%0 Journal Article %A Given, Jock %D 2017 %T Wireless politics: marconi and the Parliament at Point Lonsdale, 12 July 1906 %U https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Wireless_politics_marconi_and_the_Parliament_at_Point_Lonsdale_12_July_1906/4956152 %R 10.4225/03/5906c528c67dd %2 https://bridges.monash.edu/ndownloader/files/8333234 %K Australia %K Government policy %K Communications policy %K Telecommunications history %K journal article %K 10.2104/tja10060 %K 1835-4270 %K 1959.1/788262 %K monash:110692 %X On 12 July 1906, representatives of Marconis Wireless Telegraph Company staged a demonstration of the new medium of wireless telegraphy across Bass Strait, between Point Lonsdale in Victoria and Devonport in Tasmania. A special train was organised from Melbourne for the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, most of the cabinet and members of the young Australian Parliament, who deferred debate that day on important industrial legislation. The event and its aftermath provided a striking illustration of the relationship between politics and communications. Political enthusiasm for the idea of new communications technology ran well ahead of the capacity to make lasting decisions about how it should be deployed. Copyright 2010 Jock Given. No part of this article may be reproduced by any means without the written consent of the publisher. %I Monash University