What are we to make of this little apology on page two of The Australian today, in which Caroline Overington expresses sincere regrets for her “encounter” with Labor candidate for Wentworth, George Newhouse, on polling day, writes Margaret Simons.
Newhouse
Andrew Robb – how quickly you forget
Days out from the 1996 election, Treasurer Ralph Willis released a letter suggesting a Howard government would cut grants to the states. It was a forgery. Eleven years later, though, Liberal minister Andrew Robb has a dodgy document of his own, writes Christian Kerr.
Jokes, journalistic gooses and Rupert Murdoch
Yesterday, Oz journalist Caroline Overington dismissed her emails about Danielle Ecuyer’s preferences as simply involving a “couple of girls joking.” The “just-a-gag” defence employed by journalists doesn’t, it would seem, get much of a hearing when it comes to Labor politicians, writes Jeff Sparrow.
Ickiness and ethics in the Overington affair
The editor of The Australian, Chris Mitchell, has acknowledged that Caroline Overington was wrong to send the latest exchange of e-mails that have come to light. But will Mitchell talk to her, or discipline her? No he won’t, writes Margaret Simons.
