rights of animals that are 'cute and cuddly'? Factory farming methods. The use of animals for medical research. Testing of pharmaceuticals. Organ donation. Safeguards - legislation and ethics committees, the Department of Agriculture, RSPCA. Are animals equal to humans? Alternatives to testing.

(30 min) - Year of Production 1995

The Media

How influential is the media? How well balanced is the general standard of reporting in Australia? Straight reporting and commentary. Does the media have special obligations - or is it just another business? To what extent does the media reflect, and to what extent does it influence public opinion? Ethics of journalists. Differences between the print media and the electronic media. TV and radio? How media-literate is the general public? Are ratings (circulation figures?) all important? Do we need tougher watchdogs? Censorship. Media and politics. The concentration of media ownership. How free is our media?

(31 min) - Year of Production 1995

Set of 10 Big Issues videos