Minor editorial changes may have subsequently been made. After Martin Bryant drove into Port Arthur and methodically shot dead 35 people the Federal Government declared its intentions to introduce extra gun controls. However, when IEAust president, Tom Connor made a statement supporting the government's intentions, he raised more than just a debate about gun control amongst Australian engineers. The issue of concern was whether the Institution should get involved in political debates. The president's statement was part of a deliberate Institution policy of taking part in public debates so as to raise the profile of engineering in Australia.
Engineering has an image problem.
The Institution's surveys have shown that the public have little idea of what engineers do. They have found that school students tend to think of engineering as being a job concerned with objects and gadgets rather than people. Also the community doesn't really have much idea of what engineers do beyond being involved in construction of machines and buildings. At the same time surveys of members show that they want the Institution to raise community awareness of the engineering profession and improve its status and public profile. The Institution believes that a higher profile can be achieved by engineers becoming involved in political debates.