Formal Media Folio Examples

Dutton a “monster” according to Ali France

Threatening positive politeness

Manipulating

Who: Labor Candidate in Dickson, Ali France, who has a disability, What: suggested the Coalition was planning cuts to essential National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support to pay for AUKUS submarines.

Where: social media post

How:

"What he's saying here is that disabled people should fund the AUKUS submarines by going without essential supports. And some say he's not a monster," she wrote in a social media post above a picture of Dutton.

Peter Dutton backs down from cutting public service jobs

• Negative politeness strategies

• Negotiating social taboos (lay-offs)

• Clarifying and obfuscating

Due to the sheer amount of criticism and objection to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s working from home, Mr Dutton obfuscates the topic of the Coalition’s working from home policy by referring to the policy as the noun “mistake” which acts as double speak to avoid raising the issue whilst acknowledging the error the Coalition has made with removing the working from home.

The euphemistic verb phrase “sensibly reduce” is a neutral, informed way of describing firing 41 000 public service employees through a “hiring freeze and natural attrition”, with the jargon term “attrition” to describe reducing the public service sector through sustained pressure.  This avoids using the verb “firing”which has negative connotations in order to negotiate the social taboo of getting fired, assuring the readers and public service employees that the Coalition has no “forced redundancies”. The plural noun “redundancies” is a neutral synonym for dismissals or sackings which serves to reduce public outrage over the Coalition firing employees outright and meet the negative face needs of those working in the public sector by respecting their autonomy to choose whether to leave their job or not.

Pusillanimous? Turnbull retort a soundbite for the ages

Reinforcing social distance and authority

Who/What: Malcolm Turnball, former PM accused of jeopardising US trade talks

“Has the ABC become so pusillanimous that you’re seriously suggesting that we shouldn’t be free to speak the truth in Australia, for fear of Donald Trump?” 

- Used as a soundbite that grabs attention, rather than informal language “cowardly” gets lost

- Gives strength and authority to Turnbull

- Appears superior

- Separates himself, with term no one understands

Stranded shark: scientist’s views

Establishing expertise

Who/what: When locals in Brisbane rescued a stranded Great White shark from the shallows, Macquarie University wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta was asked for comment.

How: Ms Pirotta states there were “a number of reasons why marine animals like sharks might strand”, before giving reasons such as “illness and injury” alongside sharks chasing “prey into the shallows”, detailing her expertise in the subject of marine animals stranding themselves alongside the use of hyponyms such as “marine animals” and “prey” to describe the hypernym wildlife

Tasmanian tiger return from extinction

Expertise in field of animals and genetic engineering

Jargon

Australian scientists have mapped the DNA of the Tasmanian tiger in a collaboration with the University of Melbourne and a US-backed research project. Lead scientist Professor Andrew Pask uses jargon from gene editing including “sequence”, “genetic engineering” and “stem cells” to describe the process of recreating the Tasmanian tiger, demonstrating Mr Pask’s expertise as the lead scientist.

The committee chair and Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis believes that the thylacine is “part of the identity of the [Tasmanian] people”, building solidarity with the Australian audience to garner widespread support for the project.

Government housing plans

Expertise

Obfuscation

Jargon

The premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan states “There is only one way out of the housing crisis - build our way out.” in regards to the housing crisis, with the metaphor of building higher-density housing to alleviate the pressure of finding a home. . This obfuscates the details and actions the Victorian government is taking to actually build those homes.

Jargon within the article describing the changes to the housing development plan such as “inner catchments” and “walkable catchments” creates an in-group which the broader Australian public may not understand. This obfuscates and makes the plans for the house development unclear and difficult to follow.

Harmony Week 

Challenging social harmony

Australian Human Rights Commission demonstrates how the idea of 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism through designed worksheets and lesson plans.

PM Speech at Close The Gap

Promoting social harmony

Solidarity

PM Anthony Albanese’s speech at Close The Gap uses non-discriminatory language “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people” to refer to the group in:

When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people advance, the entire nation moves forward.

In order to acknowledge and commit to reducing the disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

• Double speak: “stake” in economy, includes what? Investments, a job?

• Rhetorics: “sense of community in which we can be a meaningful part.” appeals to emotions and sense of solidarity

Inclusive Language Guide Australia

Non-discriminatory language
Social harmony

Euphemisms such as “common” instead of “regular” or “correct” which passes a judgement on what is acceptable can be used in formal written documents. 

Non-discriminatory language such as using “pronouns” without the modifying adjective “preferred” to indicate certainty of one’s pronouns.

Standing with migrants and refugees against Australia’s new anti-migrant laws

Building rapport around migrants and refugees

Non-discriminatory language

Clarifying

In late 2024, the Australian Government passed migration laws affecting Australian refugee and migrant communities. Human Rights Law Centre believes the Australian government now has “extraordinary power to discriminate against incoming visitors and migrants on the basis of nationality” whilst announcing that they will “stand in solidarity with our friends and partners in refugee and migrant communities” affected by these laws.

Mr Speaker…

Negotiating social taboos: sexism

Politeness strategies

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton addresses a female speaker Sharon Claydon repeatedly as “Mr Speaker” and “Madame Mr Speaker” jumping to stereotypes about men only in positions of authority.

A comment on the YouTube video summarises perfectly:

“Seems like a mixture of habit, laziness and sexist indifference.”

Periods in sport

Negotiating social taboos: periods

Paralympics swimmer Monique Murphy opens up about her experience with her “debilitating five-year ordeal” which uses the double speak “ordeal” to refer to her missing her menstrual cycle for nearly two years before being diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis. Dr Rach Harris states “We want to normalise these conversations for female athletes and also the people that support them”, indicating the social taboo around menstruations must be broken down to make female health a priority in sport, not just the outcome.

This taboo around menstruation has been witnessed by Sariah Wilson as a young footballer, who has had her coach tell her “Oh, that’s a bit weird.” when raising that she was training on her period. 

Coalition government allows vaping

Clarifying
Obfuscating

The Coalition has confirmed it would allow vapes to be sold at retail stores not just pharmacies, tax the products and regulate the industry.

By allowing vapes to be sold, Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston explains that “strict and sensible policies will protect our kids” and our community “from organised crime”, clarifying the Coalition’s reasoning when first announcing this plan whilst obfuscating the exact plans in place that will prevent crime and harmful effects of vaping on kids.

Financially, the tax received “benefits taxpayers” according to Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, as the Coalition government would “rather have a properly regulated sector” than one where vapes are sold on black markets and through organised crime.

Albanese just stumbled

Manipulating

In The Guardian: “Just one leg went down, but I was sweet,” Anthony Albanese insisted. “I stepped off the stage and I didn’t fall over on the backside. I stumbled. That’s what happened. I laughed about it at the time, I’ve laughed about it since, it’s no big deal,” he said. 

• Precedes to make a joke to lighten the mood.

• Clarifying and manipulating readers to believe Albanese’s perspective, not to draw attention to his fall
  
  

Coalition Leader Peter Dutton called Albanese a “liar who can’t be trusted”. “The prime minister lied about falling off the stage for some reason. I mean it was on camera, it’s quite amazing,” he said.

This helps manipulate Australian voters’ opinions of Mr Albanese and further Mr Dutton’s campaign.

IVF Mix-up

Obfuscation

An article in The Herald Sun, 

An Australian-first IVF mix-up, biological parents may have no legal rights to the child born by a “stranger”. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler vowed to put IVF regulations “on the agenda” if re-elected.

 

-              Ambiguous wording “on the agenda” is an example of obfuscation

Monash IVF said: “We are confident that this is an isolated incident and we will do everything we can to help ensure it never happens again.”
Monash IVF also said it was “human error” which caused the mix-up.

 

-              Double speak “incident” referring to the mix-up, without revelaing details of the mix-up, to ensure privacy

-             Everything we can: like what? what are the policies placed to “ensure” it never happens again

-             Euphemism “human error” instead of horrible mistake rendering biological parents with no legal rights

Welcome to country hecklers

Social Harmony

Positive politeness

Non-discriminatory language

In response to the Welcome to Country hecklers at this year’s Anzac Day Dawn memorial service, prime minister Anthony Albanese condemned the booing and heckling as “a disgrace” and that those responsible should “face the full force of the law.” 

This demonstrates that Mr Albanese does not support the disrespect displayed by the hecklers, defending First Nations people and the importance of a Welcome to Country to promote a harmonious Australia with all Australians.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Welcome to Country was "an important part of official ceremonies and it should be respected".

—>compare with Peter Dutton on Welcome to Country’s “overdone” below

Peter Dutton on Welcome to Country’s “overdone”

Social Harmony

Positive politeness

Non-discriminatory language

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton states that “Australians think it’s overdone” regarding Welcome to Country’s, with the verb “overdone” using the prefix “over-” demonstrating Mr Dutton’s claim about the large amount of Welcome to Country’s performed that he believes “cheapens the significance”.

Jacinta Allan’s on Social Cohesion

Social harmony

Non-discriminatory language

hyponyms/hypernyms of weapons: ban the use of glue, rope, chains, locks and other dangerous attachment devices that protestors use to cause maximum disruption and endanger others.

Those devices…make heroes out of morons.

There should be no place to hide in this state if you’re a racist stirring up hate on the streets.

New Pope Leo

• building rapport with the new pope

• positive politeness (acknowledgement)

Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli comments about the election of Pope Leo XIV.

PM Anthony Albanese states “My government looks forward to continuing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.”

Jargon-pontificate means the office/rule of the new pope

Positively connotated adjective “strong” and the use of the determiner “my” in the subject “My government” demonstrates Mr Albanese and the Australian government’s connection with the church. The verb “looks forward” and the honorific “Holy See” demonstrates a formal acknowledgement of this positve connection with the church, under the new Pope Leo XIV’s office. The jargon “pontificate” solidifies the formality and acknowledges the new leader’s authority as the leader of the Catholic church.

Kellee Green, winner of 2025

• Disrupting social harmony

• Manipulating

Kellee Green, winner of 2025 Queensland Music Awards, delivered an acceptance speech at the awards, during which she accused the Australian government of being complicit in war crimes. 

She describes “weapons” used by Israel to “directly kill innocent Palestinian men, women, and children” as a rhetoric appeal to QMusic attendees’ and listeners’ emotions, with the positively connotated adjective “innocent” to describe Green’s support of Palestine. She ended the speech with the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, with the rhyme between “sea” and “free” delivering a memorable end, stirring up controversy within the Australian community. Lord mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner, pulled out the council’s funding, stating “Music should be a positive force that brings people together, not tear them apart.”, demonstrating that Green’s reference to the Israel-Palestine war was “politically divisive” as QMusic’s chief executive Kris Stewart said. 

Tony Armstrong creates a comedy sketch making fun of their spelling

Social harmony

Indigenous TV presenter Tony Armstrong creates a comedy sketch promoting “Furore”, the name of his spell check app aimed at “ignorant” racists to spell their “venomous words” correctly. He states that since he cannot live in Australia without “targeted online racism”, Armstrong would like them to be “spelled correctly.”

Taboo topic of racism: calling it out to promote social harmony

Anthony Albanese Wins

Building rapport

“Because this card is not Labor red or Liberal blue, it is green and gold," he said.

"It is a declaration of our national values, in our national colours.

"Medicare belongs to all Australians and together we will make it stronger for all Australians."

Mushroom killer

Manipulating

Clarifying

Legal jargon/rhetoric

Accused triple killer Erin Patterson poisoned in-laws, a pastor and his wife at a lunch with foraged death cap mushrooms. Defence lawyer Colin Mandy deems the poisoning as “a tragedy and a terrible accident”, with the euphemistic noun phrase “terrible accident” used to conceal Patterson’s potential intent of killing all four members whilst displaying Patterson’s actions as a slight mishap, reducing the severity of the law case. The adjective “terrible” as well as the connotations behind the noun “tragedy” indicates the upsetting deaths and the remorse Patterson may feel, further appealing to the jury’s emotions surrounding this court case.

Mr Albanese replied “I’ve had a constructive discussion with Ed.” 

Euphemistic adjective “constructive” is positively connotated, suggesting the talk was productive and both parties involved was happy.

Ed Husic, departing Industry Minister accuses Deputy Minister of being a “factional assassin” leading to the loss of his seat as Industry Minister.

Labor undermining Liberals

Juxtaposition

Australian identity/values

Manipulating

Ahead of the election, PM Anthony Albanese promised a campaign “about hope and optimism”, with the positively connotated abstract noun “hope” to describe a forward approach whereas Mr Albanese juxtaposed his approach to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s “all about fear” campaign. The negative connotations of the noun “fear” serves to manipulate Australian voters to believe that Mr Albanese’s approach is the way forward.

Plagiarism in cookbook

Obfuscation

Manipulation

Brooke Bellamy, Brisbane-based baker and author of her cookbook “Bake With Brooki” has been accused by two authors for plagiarism.

“I draw inspiration from classics” without directly addressing US-based Sally McKenny and Nagi Maehashi who made the plagiarism claims.

“While baking has leeway for creativity, much of it is a precise science and it necessarily formulaic”

Open Letter: Pro-Palestine artist removed

Manipulating

Building rapport

Conative function/manipulating to reinstate two artists with controversial artworks that depict terrorist organisation leaders.

The former artists who have attended the Venice Biennale describes it as a “rare and critical platform” for Australian artists and that the removal of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino is “unacceptable”. The use of Standard English and formal letter conventions such as the address “To the CEO and Board of Creative Australia” as well as the signatures ending the letter establishes a formal register, illustrating their firm support of the removed artists.