Adjudication No. 95 (May 1981) [1981] APC 7

ADJUDICATION No 95 (May 1981)

The Victorian Secretary of the Returned Services League has complained to the Australian Press Council of a cartoon published in The Age newspaper of 11 November 1980, consisting of a caricature of the former Governor-General standing before a cross inscribed "Gough PM".

The cartoon was published alongside an article which recalled several events of which 11 November was the anniversary besides the solemn event of Armistice Day. The article dealt particularly with the hanging of Ned Kelly and the dismissal of the former Prime Minister by the then Governor-General, as well as less well known occurrences.

The complainant maintains that the cartoon was in very poor taste and should be apologised for. The paper on the other hand contends that the cartoon merely pointed up in a mild way the disparate elements which 11 November has come to represent in the Australian memory and was in no way offensive.

The Press Council agrees with the paper's point of view and dismisses the complaint.