Comments on: Stench of failure in Canberra, and it’s not just Labor

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:20:15 +0000

On Friday night driving home they had representatives (I assume editors) from both the Herald Sun & the Age on the ABC radio, many callers rang in accusing the Sun of bias and the host queried the Suns blurring of opinion and news, eg the headline after Gillard announced the election being “227 day farce” etc, the Herald Sun editor rejected theses criticisms and said “There isn’t a blurring of news and opinion, we have news with attitude and that is what our readers expect”. The Age editor simply said “News with attitude, that’s a new one on me” and the host just gave up and moved on with a sigh.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:46:42 +0000

The MSM is the pits, the only balance they bring is between keeping their advertisers happy and feeding the minimum amount of right-wing biased gossip mixed with scandal.

By: Yes Minister

Yes Minister — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:07:29 +0000

Its highly likely that reporters, like politicians, undergo ‘pre-selection’ in order that only those who toe the official line get into positions where they could potentially damage ‘the system’. There is no doubt that mainstream media entities have an incestuous relationship with big business & politics. As such, it simply wouldn’t do to have a loose cannon firing broadsides willy-nilly. Any attempt to promote a point of view contrary to that of the powers that be will be promptly squashed … so much for ‘free speech’.

By: klewso

klewso — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 23:54:37 +0000

Deirdre - re this media degradation, a “degree in journalism”, they reckon validates their m.o?
Who teaches these op-eds that their opinions and prejudiced views matter as much, or more than, the story they’re supposed to be “reporting”?

By: Yes Minister

Yes Minister — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:16:01 +0000

Changing political horses can never and will never solve the problem of bad governments, because the root of the problem is far more basic than a choice between ALP / LNP/ Greens / whatever. The Westminster political system is a dismal failure due to the proven insanity of paying a kings ransom to attract the most inept, avaricious, self-serving scum in the country and allowing them to divest themselves of any semblance of accountability. Human nature being what it is, positions of power inevitably attract the corruptible and the complete lack of checks & balances coupled with the legendary apathy of the Australian sheeple only serve to encourage the untold arrogance we’ve witnessed over the past twenty years. Furthermore the media generally has degenerated into a farcical rubber-stamp for big business and other powerful interests. Comments critical of ‘significant’ people or which don’t fit a very restricted set of pre-determined criteria never get to see the light of day. Until / unless we realize that only a total re-think of the system can hope to restore ‘good’ government, we are destined to lurch from one mob of dumbclucks to another.

By: Hamis Hill

Hamis Hill — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:03:38 +0000

And finally, a recognition that the opposition is a failure.
Where will it all end!

By: Deirdre Ryan

Deirdre Ryan — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:18:38 +0000

Your all a bit slow! Politics have gone steadily downhill since Gough Whitlam - both sides! Newspapers have also lost the plot in that period. Instead of Journalists reporting facts and asking WHY of pollies instead of joining them in their “one television training school for all” senseless remarks/reporting of same. Yes it scares me Abbott with immature Hockey could be in the drivers seat, but the public also needs to be far more involved with keeping the pollies on their toes - be it in local lib/labor parties etc., The internet is also a very valid forum & emails to these so-called Leaders. Stop having a Pommie whinge when its all too late and that’s the reason that the situation has got to where its at! its been coming on for years+++ be more active - march on the streets if needs be as they do in Japan & a few days later there is always a response and usually common-sense response in Japan. The Politicians have treated the Australian public with contempt for years now and largely the Media have assisted this. That is one reason that I’ve not bought papers for many years in Oz - got heartily sick of The Australian journo’s OPINIONs. Live o/s now as cannot take the dysfunctionality and lowered standards of Oz - also Oz feels more like downtown China, Sudan, Vietnam, India, Lebanon, Fiji, Philippines’ you name it! & I can’t be bothered dealing with the lack of respect & caring for Australia by many of these races whom so many fought for and gave up much that many take blatantly, & USA influence is evident in so many negative ways. Oz was a great country - on the cusp in early 1970;s and should be riding high in every respect now. Quality Leaders please front up to our Parliaments!! You are needed.

By: David McRae

David McRae — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 02:16:11 +0000

What mikeb said.

I subscribe to Crikey.

I used to have a $30pw habit with newspapers too. That decreased until there was just the AFR left. Then 18 months ago, it went to rot getting rid of the policy analysis stuff from pages 6-20ish. Front and back was always rot, but policy made it OK to buy - now they don’t even pretend to know what the difference between a tax and trading permits are, all crank.

Who would buy the papers anymore - certainly not to be informed.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:33:26 +0000

FFS moderator?

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:32:45 +0000

Gillard’s courage is phenomenal. She deserves better than the job lot of pollies she’s stuck with.

By: CliffG

CliffG — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:05:47 +0000

carmwoman@gmail.com
“This is a disgraceful embarasement of a ruleing body who do not have the intelligence to rule anyone.
We need an election now.”

“Ah the We-Never-Really-Lost” syndrome surfaces again in another form!
The PM defends her position so well that Rudd now withdraws from challenges in the future and we need an election? Sure. Tony says so!
In spite of close to 500 bills passing successfully through one of the most obstructionist parliaments in history! That’s effective government.
Did the Libs have an election when they were juggling leaders after the death of Holt and the fracas with Billy McMahon, or Howard, Downer and Peacock?
Will the new Victorian Premier who threw out Baillieu do the same. Will the CLP who dumped their leader in the NT?
We don’t need an election. Abbott knows it. He just has nothing else to try on now that “Ditch the Bitch” and “Juliar” have burnt out.
We have a democratically valid, elected government with some serious internal party matters to deal with, but which is governing effectively. Not unlike Howard perpetually fighting off Tony’s old mate Peter Costello.

By: CliffG

CliffG — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:13:15 +0000

I’m with Paddy! Maybe Labor’s slogan should be, “Give Tony a bit of his own medicine! Go for a tied parliament!” Or similar but a lot more catchy.

By: CliffG

CliffG — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:10:30 +0000

Right on the bullseye (not to mention MSM bullshit!)
And the ABC is in there for criticism, too.

By: robo

robo — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:07:02 +0000

SB, your memory’s as bad as your spelling. What is a Reasonal Voter?
And the worst day in Australia political history was by any measure the 11-11-1975.

By: Achmed

Achmed — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:24:35 +0000

In recent times we have seen the LNP/CLP at their Best (sic)
Victoria 2 x Premiers including the elected Premier moved on. 3 x Chief Ministers sacked. LNP MP leaving the party to become indenpenent. MP’s under investigation
Queensland - 3 x Ministers sacked. MP’s under investigation 3 x MP’s defect to Katters Party
WA - MP’s and Ministers under investigation. Bra snapping chair sniffer as Treasurer

By: Mark from Melbourne

Mark from Melbourne — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:24:29 +0000

How on earth do you think an election is going to fix everything? The Lib/Nats are a band of mediocrities and/or crackerbarrels, we will have much the same public service, the same media and the same rentseekers. How does that fix anything?

By: Suzanne Blake

Suzanne Blake — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:21:51 +0000

Bernard, I think the Reasonal Voter would disagree. Today was the worst day in Australia political history. In fact this week was as well with the Media laws fiasco.

By: carmwoman@gmail.com

carmwoman@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:11:41 +0000

This is a disgraceful embarasement of a ruleing body who do not have the intelligence to rule anyone.

We need an election now.

By: David Rhodes

David Rhodes — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:46:11 +0000

With dramatically declining circulation, the press media have held onto the Gillard v Rudd headline for 2 years, fanning, or allowing others to fan the fire - in order to try and preserve what little place they have in the new digital world. It’s a shame what’s happening to the print media - but the asteroid has landed… You either adapt or die. Just stop holding Australia’s politicltions and therefore Australia - at ransom. I have watched on in disgrace as the Australian print and broadcast media turns themselves into a giant version of ACA. Thank you for your report. Was refreshing to read.

By: Steve777

Steve777 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:13:32 +0000

Great article. I endorse mikeb’s (no 3) sentiments.

After buying a newspaper nearly every day of my adult life I gave them up a few years ago. They are obsessed with trivia and especially in the case of News Limited mainly pushing their own commercial and political agenda. They won’t be missed.

By: Paddy Forsayeth

Paddy Forsayeth — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:26:23 +0000

I still think that the slimebag Abbott will find himself with a minority Gov. like Gillard.

By: Venise Alstergren

Venise Alstergren — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:14:38 +0000

No one should be surprised at the unwillingness of other people to assume the mantle of leader of the Labor Party-Kevin Rudd was positively rushing backwards to avoid seizing the poisoned chalice.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:13:54 +0000

Bullocks, Bernard Keane. Your reporting has been as bad as the rest of them; instead of playing the ball you have played the (wo)man. When the misogyny was identified, you quickly ran to the otehr side… for a minute. But now its gone back where we were. Instead of reporting and analysing news the media tried to make it. So why no in depth analysis of Brough and Pynes’ role in the Ashby/Slipper affair? WHo paid that drunken fool to accuse the PM of god knows what? What about Abbott’s horribly unethical role in destroying indeed JAILING the hapless silly Hanson? Arthur Sindonis’s connection to Obeid? Why no news regarding Ramjan/Kroger?
No much better to speculate.

By: Achmed

Achmed — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:02:21 +0000

Abbott is ranting that the minor govt “experiment” has failed.

So I would now expect that if Abbott finds himself in the position of forming a minority govt that he will ensure that another election is immediately held - yeah right!!

By: CML

CML — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:19:45 +0000

For the first time in 50 years+, I will be voting informal. I have never hat+ed anyone in my life, but that has just changed. That woman will destroy the party I have been associated with for most of my life, and I will NEVER forgive her for what she, and the gutless wonders she leads, have done today.
She has just handed the election to the rAbbott on a plate!!