Stop Murdoch

King Rupert farts out another decree, and Stop Murdoch says "Farewell"!

2010-10-22T02:18:00.000-07:00

'The Guardian' report that the emporer has no clothes [21/10/10]:

... Our new world is one of modern mass communication, phone and text, without limit. Democracy will be from the bottom up, not from the top down. Even so, a free society requires an independent press: turbulent …enquiring…bustling…and free.
That's why our journalism is hard-driving and questioning of authority. And so are our journalists. Often, I have cause to celebrate editorial endeavour. Occasionally, I have had cause for regret.
Let me be clear: We will vigorously pursue the truth – and we will not tolerate wrongdoing. ...

We have nothing more to say about the emporer and his wideranging posse of arselickers, apologists, liars, warmongers, free marketeers, racists, anti-intellectuals, religious bigots and sexists - from his readers and advertisers, to his fascist mates in the establishment and our political leaders.

Just remember it's your taxes that pay for the Government who refuse to curtail his monopoly media control, along with the advertising dollars which keeps his crummy propaganda sheets afloat.

We wish you and yours a nice future.

It's only because of people like Drew Hutton and the refugee advocates who handed out flyers to the ugly rednecks at Adelaide Hills last night that this might be possible!

Take care of yourselves.

Stephen Mayne Tries To Stop Murdoch

2010-10-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

News Corporation held its annual shareholders meeting in New York on Friday. The 'New York Times' had an interesting piece about it.

On the subject of their increasingly obvious, embarrassing and unhinged bias, Murdoch and the board were unapologetic:

The shareholder also asked Mr. Murdoch and the chairman of the audit committee, Sir. Roderick I. Eddington, if the company “weighed the reputational risk, given that this is a media company and there are very clear concerns about the objectivity of news reporting and the perception that such sizable contributions” would compromise the company’s news gathering activities.

Mr. Eddington said, “donations of this type are also evaluated and reviewed by our general counsel, to make sure they’re appropriate in that context as well.”

Stephen Mayne was there and has posted about his contribution to the shareholder question and answer session. It's worth checking out the whole thing, especially the parts about the phone hacking scandal and Murdoch's attempts to pretend he's never heard of Jon Stewart, Bruce Guthrie, Bruce Dover or any of their writings.

But our favourite laugh was right at the end when Mayne congratulates Murdoch for firing Glenn Milne:

Mayne: ... Well done for firing Glenn Milne, that, ah, journalist of yours who drunkenly pushed me off the stage at the WalkleyAwards in 2006 live on national television. It was a disgrace. You defended him at that last gathering we had. But you fired him since, and I'd like to say congratulations for finally doing that, and thankyou for your time today.

Murdoch: Thankyou, I'm not responsible for firing him, but that's fine. I didn't know anything about it.

Do Mayne and Murdoch know something we don't? Sure Milne has been spending the last few months as a kind of Murdoch Fifth Column spouting his rubbish at their ABC, but is there something we missed?

Do you know if Milne has really been 'fired'?

The Gold Coast Sun Has A Problem With "The Truth"!

2010-10-13T04:56:00.000-07:00

"... In publishing this story, the Sun does so without an accompanying image on our front page, mainly because of the emotion fuelling debate on genuine - and not-so-genuine - asylum seekers in detention. ..."

What is the sound of coffee or beer or some other liquid involuntarily coming out of your mouth when you see something astonishing?

Prrphhsssttt...! (cough, gag, cough splutter...)?

So, Murdoch, "Mr Truth", fabricates a non-story (yet again, ho hum) and screams at no-one in particular that HE DEMANDS THE TRUTH!!!

Bizarro World? Parallel Universe? Inverse Reality?

Is there anything that can be done about these people? Who knows, but we're certainly not going to die wondering. We decided to write to the Minister and ask him:

Chris Bowen MP
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Parliament House

Dear Minister,

I refer to articles published in this week's 'Gold Coast Sun'.

Appalling journalism and xenophobic fear mongering aside, I think it is the 'Gold Coast Sun' who are not telling the truth.

Could you please confirm if expanded services for refugees are to be placed on the Gold Coast?

Could you also please confirm whether these stories contain any truth at all?

Regards,

Gold Coast citizen.

Maybe you could try it yourself sometime?

Why do academics who claim to be calling for progressive change keep writing for the Murdoch Press?

2010-10-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Today 4ZzZ's 'Anarchy Show' [11/10/10] reported that Professor Ross Fitzgerald wrote something about the Queensland Police force in last weekend's 'Australian'.

Odd.

In any case, no Australian with a brain is reading the Murdoch Press anymore.

Perplexing that academics and other commentators keep writing for it, linking to it (do they know that gives Murdoch money?) and referring to it.

The symptoms are eerily similar to Battered Person Syndrome:

In lay terms, this is a reference to any person who, because of constant and severe domestic violence usually involving physical abuse by a partner, becomes depressed and unable to take any independent action that would allow him or her to escape the abuse. The condition explains why abused people often do not seek assistance from others, fight their abuser, or leave the abusive situation. Sufferers have low self-esteem, and often believe that the abuse is their fault. Such persons usually refuse to press criminal charges against their abuser, and refuse all offers of help, often becoming aggressive or abusive to others who attempt to offer assistance. Often sufferers will even seek out their very abuser for comfort shortly after an incident of abuse.

That seems to be what's going on with these people who, you would think, should know better.

What will it take for Australians to stand up and say "enough is enough"?

2010-10-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

'The Age' report [9/10/10]:

Television producer and on-air personality Andrew Denton is on a secret News Limited blacklist of public figures who are not welcome in Rupert Murdoch's national newspaper, The Australian, according to a book being launched this week.

Former Herald Sun editor-in-chief Bruce Guthrie, in his book Man Bites Murdoch, says he first got wind of the Murdoch blacklist when he was editor of the Weekend Australian Magazine in 2005 and Denton was profiled in a regular segment ''Ten things you didn't know about … ''

Guthrie says the deputy editor, Graham Erbacher, approached him and half-whispered: ''You know that Denton is persona non grata around here.'' Guthrie asked why. ''It all goes back to Super League,'' Erbacher replied. ...

In 1999 Denton aired his feelings on the ABC show Australian Story: ''I wish I could take Lachlan Murdoch (and) Ken Cowley by their smug little jowls and sit them down for a while and explain something to them … Tradition in sport is a very, very powerful thing.''

Three weeks after the ''Ten Things'' segment on Denton appeared, the paper's editor-in-chief, Chris Mitchell, phoned Guthrie to ask why he had published it. Guthrie says he replied: ''It was pretty innocuous stuff, Chris. (It) even said nice things about Rupert.''

Mitchell: I've just had Lachlan on the phone from New York and he's not happy. In fact he's very pissed off.

The Age Media Browser column reported in August the existence of a blacklist of Murdoch enemies. In his book, Guthrie says he asked Mitchell who else was on the blacklist. He says Mitchell replied: ''You'll know when it happens.''

A newspaper search of the past two years found 78 stories in The Australian that mentioned Denton, 90 in The Age and 108 in the Herald Sun.

It will be interesting to read the book and see whether it follows the typical style of memoir of ex-Murdoch staff. Hugh Lunn did it with Working For Rupert, and Andrew Neil, who was a senior lieutenant of Murdoch, including as editor of The Sunday Times in London, for 11 years up until 1994, later wrote Full Disclosure. John D’Arcy, who was a senior loyal lieutenant to Murdoch for years before Murdoch cruelly flew him to London at short notice to give him the shaft, wrote Media Mayhem.

There are plenty of others. They all follow the general pattern: "Rupert Murdoch is a cruel, vindictive, shifty, duplicitous despot who rules through fear and anxiety. I knew this and here are some examples. Then, one day he shafted ME! It was so unfair."

If you know any young people who are considering working for Murdoch, force them to read some of these books first. Then challenge them to find a single book about what a terriic and honest bloke Murdoch is. Even his authorised biography by Michael Wolff, The Man Who Owns The News, doesn't manage it.

We already know what type of person he is and what type of organisation he runs. What will it take to stop this?

At least in the U.S. he pays them to kiss his arse

2010-10-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

In Australia they do it for free!

Imagine reading a piece like this in any Australian media:

A note to Tea Party activists: This is not the movie you think it is. You probably imagine that you’re starring in “The Birth of a Nation,” but you’re actually just extras in a remake of “Citizen Kane.” ...
As the Republican political analyst David Frum put it, “Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us, and now we are discovering we work for Fox” — literally, in the case of all those non-Mitt-Romney presidential hopefuls. It was days later, by the way, that Mr. Frum was fired by the American Enterprise Institute. Conservatives criticize Fox at their peril.
So the Ministry of Propaganda has, in effect, seized control of the Politburo. What are the implications?
Perhaps the most important thing to realize is that when billionaires put their might behind “grass roots” right-wing action, it’s not just about ideology: it’s also about business. What the Koch brothers have bought with their huge political outlays is, above all, freedom to pollute. What Mr. Murdoch is acquiring with his expanded political role is the kind of influence that lets his media empire make its own rules.
Thus in Britain, a reporter at one of Mr. Murdoch’s papers, News of the World, was caught hacking into the voice mail of prominent citizens, including members of the royal family. But Scotland Yard showed little interest in getting to the bottom of the story. Now the editor who ran the paper when the hacking was taking place is chief of communications for the Conservative government — and that government is talking about slashing the budget of the BBC, which competes with the News Corporation.

Australia is in deep trouble. Both main parties are willing slaves to the neo-liberal free-market fundamentalism which is rotting our country to its core, and they are willing slaves to the Murdoch propaganda arm of that ideological movement.

If you don't do something to raise your voice against that, you are also playing along.

We were wrong about Murdoch!

2010-09-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry everyone, apparently he's NOT a horrible old fascist and his media outlets ARE fair and balanced:

Murdoch, Bloomberg embrace immigration reform

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- They weren't as funny as television Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert, but media moguls Rupert Murdoch and Michael Bloomberg made a similar appeal to Congress: Do something about immigration.

Murdoch, the founder of News Corp., urged lawmakers during a hearing Thursday to match attempts to secure the border with efforts to ensure that employers can't hire people illegally. ...

Murdoch and Bloomberg lead a coalition of businesses and mayors to push for immigration reform. The group supports providing a path to legal status for those in the U.S. illegally. Murdoch himself was born in Australia and, while expanding his interests in U.S. media, became an American citizen in 1985. Citizenship allowed him to own U.S. television stations.

"As an immigrant, I chose to live in America because it is one of the freest and most vibrant nations in the world. And as an immigrant, I feel an obligation to speak up for immigration policies that will keep America the most economically robust, creative and freedom-loving nation in the world," he said.

The illegal immigrant population has tripled in the U.S., even as the government has increased enforcement spending almost every year since 1992, Murdoch said. The wave of immigrants only started to crest when the country hit a recession, he said.

Murdoch and Bloomberg said they believe Congress needs to help employers discern between workers authorized to work in the U.S and those who are not. The Obama administration has been auditing employers to find those hiring people illegally.

Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat, told Murdoch she thought his support for immigration reform did not match coverage of the immigration issue by Fox News, which is a large part of his News Corp. empire. She said his testimony was contradictory to Fox News "talking about anchor babies." The term, considered derogatory by some, is a reference to children born to at least one illegal immigrant parent.

"Why don't you use your power to help us to promote what you are talking about?" Waters asked.

"I would say that we do," Murdoch said. "We certainly employ a lot of immigrants at Fox ... and we do not take any consistent anti-immigrant line."

Murdoch said he would have no trouble supporting his hearing testimony on Fox News, "nor would a great number of the commentators on Fox News." ...

Well there you go, we've obviously got him all wrong!

Is That True, Or Did The 'ABC' Just Copy It From 'The Australian'?

2010-09-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Shamelessly Cut-n-Pasted from Deltoid:

Is that true, or did you read it in The Australian?

Category: Leakegate

The Australian breathlessly informs us that:

The UN is to appoint an astrophysicist to be the first contact for any aliens ...

Mazlan Othman will describe her potential new role next week at a scientific conference at the Royal Society's Kavli conference centre in Buckinghamshire.

But Matthew Weaver at the Guardian has spoiled the fun by contacting Othman:

Apart from the hilarious picture, the thing about this story is that the ABC was still repeating this as fact, without acknowledging that it came from the hopelessly discredited Murdoch 'press', at least a full day after it had been debunked.

Overwhelming evidence is gradually building up that there is something untoward going on between the inner workings of the ABC (apparently up to the highest levels of the organisation) and the Murdoch machine.

28 September: Boycott Murdoch Day

2010-09-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the new federal parliament sits.

Make a statement.

Don't buy Murdoch's newspapers, don't watch his pay television and don't click on his websites.

Boycott any ABC shows which feature Murdoch employees.

Make a point of sending an email or a letter to your elected representatives letting them know how you feel about Murdoch's dangerously powerful control of our media.

It's only one day, it's not a hard thing to do.

Who would think the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was a joke?

2010-09-20T04:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight [20/9/10], the ABC screened an excellent documentary about the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in 1985:

This week on Four Corners, "Return to the Rainbow Warrior", a story that attempts to finally get to the truth of a murderous attack that New Zealanders describe as an act of state sponsored terrorism. ...

That brought to mind a 'Spring Hill Voice' story from way back in October 2007:

Rupert's Cultural Warriors Hard At Work On The Gold Coast

Cast your mind back to 1985 when Greenpeace was actively campaigning to stop French nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific Ocean….

Every Tuesday, Gold Coast residents are the lucky recipients of a News Ltd. throw-away, 'The Sun'.

It's a useful read if you want to buy a car, are looking to have your prejudices confirmed or enjoy spending your hard earned money on consumer items.

'The Sun' employs that classic News Ltd. strategy of incorporating little columns and articles that convey confusing messages to the reader, amidst the array of advertising and propaganda.

Said messages seem very clear to me:

If you drive down to the shops and buy enviro-lightbulbs to put in your green bags, there will be no global warming, and your grandchildren will live forever in an antipodean wonderland where the car reigns supreme and the rivers will run with desalinated water, bombing Iran is the proper thing to do because people in the Middle East are terrorists, health and education are privileges rather than taxpayer rights, women should fulfil their role of either being a breeder or a prostitute, unions are the devil, and any organic event or artistic experience not sponsored and contrived by a corporation should be viewed with suspicion and disdain.

Take this week's 'By The Way' column by Peter Barnes. It is headed by a photo of the half sunken "Rainbow Warrior" and the caption reads: "HOLED… Greenpeace members should have remembered to put the bungs back in the Rainbow Warrior". That is so funny - oh ba ha ha ha! Next week Barnes could use a photo of the ruins of the "Sari Club" in Bali with a caption like: "Drunken Yob Aussie's have too many Flaming Sambuccas!"

The column is oh so chatty and light, with its sidesplitting local anecdotes. This week, the first is about a corporate 'green' marketing promotion by 'The Sun"' (the last is about some locals who forgot to put the bungs back in their tinny, which then sank) - but why use a photo of the Rainbow Warrior? Rupert's cultural warriors are as hard to turn around as a battleship, so Barnes has to grudgingly acknowledge his master's edict with a cynical plug for consumer environmentalism while snidely mocking the very real and very dead victims of the same enviro-wars he is now cashing in on, with a joke about dedicated people killed by the illegal French bombing in New Zealand.

And News Ltd's hacks have the gall to accuse this site of being "horse-shit"! Their hypocrisy is staggering.

UPDATE!! Peter Barnes writes his usual lightweight column this week [17/10/07] but, after the 'Sun' had a few letters making the same point as we have, finishes with:

"Several readers questioned the use of a picture of the ship Rainbow Warrior to illustrate an item last week. Well, they were absolutely right and I salute those alert readers who take the trouble to comment when they see something they believe to be wrong."

It's typical of a Murdoch "correction" or "apology" isn't it? You know: 'Well sooorrrrryyy, then!' With a veiled hint that whingey wimps can't take a joke.

Fuckwits.

A Great Idea

2010-09-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

Journalism Warning Labels:

From Tom Scott's 'Making Stuff Happen' blog:

It seems a bit strange to me that the media carefully warn about and label any content that involves sex, violence or strong language — but there's no similar labelling system for, say, sloppy journalism and other questionable content.
I figured it was time to fix that, so I made some stickers. I've been putting them on copies of the free papers that I find on the London Underground. You might want to as well.

Go to his website and print some for yourself.

We bought a box of 6,500 labels for $25 from Officeworks.

Do something before the momentum fades

2010-09-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

The hung parliament presents ordinary Australians with a unique opportunity to call for changes that will make this country a more equitable, inclusive and nicer place to live.

As the political lobby group 'GetUp!' have said in an email to supporters [10/9/10]:

... In this new political climate, GetUp members have an unprecedented opportunity to clean up politics, shape the way this new Parliament works and determine the direction of our country. ...

'GetUp!' are also asking members and supporters to undertake a survey to assist them in mapping their next steps to keep the momentum going.

So if like us, you feel our democracy is threatened by the Murdoch machine, we encourage you to complete their survey and/or write to your elected representative and let them know that the most urgent step is to reign in the divisive influence of the Murdoch Press:

The move to a progressive Australia can only be achieved if the problem of media ownership, which has reached saturation point as evidenced by News Ltd.'s hysterical attacks on the democratic outcome of the federal election, is urgently corrected.

To begin with, we suggest:

1. Dismantling the virtual monopoly of the Murdoch Press;

2. Purging the ABC of all News Ltd. influence and think tank influence;

3. Immediately ceasing all Government advertising in the Murdoch Press (GetUp! should do this too)

The Tide Is Turning

2010-09-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Who would ever have imagined that Laura Tingle would be able to say this on tonight's [10/09/10] Lateline?

... Leigh Sales: Laura Tingle in your regular Friday column today you wrote that the Labor minority government is trying to figure out whether to respond to what it sees as a ferocious and continuing campaign against its legitimacy by News Ltd. newspapers. Elaborate on that for us.

Laura Tingle, AFR: Leigh, I think that there has been a long history of tension particularly with the Australian with Kevin Rudd. And it was always seen as an issue with the Australian rather than News Ltd.

The News Ltd. tabloids seem to have escalated their aggression towards the Labor party during the election campaign, but I think it's really been the post campaign push against/ attacks on the credibility of a minority government as an idea, the attacks on the independents and The Greens, which has made people think "this isn't going to go away. We're not quite sure why this is happening, but we've got to decide whether we actually confront this, or whether we just let it go through to the keeper."

I suppose the interesting thing is, I think there are interesting issues here for both News Ltd. and for the government because there are all these commercial decisions, that the government will have to take which will have a direct impact on News.

It's a very big elephant in the room, and I think we don't really know how that's going to play out. And it's also not just Labor, it's the Greens and the independents and we've got Bob Brown now, talking about how he's had enough of the way News Ltd has been behaving and he's not going to cop it anymore.

Leigh Sales: George Megalogenis, I don't want to put you in an awkward position, I'm sorry, but you are a News Ltd. journalist ....

Who wouldn't be "sorry" for anyone who ends up being a News Ltd "journalist"?

A new Australian media/journalism blog

2010-09-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Failed Estate

The tyranny of constant publication

... At some point, though, the ability to publish instantly must start to work against comprehension. While there's nothing wrong with journalists providing running commentary on breaking news events, you wonder sometimes whether we're at risk of losing the benefit of the long view - or even the middle view that used to rest somewhere between the immediacy of wire service snaps and the pampered perspective of magazine journalism.

The more the merrier!

It woz News wot lost it

2010-09-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

Matthew "Rupert says you've got it wrong" Franklin

The independents have come out swinging against Murdoch's crude bullying attempts to tell them what to do.

In essence, what swayed Oakeshott and Windsor to back Labor rather than the Coalition was the relentless hammering by Murdoch's hacks of the talking point that Australians really wanted an Abbott government.

Sucked in you losers.

If you're scared of Murdoch, you don't deserve to call yourself a journalist

2010-09-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

The 'New York Times' report [1/9/10]:

In November 2005, three senior aides to Britain’s royal family noticed odd things happening on their mobile phones. Messages they had never listened to were somehow appearing in their mailboxes as if heard and saved. Equally peculiar were stories that began appearing about Prince William in one of the country’s biggest tabloids, News of the World.
The stories were banal enough (Prince William pulled a tendon in his knee, one revealed). But the royal aides were puzzled as to how News of the World had gotten the information, which was known among only a small, discreet circle. They began to suspect that someone was eavesdropping on their private conversations.
By early January 2006, Scotland Yard had confirmed their suspicions. An unambiguous trail led to Clive Goodman, the News of the World reporter who covered the royal family, and to a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, who also worked for the paper. The two men had somehow obtained the PIN codes needed to access the voice mail of the royal aides. ...

Goodman and Mulcaire ended up in jail. But don't worry, they both sued for unfair dismissal and settled for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Murdoch's other crooks got off scot free even though subsequent civil litigation cost him a nice chunk of cash. Of course, these crooks don't care about that. It hasn't stopped them from their usual low-life dishonesty.

Read the whole 'NY Times' article, it's a cracker. And for those of you who care about things here in Australia, the ABC or possible motives behind Murdoch's local outlets disgracefully rubbish journalism:

"An avalanche of unforgiving coverage culminated on April 8, one month before the general election, in a Sun story headlined “Brown’s a Clown.” Brown’s strategists assumed that Murdoch’s motives were not purely ideological. They drew up a campaign document conjuring Murdoch’s wish list should David Cameron become prime minister. Among the top items they identified was the weakening of the government-financed BBC, one of Murdoch’s biggest competitors and long a target of criticism from News International executives. On May 11, David Cameron officially assumed the position and elevated Coulson to the head of communications. Within the week, Rupert Murdoch arrived at 10 Downing Street for a private meeting with the new prime minister. Cameron’s administration criticized the BBC in July for “extraordinary and outrageous waste” during difficult financial times and proposed cutting its budget."

What are you doing to Stop Murdoch? We suggest reading this great article and giving it to everyone you know.

Murdoch press reckon they, not Fred Nile, are God's police

2010-09-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

What's the real story behind this?

That's what your ABC should be finding out for you.

...The Daily Telegraph reports a parliamentary internet audit shows that Reverend Nile's computer has been used to access internet pornography. ...

Australians are sick of this rubbish instead of real journalism. Tony Windsor MP summed it up nicely a week or so ago:

... “I wouldn’t give that paper the time of day,” he said, referring to the Daily Telegraph.

“It just shows the role of some within the media in terms of the election process that we’ve just gone through.

“I won’t be taking the Telegraph as one of my political advisers.

“I don’t give the article or the paper any credibility at all.” ...

It's time we ran these crooks and liars out of town.

John Cusack joins Stop Murdoch!

2010-09-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

John Cusack has shared his opinion of Murdoch's Fox News:

“I AM FOR A SATANIC DEATH CULT CENTER AT FOX NEWS HQ AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICES [of] DICK ARMEY AND NEWT GINGRICH-and all the GOP WELFARE FREAKS,”

Welcome aboard Mr Cusack!

Only an absolute bastard would kick a man when he's down

2010-08-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

Remember this?:

Footage of the 'Sunday Times'' entrapment of the National Director of Fisheries for the Republic of Guinea, broadcast on the ABC's 'Lateline'

And this?:

SBS World News Australia's 6.30 PM news bulletin [24/5/10]

Well bear these disgraces in mind before you give any credence to anything arising from a 'report' or 'sting' originated in a Murdoch rag.

They are, literally, proven crooks and liars. Not to mention, bastards.

Shame your ABC again sees fit to report this discredited rubbish as news.

Why do the ethics of these "stings" go unquestioned?

And aren't millions of people in Pakistan still displaced at the moment?

Absolute bastards.

All Around The World People Are Stopping Murdoch

2010-08-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

The latest is from "Color Of Change" where they are telling businesses to Stop Murdoch by turning off 'Fox' in public places.

"Color Of Change" in the USA is running a campaign against Glenn Beck.

Join in!

Murdoch continues takeover of your ABC

2010-08-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

If Australians wanted to know what Rupert Murdoch thinks, they can buy any of his publications.

They can also look at his websites, like 'The Punch'.

Many Australians deliberately avoid doing that because of his blatantly biased, ill-informed, inflammatory and divisive propaganda.

For those Australians there are very few alternative places for news and commentary. The ABC is supposed to be one of those places. It's disgraceful enough that we have shows like 'The Insiders' and Murdoch columnists as announcers on local ABC radio, as well as commercial arrangements.

For a man who has very publicly and frequently expressed his hatred for public broadcasting, he seems extremely keen for his hacks and shills to get spots on the ABC.

Today [27/8/10] we have Glenn Milne given a plum spot on the ABC's online discussion forum 'The Drum'.

Murdoch's takeover of the ABC is almost complete.

If you're not OK with this let the ABC know.

*UPDATE*

In his desperation to present himself as some kind of human, the man himself has somehow inveigled his way back onto your ABC yet again! This time he is introducing 'Australian Story' on Monday night [30/8/10]. Creepy old fascist.

News Ltd: "Nothing But Propaganda"!

2010-08-26T01:57:00.000-07:00

Fiji. Military dictatorship. Home to Murdoch's "Fiji Times".

After the military coup Murdoch's 'Fiji Times' allowed itself to be censored while real newspapers were closed for defying the military rulers. Murdoch loves military rulers and anything anti-democratic as long as it delivers power to his acceptable ruling elite.

Rupert Murdoch is a neo-con.

The dictatorship's propaganda mouthpiece, Australian born Sharon Smith-Johns ("permanent secretary for information"), has a problem with Murdoch. She said:

"...articles published recently in News Ltd owned newspapers directly slammed the country's tourism industry and economy.
'It begs the question that most in Fiji are asking, is the Australian government using News Ltd as a tool to punish Fiji and cripple our economy?' said Ms Smith-Johns, who was born in Australia.
'These stories are so unbalanced it boils down to nothing but propaganda.'"

No Ms Smith-Johns, News Ltd is using the Australian government as a tool to further Murdoch's neo-con agenda. Fiji just happens to displease him at the moment.

You stick to your guns!

Hopefully our three independent members of the House of Representatives will also demand a ban on Murdoch-controlled media before agreeing to form government with either of the major parties.

Storm Fan Jason Koo vs. News Ltd

2010-08-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Melbourne Storm fan Jason Koo for taking action against Murdoch's destructive stranglehold on Australia.

From Fairfax:

Jason Koo, who has been following the Storm since their admission to the NRL in 1998, was ordered to leave the News Ltd-owned club's home ground during Saturday night's match against Cronulla after unfurling a number of banners protesting against the media company's stance on the salary cap scandal that resulted in the club being stripped of two premierships and forced to play for no competition points.

One banner called for the reinstatement of the four independent directors sacked by News Ltd after they took court action against the penalties. Others read: ''News enriched while Storm left to die'' and ''We support our players, coach and staff - not News Ltd''.

Koo said stadium security staff told him the banners were offensive to News Ltd. He has since made a video defending his actions that was posted online yesterday, along with another video bearing footage of the banners and his eviction from the ground.

''We must be really hitting News Ltd where it hurts; they know that what we are doing is getting to them and this is their way of trying to silence us,'' Koo said.

Watch his video about the incident at "madfan".

Congratulations, Jason. The more people take direct action in standing up against Rupert Murdoch the sooner his power will be reduced to some level safe for our democracy, planet and sport!

To work for Murdoch do you have to prove you have the ability to make shit up?

2010-08-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

The small number of corflutes on display around the Gold Coast are mostly LNP

Over the past month, from Paradise Point to the Tweed we have seen corflutes at only six locations. One was for the Fishing Shooting Party and the rest were LNP.

Yet the Gold Coast's only daily newspaper report [20/8/10]:

Signs displaying the smiling faces of campaigning pollies have cropped up all over town, and they are annoying Gold Coast traders. ...

See? It's false. Not true. "Lies", if you like.

It's typical Murdoch fabricated bullshit in the place of news.

Murdoch is Biased. The Rest of The Media Seem OK with This.

2010-08-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Anyone with their critical faculties intact is aware of the Murdoch bias on a range of topics.

The bogus staged 'town hall' events recently are quite obviously nothing more than Murdoch trying to privatise the democratic process (and take it within his realm as a virtual monopoly).

The fact that these bogus events enter the 'news cycle' and are uncritically reported by the rest of the media enables that goal and gives it legitimacy. Bad for democracy, bad for journalism.

In June he donated $1 million to the US Republican Party. It is as if he has made a deliberate effort to formalise News Ltd's institutional bias. If you have ever had the misfortune to engage with a Murdoch hack, you would have heard them trying to claim that they are somehow virtuous independent voices despite their owner's obvious bias and hatred of objectivity.

Time to wheel out this old piece about an Australian 'journalist':

Anguished Shill Wrestles With Inner Hypocrite

Gee, it must be so hard for you poor dears out there in shameless-shill land. We never realised your inner torment while we pure types sit about on our high moral horses atop the high moral ground, hurling hatred and abuse at your glass houses without ever a concern for how you must suffer.

Let us explain: http://www.medialens.org is an excellent website. They are UK based but their "media alerts" are well argued, of universal relevance and supported by links and references and they seem to avoid getting shrill, hyperbolic or hysterical. A true example of reason and logic used against the "MSM" spin and rhetoric in the service of "true journalism", it is hard to fault this team of media observers.

One of the founders, David Edwards, has a dusty old blog. We had a look, and it seems that they did a piece a few years ago disagreeing with the thrust of an article by Robert Fisk. As a result they received a fiery response (which was lacking in reason and heavy on emotion, such as accusing them of 'Stalinism'!) from an Australian going by the name of "Comrade Jack". Edwards reproduced the exchange on the blog and, as we read it, the following was an enlightening revelation into the mind of Murdoch-Type employees:

"…I don't know if you're old enough to remember The Pop Group's song 'We Are All Prostitutes' but that's what most of us wage-earners are.

I'm a journalist working for a crappy, rightwing corporate Australian newspaper. I do what I do because I cannot do anything else. Nothing I do makes one iota of a difference but there are millions of people like me in the world who need the money and will do whatever it takes to
support our families.

We aren't bad people -- even though I suspect you think we lack your ideological purity and revolutionary zeal and have, therefore, sided with the "dark side" and probably deserve to die the death capitalism has invented for us.

Let's face it, man, most of us humans live in a f*cked world and we get f*cked every day. Whingeing about it has never worked to our advantage. In fact, it's made matters worse.

People like me don't like the "dark side" anymore than we like the "right side" -- simply because both sides can be found on the same coin.

Yours Comrade Jack"

[From: http://www.medialens.org/blogs/david-edwards-blog.php 18 January, 2006]

News for "Comrade Jack": you ARE bad people. Who is "Comrade Jack"? Is he real? "Millions of people like me in the world who need the money and will do whatever it takes…", maybe he is Graham Richardson? Is he Glen Milne? Probably not, too much insight and angst about being a "disgrace" as Milne eloquently puts it.

Ditto? Rupert's Rooty Hill Meets Brisbane Gets Sideswiped?

2010-08-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

Apparently Julia Gillard has agreed to debate Tony Abbott in Brisbane this Wednesday...

on a special episode of the ABC's Q&A!

Oh dear, David and Madonna and Rupert will not be pleased.

Remember that guy "Muldoon" from 'Jurassic Park' who got killed by that giant killer reptile, the velociraptor? We've looked it up for you:

Muldoon: They show extraordinary intelligence, even problem-solving. Especially the big one. We bred eight originally, but when she came in she took over the pride and killed all but two of the others. That one... when she looks at you, you can tell she's working things out.

And then later...

Muldoon: They should all be destroyed.

Muldoon: Shoot her! Shoot her!

[Just before he gets attacked by a raptor]

Muldoon: Clever girl.

Rupert Murdoch summons Gillard and Abbott to Rooty Hill

2010-08-09T03:56:00.000-07:00

If you live in Western Sydney and think this debate is about you. You're wrong.

You didn't know that the whole fabricated "debate" at Rooty Hill RSL on Wednesday was a Murdoch construct? Why didn't you know that?

Surely it wouldn't be because the ABC has failed to tell you that it is a charade invented by the discredited crooks at News Ltd. The ABC must have been too busy to point out that it is nothing more than a crude and ugly exercise in Murdochracy, that must be it.

The 'Daily Telegraph' is not a newspaper. It looks like one, but it is simply an instrument of Murdoch neo-con propaganda.

Ask your local candidates when they will prohibit old Americans from owning 70% of Australia's news media and controlling close to 100% of the news agenda.

Dogwhistling II

2010-08-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Hon. Warren Truss MP addressed the National Press Club today [4/8/10]

What would you ask if you were a journalist attending Nationals Leader Warren Truss' address at the National Press Club today?

You might ask about the Mining Tax, the CPRS, the Murray Darling, mining vs agriculture, parental leave or other policies.

Perhaps. But if you were writing for News Ltd., your priority would be to dogwhistle:

"Do you find burkas confronting?"

Truss responded by asserting that people should be able to wear what they choose.

How can any sane person think that this man should have this power?

2010-08-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

'Yahoo! News' report:

The White House Correspondents Association is moving Fox News up to the front row in the briefing room, according to sources familiar with the process. The WHCA board's decision was unanimous. [It's now confirmed; see update below.]

Since the retirement of veteran journalist Helen Thomas, three news organizations — Fox News, Bloomberg News and NPR — each argued that it should move to the front row. Fox News will join the broadcast networks and CNN up front. ...

"Discredited", "Shameless", "Despicable" and "Chutzpah" will all be re-defined in dictionaries in the near future.

Dogwhistling

2010-07-31T02:51:00.000-07:00

... My Saturday morning paper tells me I should run away ...

'Run Away', Drawn From Bees [2010]

The Saturday edition [31/7/10] of the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' asks:

Why are there so many Indian cabbies on the Gold Coast?

When the real question is:

How can Murdoch's rags continue to get away with this shit?

How? Easy, it's because everyone lets him get away with it. You are responsible every time you buy a product from him.

You are reading this because you have a brain.

It is YOUR fault that this is happening to our country and to democracy all over the Murdoch-controlled world. You are to blame if you are not criticising the garbage his shills spout. You are responsible if you let people tell you something is a fact "because I read it in the paper".

Murdoch only gets away with this crap because YOU allow it.

Why is the Federal Government's Asia-Pacific television service going to tender?

2010-07-27T19:47:00.002-07:00

'Crikey!' report [27/7/10]:

... As The Australian itself pointed out yesterday in a separate article: "The battle of Australia Network comes at a particularly tense time for the ABC and Sky, which is owned by Seven, Nine and and BSkyB (part-owned by News Corporation, publisher of the Australian). The two broadcasters are now direct competitors following the launch of the ABC's 24-hour news channel."

The Weekend Australian's editorial went on to sledge the ABC and its managing director Mark Scott over everything from Q&A host Tony Jones' interviewing style to the various agendas of morning radio hosts ...

(Isn't it interesting that although they have commercial arrangements with each other, the Murdoch media continually attack the ABC, while the ABC never criticise the Murdoch media?)

Surely if taxpayer dollars are involved, this network should be run by the national broadcaster?

Do you really want an American corporation running the Australia Network? Because that's what will happen.

Demand that your local candidate will keep this service in the public's hands.

More proof Brisbane needs another newspaper

2010-07-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

Ask your candidates how they will tackle the lack of media diversity in this country.

'Brisbane Times' report [27/7/10]:

Queensland Health's most senior bureaucrat has condemned a newspaper for going into a hospital room to interview a grieving injured father without seeking permission.

Jade Quilligan, 22, died last month after allegedly shooting her ex-husband Lenny Comollatti, 36, and killing their eight-month-old son Anthony in central Queensland.

Queensland Health director Michael Reid argues The Courier-Mail breached "moral standards" by interviewing Mr Comollatti while he was recovering from gunshot wounds.

In a letter to Queensland Newspapers editor-in-chief David Fagan, seen by brisbanetimes.com.au, Mr Reid says he is concerned about the episode.

"The Courier-Mail holds itself up to the public of Queensland as a champion of the people - an establishment that goes into battle for those who can not fight for themselves," he writes in the letter, dated July 14.

"Yet your newspaper had a journalist enter a Queensland Health hospital at Rockhampton, without permission, to talk with a patient, without his consent, less than two days after his eight month old child was allegedly shot to death by his former wife, who was later found dead at the scene of a car accident."

Mr Reid says other media organisations had contacted Queensland Health public affairs staffers to request an interview, but the man "made it very clear he wanted time to grieve, time to understand what had happened".

"The Courier-Mail sells the article resulting from this interview with a grieving and injured man as an exclusive - exclusive because other media had the compassion to follow the known protocols," he writes.

"Your own article says the patient appealed for privacy, but he was offered none."

In the article, headlined Shot dad tells of horror and published on July 9, Mr Comollatti said he was "not up to saying much" and was still in shock.

"Everybody's talking about it too much already," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

"I'm just trying to get over it myself."

At the time, Mr Comollatti was reported to be awaiting surgery for gunshot wounds to the stomach.

Mr Fagan last night defended the journalist who visited the hospital.

"Queensland Health has peddled this letter everywhere," he said.

"We stand by our reporter who identified himself to the person he was interviewing.

"That's what journalism is.

"We don't need the approval of a government authority to speak to a citizen in this country."

Mr Reid declined to speak about the matter yesterday.

"The letter was intended to be a private communication to the editor of The Courier-Mail and as such I will not make any comment," he said in a short emailed statement.

London health authorities complained in 2005 after Australian journalists were caught "sneaking into hospitals" carrying bunches of flowers to interview bomb blast victims, ABC's Media Watch program reported.

Many Queenslanders would agree this is certainly not the worst thing the 'Courier-Mail' has done, but it's typical.

The Murdoch Press are not about journalism, they are thugs and propagandists for the neoliberal cause.

News Ltd. has a long, well documented criminal history. For Fagan to keep hiding behind the excuse of journalism when he is defending these kind of unethical acts is unacceptable.

Keep speaking out against this immoral, undemocratic organisation.

"The ABC does not have a policy regarding Murdoch press"

2010-07-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

That's the response we received to our recent question about why negative stories about News Ltd. never mention it by name.

They are at it again, with the story about Shirley Sherrod ('World Today' 22/7/10):

... LISA MILLAR: But it was only the first part of that speech that was posted on a website by a conservative blogger. And it sent the right wing hosts and cable networks into a spin.

The agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack demanded her resignation....

The Fairfax press managed to name "Fox" as the culprit [23/7/10]:

A black public servant, whose father was murdered by a white man in 1965 and who has spent four decades working against injustice, has found herself at the centre of a storm exposing America's fragile race relations.

Shirley Sherrod was sacked on Monday as the Department of Agriculture's director of rural development in Georgia after a conservative website accused her of making racists remarks captured in a video.

The 2½-minute clip taken from a speech Ms Sherrod gave in March went viral, drawing the attention of the White House and department officials, who apparently feared an attack from a right-wing commentator.

Ms Sherrod had referred to an incident 24 years earlier when she had been working for a farm assistance group, admitting she had not done all that she could do to help a white farmer, whom she described as ''acting superior''. The website, BigGovernment.com, said this was ''evidence of racism coming from a federal employee''.

An Agriculture under-secretary ordered Ms Sherrod to resign and apparently referred to the prospect of the incident appearing on Fox News.

Even the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People condemned her comments.

With Fox News running the story ''Racism Caught on Tape'', Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said he required ''zero tolerance'' on discrimination.

But the rush to judgment had overlooked one thing: Ms Sherrod's words had been taken out of context, plucked from her 43-minute speech in which she went on to say that meeting that white farmer in 1986 had actually changed her views.

''Working with him made me see that it's really about those who have versus those who don't,'' she told her audience. ''You know, and they could be black, they could be white, they could be Hispanic.''

The white farmer and his wife also came forward. ''She's a good friend,'' said Eloise Spooner. ''She helped us save our farm.'' And by Wednesday evening, once the full speech had been reviewed, Ms Sherrod had received apologies from the White House and from Mr Vilsak, who immediately offered her a new job.

''This is a good woman,'' he said. ''She's been put through hell, and I could have done, and should have done, a better job … The decision should have been [taken] with more thought and with far less haste.''

Ms Sherrod's father was shot dead by a white farmer in 1965, but an all-white grand jury refused to charge the killer. ...

Maybe it's time the ABC got itself a policy about the Murdoch Press.

"Save Our Spit!"

2010-07-20T03:54:00.000-07:00

Save Our Broadwater!
Save Our Gold Coast!
Save Our State!
Save Our Country!
Save The Planet!

Stop Murdoch!

Like most cities and towns around Australia, the Gold Coast is cursed with Murdoch newspapers.

On the Northern end of the Gold Coast there is no alternative.

Overwhelmingly united and strong local opposition to a proposed cruise ship terminal, headed by the "Save Our Spit" group, killed the idea dead a few years ago. It was a stupid idea and was roundly rejected by the local community. So where does a desperate development crazy group turn when the local people have sent them packing?

Over the past few weeks, the Murdoch Press have dug up and begun flogging the rotted carcass of the dead horse known as the Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal on the Southport Spit.

A genuine, honest, trusted local newspaper would send this lot packing, again. Or at least pretend to acknowledge the local opposition to their plans to takeover and destroy our public paradise by the sea.

That's why these ruthless developers love Rupert Murdoch's rags. They are not genuine, not actually local, and are demonstrably untrustworthy.

If you want to stop this madness, again, and send a powerful message to that old American who thinks he can run your country: Boycott Rupert Murdoch's 'Gold Coast Bulletin'.

Don't buy it.

Tell your local business friends that you will be forced to stop doing business with them if they give him their advertising dollars.

You'll help save the spit, but you might also help save our democracy and 'journalism' from destruction.

FOXTEL is not the real thing

2010-07-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

They are trying everything they can to get you to spend your hard earned dollars on their propaganda.

The latest desperate advertisement (on free to air television) uses this old Australian hit:

'The Real Thing', recorded by Russell Morris, produced by Ian "Molly" Meldrum and written by Johnny Young [1969]:

Come and see the real thing, come and see the real thing, come and see
Come and see the real thing, come and see the real thing, come and see
There’s a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn’t really mean a thing
Come and see the real thing, come and see the real thing, come and see
I am the real thing!

Oo mama mow-mow (repeat x 4)

Oo mama mama mama mama mama mama mow
Tryin’ hard to understand the meaning that you’ll see in me
Tryin’ hard to understand the meaning that you’ll see in me
There’s a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn’t really mean a thing
Come and see the real thing, come and see the real thing, come and see
I am the real thing!

Oo mama mow-mow (repeat x 4)

I am not seeing you
I am not seeing you
Ahhhhh!

I am the real thing!
(ad-lib fade-out)

The children's choir singing toward the end is the Hitler Youth singing "Die Jugend Marschiert" (Youth on the March)

How appropriate.

What's wrong with this page?

2010-07-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

If this page appears normal, you need to detox.

Avoid Murdoch publications for a week

It's your ABC, so don't be afraid to question them

2010-07-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

We've contacted them many times. Usually we get ignored, but sometimes we get an answer.

Here's our latest effort:

Re: Deaths in custody in Queensland

I refer to your 'Deaths in custody in Queensland' story of [9/7/10], and particularly the following:

"...KATHY MCLEISH: They were devastated and media headlines added to the horror but it turned out there had been no car-jacking. The coroner found a communication error had led to that report, but the Kealtons say the police didn't return to straighten out the mistake and it was days before a witness contacted them to tell them there was no car-jacking.

LEIGH KEALTON: The police knew that didn't happen so there was really no excuse for them to put out that sort of story first to us under those tragic circumstances and secondly to the media because all of our friends and family both here and overseas were aware of that report in the newspaper. So it was a pretty hard pill to swallow. ..."

Is there an ABC editorial policy that dictates when the ABC mentions the Murdoch press they don't mention them by name, unless it's putting them in a positive light?

UK campaign to Stop Murdoch

2010-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

From '38 Degrees':

Rupert Murdoch has his sights set on gaining complete control of BSkyB and increasing his stranglehold on a free and independent media in the UK. He currently owns 40% of the company but wants to increase his stake to 100%.

This would be a disaster. It would give Murdoch even more political influence and it could open the door to biased, right-wing news like Fox News in the US.

A free and diverse media is a huge part of what makes democracy work. We can't rely on big business to make the right decisions about Murdoch's plan to buy BSkyB. It needs full and proper scrutiny by government. Vince Cable, the Lib Dem Business Secretary, has the power tell regulators to investigate the purchase before it goes ahead.

If thousands of us e-mail Vince Cable, we can persuade him to make the right decision and oppose Murdoch’s master plan.

Please sign the petition now, then ask your friends to get involved too.

Murdoch's Staff Are Directly Responsible For This Country's Xenophobia

2010-07-06T02:01:00.000-07:00

The Prime Minister's suggestion that Australia needs to freely and openly debate the issue of asylum seekers got us wondering where she thinks this debate is going to take place?

Which of our lily livered commentators will dare point out how the xenophobia in this country has been cultivated by the Murdoch Press, and is being painted as a general national feeling rather than a minority point of view?

Reminds us of a couple of 'Spring Hill Voice' posts from three years ago:

Media Miss The Boat

Last week's Walkley Media Forum at the Regatta Hotel marked World Refugee Day by considering the topic, 'Missing the Boat? Reporting on asylum seekers and refugees'. The forum was moderated by Cathy Border from Channel Ten, and included presentations by Dr Angela Romano, Senior Lecturer In Journalism at QUT, David Costello, Foreign Editor of the 'Courier-Mail', Peter McCutcheon from the ABC's '7.30 Report' and John Murungi from the Refugee Claimants' Support Centre.

Dr Romano emphasised that the public is reliant on the media for information on this issue. Yet her studies on the media's reportage of asylum seekers revealed a disturbing use of biased and inflammatory language in news media stories. Examples included, 'Boatload of illegal refugees seized' (from the 'Courier-Mail'), and another in
'The Australian', about "refugees" in the New Orleans superbowl in the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina, which was juxtaposed with a report about Jesse Jackson pointing out the inaccuracy of describing people in their own country as refugees.

As for who dominates the agenda, she found that in 2003, 61% of the 'Courier-Mail's' stories were based on government sources, while in 2007, this has dropped to 22%. Dr Romano said the negative stereotypes and common and simple concerns that people had about refugees and asylum seekers could be easily addressed by the media.

"Antipathy comes about because people don't know who they are," she said.

Dr Romano explained that the Federal Government are sophisticated in understanding people's prejudices, and that journalists are being left behind in
the wash.

"Journalists are missing the boat because governments have the resources
and journalists don't," she said.

Referring to the years between 1999 and 2001 as a "wild period" encompassing the riots at Woomera and Port Hedland, David Costello said that now is a good time to be talking about refugees, given we are experiencing a period of calm.

"We don't lock up kids anymore," he said.

Mr Costello defended the 'Courier-Mail's' coverage of refugee and asylum seeker stories. Singling out a particular "hard-working" 'Courier-Mail' journalist, he said, "If you're looking for demonization of asylum seekers, you won't find it in Margaret Wenham's stories, or in the rest of the 'Courier-Mail's' pages."

Mr Costello undertook "newstext" searches, which he said showed that the 'Courier-Mail' was "out of step" between 2001 and 2002. But he pointed out that a 1999 editorial stated that most refugees are genuinely seeking refuge. He later added that the coalition government have overreacted. "We are not faced with a full scale invasion," he said.

"The media should work to dispel myths about boat people."

Citing the "children overboard" example as a "moral lowpoint" for Australia, Peter McCutcheon expressed concern at the manner in which governments can affect and distort items of public interest.

"Why are journalists still talking about it?" he asked, later explaining that the "children overboard" affair highlights a "broader systemic problem" which has resulted in the diminished quality of public debate.

He said he has experienced "stonewalling and obfuscation" when attempting to obtain straightforward information about various operational matters. He made it clear that this is evident at all levels of government.

Reflecting on the past eleven years, and Australia's inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, John Murungi said, "I've come to realise it's not personal."

As for what it means to be a refugee, "We are talking about human lives," he said.
"And nobody ever chooses to leave their home."

And

Haneef - News Ltd disgraces itself, as usual!

The Sunday Murdoch papers would lead a fool to the conclusion that Dr Haneef was going to blow up the Q1 tower on the Gold Coast.

Today's [22/7/07] 'Sunday Mail' (and its inbred cousins) gives the impression that there could possibly be some kind of justification for the undemocratic and extra-judicial treatment of Dr Haneef. Their police reporter invokes innuendo as journalism without shame or remorse to vilify and demonise "them".

There has been a great deal of unexpected support for Dr Haneef from all quarters. This is possibly because of the blatantly political motivation behind the whole episode. When the AFP shamelessly becomes a tool of the Federal Executive, as has happened with the behaviour of Australia's (your) Federal Commissioner with Dr Haneef, it is time to wonder how the concentration of media power in the hands of Mr Rupert Murdoch could possibly benefit Australia, we Queenslanders, or our general security and well-being.

The Sunday Murdoch rags were at it again from dawn today (i.e. Saturdayafternoon's policy planning sessions) and it took until all the feathers had been spread to the four winds before the AFP called the lie at 4pm. The AFP only bothered to call that lie AFTER the doctor's Solicitor appeared at the very public Forum at Griffith University. You could assume the lie would have been left out there but for SBS and other non-mouthpiece outlets.

The Murdoch article was, as is their fashion, based on anonymous (but very senior!!) "sources" and conjecture. So, a "source" says the AFP is wondering whether there may have been a plan and if there was a plan whether people may be involved in that plan etc...... You know how it works. If this is the best the Feds can do, I want my money back!

If only Mr Murdoch's operatives had been so judgmental of the flaky evidence that ended up in the illegal invasion and failed occupation of Iraq, instead of concentrating
on religious differences within Australia.
Since Mr Murdoch is not even an Australian, why do all our politicians care so much about his opinions, you may ask.

Make a point of publicly rubbishing the Murdoch Press at least once a day, and don't allow anyone who refers to the Murdoch press as if it were credible source go unchallenged.

Dear Mr Adams, It's a Matter of Principles...

2010-07-04T01:38:00.001-07:00

Broadcaster, writer and film-maker, Phillip Adams, was one of a cast of characters who appeared in Murdoch's advertisement's for 'The Australian' which were screened on SBS Television last September

Mr Adams writes in his weekly column in 'The Australian' [3/7/10], that he has resigned from the ALP (emphasis added):

... Rudd and I talked regularly. The last time we spoke he was urging me to resign from The Australian to protest its editorial line, advice I declined to accept. And we argued about his climate change strategy. I by no means agreed with other policies and tactics. But nothing would have persuaded me to support a move against the leader who'd defeated Howard, made that superb "sorry" speech and handled the GFC with such skill. The right to dismiss a PM belongs to the electorate at an election, not to a drunken governor-general or factional bullies drunk with power. Rudd goes, so I go too. Seems the lethal Latham was right.

So, as a matter of principle, you resign from the ALP after 50 years because: "thugs now dismiss leaders at their whim. In cowardly conspiracies."

But you happily continue to work for the Murdoch machine despite the "thugs" and "cowardly conspiracies" at every level of his machine doing everything to appoint, dismiss and control the leaders of your country (and the rest of the world for that matter). Despite the inestimable damage they are constantly doing to this country's democratic process and media.

Why is that? What's the difference?

Principles?

[Thanks to public libraries for free access to the unprincipled rag used as the source for this piece.]

Geoff wants to help

2010-07-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Geoff Provest MP has made it easy for his constituents to contact him with a full page "Geoff-o-gram" in this four-page "Community Newsletter" which appeared in this week's 'Tweed Border Mail [1/7/10]

Australians need to reclaim their democracy. This involves holding our elected representatives to account, and getting them to represent OUR interests rather than those of multi-national corporations.

An important aspect of this will require big changes to our media.

So whenever you get the opportunity, let your politicians know that you are unhappy with the current state of media ownership in Australia, and would like them to do something about the Murdoch media's unhealthy stranglehold.

First Murdoch Ignores You, Then Murdoch Ridicules You, Then Murdoch Buys You - Then You Lose

2010-07-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

Another one bites the dust!

Now that Rupert Murdoch owns him outright this should provide an interesting tinge to his the outcome of his The changing relationship between federal politicians and the media in the internet age project.

How did working for Murdoch work out for people like Tim Dunlop? For FFFFS, why do you town bikes think Murdoch is going to finally 'Luuurve' you when he has tossed over so, so, so, many of your kind before you? Do you really think that you are the 'one', somehow different? That maybe he'll leave those nasty tarts like Glenn and Andrew and Dennis and Piers and move in with you and start an honest life putting his powers to good instead of evil?

"This time it's different, babe. I've never felt this way about any writer ever before. Babe, I promise I'll never interfere in your work. I want you for your mind...I want you for your freedom to say exactly what you feel without any fear or favour."

"Hmmmm, brains! Yummy!"

Fucking idiots.

Do some homework before you sell your credibility to Rupert. Read one of the many books written by your predecessors who also thought they were 'the one' for Rupert.

Remember, he's about 100 years old and despite the myths, he can't live forever. One day he'll be dead and you will be alive. And a lot of very, very, very pissed off people are going to be wandering around with pitchforks looking for the people who allowed people like him to do this to our world.

Arsehats!

Does Mark Scott want Australians to turn off their local ABC?

2010-06-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

If you disrespect anybody that you run in to
How in the world do you think anybody's s'posed to respect you?

‘Respect Yourself’, The Staple Singers [1971]

Self-respect must be proving increasingly elusive to announcers at the national broadcaster who care about their professional reputations as well as the integrity of the ABC.

Treating their listeners like idiots by devoting more and more airtime to the promotion of Murdoch products, interviewing his properties, and constantly referencing the propaganda in his so called news outlets – without any kind of disclosure or questioning of the legitimacy of his thoroughly discredited organisation.

Last week, precious Coast FM airtime was used to promote Rupert Murdoch’s dinnertime suggestions.

This week, the ‘Gold Coast Weekend Bulletin’s’ Arts Editor Marina Saint Martin was interviewed on the afternoon show [30/6/10].

Are there no other art experts on the Gold Coast who could inform listeners about current exhibitions and local artists?

If Gold Coast residents wanted to know what art exhibitions Rupert Murdoch deems to be worthy of checking out, we would read the ‘Gold Coast Bulletin’.

Wasting precious airtime on the promotion of Rupert Murdoch’s business interests is transforming Coast FM's broadcasts into a monocultural, listless drone that increases the likelihood of listeners switching off and missing out on really interesting segments - such as the interview with Tara Simmons.

And how has it come about that taxpayer funded shows are to be broadcast on Pay TV for us to purchase?

Is the future for our taxpayer funded national broadcasters to be nothing more than vehicles to promote Rupert Murdoch’s publications and Pay TV?

If you care about the ABC and the future of journalism and cultural discourse in this country, perhaps you might want to contact your candidates in the upcoming federal election and ask them what they’re going to do about it.

Barbarians not just at the gate - they're bloody everywhere!

2010-06-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

There are two political sides running Australia as one. They both need to suck up to Murdoch's press for favour. Here is some more proof of this:

... CHRISTINE WALLACE [journalist and Julia Gillard biographer]: Well, you see,
Janet is the problem for Barnaby [Joyce], because Janet Albrechtsen, Alan Jones,
Andrew Bolt, the absolutely rolled gold, right wing political commentators of
Australia, all love Julia and this is why you guys are...

So there you go Australia.

Rupert has decided.

It remains a puzzle in Australia that while almost everyone can agree that the Murdoch press is rubbish, they apparently hold so much power over our elected politicians.

Action: Vote for the first person or party to tell Rupert and his operatives to go get fucked!

The Murdoch press are NOT on your side

2010-06-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Rupert Murdoch and his properties don't represent the interests of ordinary Australians.

They stand for no-one except Rupert Murdoch.

Don't kid yourself that the 'Gold Coast Sun' actually cares about working people, just because they do a page 23 about a couple of Ashmore lollipop ladies in this week's edition [23/6/10]

Murdoch's publications are about reinforcing outdated stereotypes and normalising injustice.

Like this bizarrity in the July issue of Murdoch's Woolworths' 'Fresh' magazine:

... With nutrition and obesity reaching epidemic proportions and the work-life balance tipping in favour of employers, enjoying dinner together has never been more important. ...

Did you get that? No, you didn't because you are stupid. You must be stupid, otherwise you would refuse to accept this shit without question. But because you are, in fact, stupid, you accept that employers have the upper hand, and that's cool. It's the natural order of things, so you just go along to get along.

You pay taxes so Rupert Murdoch can tell you what to cook for dinner

2010-06-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

As well as the ABC's 'delicious.' magazine, News Magazines publish Woolworth's 'Fresh' magazine

Here's how it works.

Your ABC has a commercial partnership with Harper Collins Publishers Australia to publish and distribute ABC Books.

Substantial airtime and internet space courtesy the national broadcaster is devoted to promoting these publications, such as this week's endorsement of Valli Little's 'Quick Smart Cook' book - along with 'delicious.' magazine - on Coast FM.

Airtime that could be spent informing and inspiring listeners on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts about local markets, community gardens, restaurants, providores and emerging food trends.

Such as the rise of Southport's vibrant "Little Korea" restaurant (and hairdressing) precinct.

Boycott these books and magazines.

Contact ABC and let them know what you think.

Demand the details of these deals (i.e. who's profiting) be disclosed.

Murdoch press fabricate another controversy

2010-06-24T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Currumbin Beach pathway has clearly been a public thoroughfare for years. Currently, the Gold Coast City Council are undertaking dune revegetation adjacent to the path.

First it was the psycho pee wee, now the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' reckon [24/6/10]:

Pet dogs have been killed, syringes and beer bottles hurled over fences and houses robbed after a controversial pathway was extended along Currumbin beach.

Residents say they no longer feel safe in their unit homes after the beach walk, which is not part of the Coast's Oceanway project, was built within metres of their homes about 12 months ago.

Some beachfront properties do not have front fences and the city council has refused to pay half the cost to install barriers to keep the public out of private yards. ...

How can you tell when a Murdoch scribe is telling lies? Their fingers are typing!

Kevin Rudd kisses Rupert Murdoch's arse, again

2010-06-21T06:04:00.001-07:00

'Brisbane Times' reports [21/6/10]:

...Today Rudd will focus on counting how his government kept recession at bay when he launches Shitstorm, a book by the Lenore Taylor of the Herald and David Uren of The Australian, which looks back at that mad and frightening period which greeted a new government and so tested it....

The Murdoch press are not about journalism. They operate as Murdoch's voice in the power structure. Without exception, everyone who works for Murdoch is tainted. They have no defence to charges of being complicit in this subversion of democracy by their role in removing the "Fourth Estate" from its vital position as a check on government and corporate power.

By being a huge unaccountable corporation and the, apparently, prime source of 'News' in Australia's journalism and news scene, the "Murdia" is patently disqualified from pretending to any place of importance in our democracy. It is just another multi-national corporation selling widgets for power, profit, influence, joy and fun. In short: it hates you.

By shamelessly kissing Murdoch's arse at every opportunity, by smugly treating all Australians as mugs, by lending his full support to the Murdia takeover of our public broadcaster (and apparently doing so with some relish and glee - cf. "7:30 report land"), your Rudd is expressing his pleasure with this corporation's undermining of our Australian democracy and his loving adoration for the power of its owner, Rupert Murdoch.

Yuck.

Murdoch's propagandists get book deals, they spread their hate and lies, Rudd sups with these devils and you go out and buy a giant 3-D telly because you are nothing more than a mindless slug to these people.

Rupert Murdoch HATES bats

2010-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

It is no co-incidence this fear mongering about bats appeared on the front page of last weekend's 'Gold Coast Bulletin', as well as appearing on their on line version [19/6/10]

In Rupert Murdoch's world, the environment and human beings exist independently of, and in conflict with, each other:

Queensland biosecurity officials have locked down an area near the Gold Coast Turf Club fearing a potential outbreak of the fatal Hendra virus which could cripple the multimillion-dollar industry.

Government officials have banned trainers indefinitely from walking their horses in the popular forest area near the racing precinct because of a fruit bat colony which could carry and pass on the illness through bodily fluids.

The danger could last several weeks with the council and environment protection agencies forced to preserve the protected species rather than cull or remove the breeding ground for the virus.

It is believed up to 1500 fruit bats may live in trees next to the state-of-the-art Traintech education facility opposite the racecourse. ...

Murdoch's little foot soldiers pick and choose what to tell the citizenry according to their master's dictates, not what is in the community interest.

They would have known about this Bat Care Brisbane event:

'Bat Watch with Gilbert' Flying Fox Information and Display

Saturday 19 June from 4.30pm to 7.30pm - Cascade Gardens, Broadbeach Gold Coast Hwy, Broadbeach

Have you always wanted to know more about the creepy creatures that fill our skies at night. Come along and separate the facts from the fiction about these amazing native mammals! You get to take home a free flying-fox food plant, witness an evening fly-out then enjoy a free BBQ. RSVPs essential to Louise, Bat Conservation and Rescue. Funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program so it’s free to enjoy.

This event was mentioned on the ABC's Coast FM last week in conjunction with a story about flying foxes starving throughout South East Queensland:

... Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland president, Louise Saunders, says more than 850 people have reported injured animals so far this year, compared to a total of 1,000 reports in 2009.

She says fewer native flowers are opening in the cold weather and the animals are travelling further and taking bigger risks to feed. ...

The Hard-Core Zionists have a famous saying: "I can forgive you for killing my child, but I can never forgive you for forcing me to kill your children", and it is this mindset that dominates Murdoch's hatred of the natural environment.

Cause, Effect, and Vicious Merciless Retribution. Never mind that our unsustainable development is the cause of the problem, the solution is violent retribution against the effect - in this case the bats trying to find somewhere to live and something to eat.

Interestingly, these Murdoch pieces always successfully dog whistle up the same type of predicitable comments, along the lines of this one:

"it's ridiculous they are looking to save the bats, surely people are more important!!"
Jason

Cascade Gardens, Broadbeach

Do you really think Murdoch wants to save the whales?

2010-06-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Footage of the 'Sunday Times'' entrapment of the National Director of Fisheries for the Republic of Guinea, broadcast on 'Lateline'

Last night [17/6/10] the ABC's 'Lateline' ran a report based on an unethical "sting" conducted by the 'Sunday Times':

... Undercover reporters posed as representatives of a billionaire conservationist who was willing to, in effect, buy the votes of those countries to change from pro to anti whaling.
Europe correspondent Philip Williams spoke to one of the reporters involved,
Jonathan Calvert, who requested his face not be shown on television. ...

This is yet another example of ethically corrupt behaviour, universally common across the Murdoch empire. Curiously, the fact that this entrapment is unethical was not even mentioned in the 'Lateline' report.

With regard to clandestine devices and subterfuge, Britain's Press Complaints Commission's "Editors' Code of Practice" states:

i) The press must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices; or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or emails; or by the unauthorised removal of documents or photographs; or by accessing digitally-held private information without consent.

ii) Engaging in misrepresentation or subterfuge, including by agents or intermediaries, can generally be justified only in the public interest and then only when the material cannot be obtained by other means.

Attempting to suggest bribery and corruption by engaging in bribery and corruption proves nothing. It's like a journalist sneaking into your house and shooting you, and then publishing a headline: "Householder Involved In Shooting Crime". It's false logic.

The "public interest" must be proven by the person "engaging in misrepresentation or subterfuge", and in this case it wasn't. If there is corruption, then evidence of that corruption should be obtained. Creating new corruption just makes News Ltd. a bunch of crooks and proves nothing.

It seems as though all of Murdoch's properties get a turn to rotate around the ABC. Was it the 'Sunday Times'' turn last night?

Win a holiday to a military dictatorship

2010-06-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Fiji is a military dictatorship.

A military dictatorship needs a compliant media to run propaganda and keep the people uninformed. In Fiji, there are three papers: two are basically government controlled and the other, the Fiji Times, is owned by Rupert Murdoch.

In early April 2010 the military dictatorship decreed that all media would have to be locally owned and controlled within 3 months. It is safe to assume that (the American) Rupert Murdoch doesn't like that idea.

What a coincidence, then, that we see Murdoch's Gold Coast Bulletin promoting tourism to Fiji just when he might be trying to sweet talk the dictator into giving him the usual exceptional treatment he has come to expect from governments all over the world when getting around the rules that apply to everyone else.

Is it your ABC or Rupert Murdoch’s?

2010-06-16T03:44:00.000-07:00

How are you finding your local ABC’s coverage of local news and issues of late?

Here on the Gold Coast, we wonder who is running our local ABC station - Coast FM - given nearly every day, precious airtime is devoted to parroting propaganda and PR from either the ‘Gold Coast Bulletin’, the ‘Courier-Mail’, or any other News Ltd. outlet.

For instance, the lead segment on the "Drive" program today [16/6/10] was about a nominee for the Pride of Australia™ Medal. – the ‘Courier-Mail’s cover story.

Pride of Australia™ is a commercial venture owned by News Ltd. (who own the vast majority of Australia's so called newspapers), yet the announcer failed to disclose this fact.

This is blatant promotion of a Murdoch corporate PR vehicle, and is surely against the ABC's editorial guidelines?

We also heard about the Dreamworld Bengal Tiger’s dental work [page 3 ‘Courier-Mail’] and Vu Vu horns [page 27 ‘Courier-Mail’].

Since the disappearance of popular and community-minded announcer Trevor Jackson at the end of last year, it’s been getting dumb and dumber at Coast FM.

A woeful state of affairs considering the Gold Coast is a one-paper town.

How hard would it be for a Coast FM reporter to file a weekly Council, Courthouse, police roundup, or actually do some simple community journalism?

Is there a journalist at the station following the current NSW Supreme Court Inquiry into the collapse of Gold Coast financial company Octaviar/MFS?

Now that’s an interesting story with local relevance to Gold Coast residents.

If you're getting as sick of the Murdoch Press’ constant infiltration of the ABC at all levels as we are, contact your Federal MP, and demand that they do something to wrestle back the ABC's independence and strengthen their local, non-Murdoch content.

Murdoch wants to take health care back to the 19th Century

2010-06-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

... One night I was aroused from my slumbers by the screams of a new patient who was entered in my hall. The welcome she received from her keepers, Miss Smith and Miss Bailey, so frightened her that she supposed they were going to kill her. ...

This article in today's [15/6/10] 'Gold Coast Bulletin' is not about informing the community or attempting to solve a problem. It's all about perpetuating negative stereotypes, vilification, manipulating fear and the usual public hospital bashing:

Mental health patients are being let out of their ward at Gold Coast Hospital to take cigarette breaks alongside other patients, staff and the general public.

In 2009, Gold Coast Hospital removed its nominated smoking areas from hospital grounds in accordance with Queensland Health's smoking policy.

That has left just the footpath, which runs alongside busy Southport-Nerang Road, as the only place to smoke.

Gold Coast Hospital has confirmed patients from the mental health ward, including some involuntary patients, are being released from their wards to smoke.

Former president of the Gold Coast Medical Association and former director of the mental health unit at the Gold Coast Hospital Dr Philip Morris said patient safety could be at risk. ...

Typical 19th Century bullshit from the Murdoch empire.

If you care about truth, balance and fair reporting, contact your candidates in the upcoming election.

Tell them what you think about the disgraceful state of the majority of Australia's print media and ask them what they're going to do about it.

Ostracise and ridicule

2010-06-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

The Rudd Government clearly have no plans to do anything about the shocking level of Murdoch control and influence of Australian media, let alone criticise it:

... BARRIE CASSIDY: You apparently told a meeting of Reuters clients this week that reform is harder these days because of the media. What did you mean by that?

LINDSAY TANNER: No, that's not quite what I said. I just said that the intensity of the media cycle now and particularly the far greater pervasiveness of electronic media means that it's harder to prosecute a reform case than it was maybe 20, 25 years ago. That doesn't mean you can't do it. It just means that it's tougher circumstances.

The newspaper industry has dumbed down because it's in a much more intense competitive environment.

And so you're getting a kind of reporting that just makes it tougher to prosecute complex, nuanced reform projects rather than simplistic Tony Abbott style one-liners.

That's just the reality that we have to deal with. It doesn't mean you don't pursue reform. It just means it's got a bit harder.

BARRIE CASSIDY: Is that really the problem or is it your Government's obsession with the media that's the problem?

LINDSAY TANNER: No well first Barrie I didn't say it was, quote, "the problem" as you've just implied. I answered a specific question about has it become a bit harder and I said yes.

Secondly the suggestion that there is an obsession with the media in our Government I think is not correct. The media is an ever present part of modern politics, no matter who the government is, no matter who the players are. It is just a key part of the process. ...

Even as they are obviously out of control, as reported by Rafael Epstein ['The Age 12/6/10]:

Victoria's police watchdog yesterday cleared Chief Commissioner Simon Overland of wrongdoing over the leaking of a secret crime investigation as details emerged of alleged attempts by Rupert Murdoch’s media empire to intimidate law enforcement agencies.

Office of Police Integrity director Michael Strong issued a statement saying he believed Mr Overland acted lawfully when he told his then media director about intelligence that came from covertly taped phone calls.

A series of controversial articles in the Murdoch-owned Australian newspaper this week claimed Mr Overland’s conversation undermined an investigation into the 2003 murder of prostitute Shane Chartres-Abbott.

But Mr Strong said Mr Overland acted within the law, ‘‘for a purpose connected with an investigation’’, in conveying covert information to a confidant.

His statement came as The Age obtained details of two incidents in which senior News Ltd executives appeared to threaten law enforcement agencies in Victoria and NSW.

Australian editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell wrote to the OPI and the federal police watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), in March. He denounced their joint report critical of the paper’s coverage of anti-terrorism raids in Melbourne last year as ‘‘the greatest corruption of truth I have seen in an official document’’.

‘‘I assure you The Australian newspaper will use every journalistic and legal measure available to pursue what can only be described as an outrageous fabrication ... should our concerns not be addressed,’’ he wrote.

Last week the newspaper settled its court dispute with the OPI, and had settled with the ACLEI previously.

Meanwhile, law enforcement sources have told The Age that they were concerned about comments News Ltd chairman John Hartigan made to senior NSW police in March.

Several sources at the meeting said Mr Hartigan told officers they could choose to work with News Ltd or not, like Mr Overland. The sources interpreted this as a warning to police to co-operate with the group’s newspapers or they would receive negative coverage. ‘‘It really means the police [should] play ball or else we will carve you up ... we will get stuck into you as we have been with Overland,’’ one senior officer said.

Mr Hartigan spoke on March 17 at the Police Leadership Centre at the University of Western Sydney. Mr Hartigan’s spokesman said he ‘‘totally rejects that interpretation ...[and] he does not make threats to anybody, let alone senior officers’’. ...

In many traditional cultures, one of the most severe forms of punishment for egregious wrongdoing, is to ostracise and/or ridicule the wrongdoer.

So in the face Government inability or refusal to act, we propose a boycott of all Murdoch publications.

Don't give them your eyeballs, do not give them your money, don't interact with them, don't allow them to set the agenda every day and control the debate. Where possible, tell advertisers in the Murdoch Press why you can't do business with them.

In addition poke fun and ridicule at every opportunity.

Here's Russell Brand's comedic analysis of 'The Sun' to inspire you:

http://www.protectthehuman.com/videos/russell-brand-standup-at-amnesty-s-secret-policeman-s-ball-2006

Is Simon Overland Australia's cleanest cop?

2010-06-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

We could all take a leaf out of the Victorian Police Chief's book:

... He accuses The Australian Newspaper of running a concerted and "disgraceful" campaign against him.

"The reason I criticised them is I thought their actions put the lives of my members at risk. And I still believe that," he said.

"I criticised them and I moved on. But they have been waging this relentless campaign ... that is directly aimed, at, I think, whacking me because I dared to have a go at them."

At a media doorstop later, Mr Overland ignored questions from a journalist from The Australian, repeatedly asking for the next question.

If you had to choose who to believe, would it be Simon Overland or Murdoch's hacks?

The Murdoch Press are not about journalism, they are about power and neo-liberal ideology.

For the sake of our democracy, contact your candidates in the upcoming federal election and ask them what they will do to restore some balance to media ownership and control in Australia.

Why does Murdoch HATE Elanora State High School?

2010-06-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be good if the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' had a competitor?

Then we might have a chance of knowing why they have it in for Elanora State High School:

Palm Beach police have today brought in the horses as part of a crackdown on truancy in the area.

Mounted officers on loan from Brisbane spent much of the day patrolling Schusters Park at Tallebudgera [which is adjacent to Elanora State High School] on the hunt for 'waggers', but did not find any.

Senior Sergeant Chris Ahearn said police mounted the operation every few months in response to reports from residents regarding truancy and petty crime in the large park.

"The reason for calling on the mounted police is that they are able to access areas not commonly accessible by police vehicles,'' he said.

''There is a vast expanse of parkland in the area of Schusters Park, so we have decided to use a few different approaches."

Another newspaper on the Gold Coast could be a future possibility.

2010 is an election year.

Contact your candidates and ask them what they will do about Australia's pitiful media diversity if they are elected.

It's Official. Government gives ABC to Murdoch

2010-06-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

'Daily Telegraph' scribe Chris Masters on assignment in Afghanistan for 'Four Corners', being interviewed on 'Lateline' [8/6/10]

Chris Masters made his name as a quality investigative journalist on the taxpayer's payroll during his time with your ABC. He eventually sold out to Murdoch's slimey dollar machine and propaganda factory with the usual lip-service about 'fierce independence' and all the other rot previously proven to be worth less than a pinch of shit.

Now that he has infiltrated the darkest corners of the Murdoch machine, such as the "Daily Terror", we are supposed to believe that he has reverted into some kind of "embedded" but "independent", "journalist" on "assignment" to Four Corners. Can you "un-metamorphosise"?

Balls-to-The-Wall jingoistic bullshit language aside, this was not journalism, it was not investigative and it had no place on the ABC without disclosing Chris Masters' current status with Murdoch's fatally tainted News Corporation.

So it seems final: Your government has obviously given Your ABC to Murdoch - for free!

Murdoch HATES Pee Wees - Part 2

2010-06-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

Male and female pee wees, Alex Griffith Park, Currumbin [5/6/10]. See them being "psycho", "mad" and "deranged"?

Email to the Department of Environment and Resource Management:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I refer to recent media coverage of a wildlife issue at Currumbin.

Today the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' reports that the pee wee has been removed from the area (its mate was left behind), and taken to Beaudesert as part of the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.

I wondered if the Department of Environment and Resource Management were aware of this situation, if the relocation of this bird has been approved, and if this is usual protocol in the handling of wildlife issues?

Regards,

This pee wee business is a concerted, orchestrated, nature-hating campaign by the Murdoch Press going back at least to March of this year when the 'Pine Rivers Press' shrieked:

An aggressive peewee bird described as ``evil’’ is terrorising a Strathpine
street, leaving bloodied victims in its wake. ...

Why would any school participate in a 'Courier-Mail' spelling bee?

2010-06-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

Murdoch has clearly articulated his opinion of the teaching profession:

... Speaking at a session titled 'Advice to the US President on Competitiveness', Mr Murdoch blamed the teachers' union in America, which he said was very rich and the number one donor to the Democratic party.

He told the audience of international business leaders and politicians that it would take courage and strength for President Barack Obama to fight them....

His ideological opposition to public education, equity, critical thinking for anyone other than the wealthy, as well as the teaching profession, is manifest in the derogatory reporting of education issues in his publications.

That's why schools should boycott this:

The 'Courier-Mail's' Spelling Bee is an opportunity for your school to be part of a high-profile state-wide contest and to display your students' talents and mastery of spelling. Organised with the sponsorship of Education Queensland, Capilano and Collins, this competition is a major first for our state - designed to make spelling interactive and fun and to give you an additional resource to help engage your student in a new and exciting way.

Are Education Queensland serious about fostering a love of the written word in Queensland students?

Using taxpayer dollars to sponsor a cynical News Ltd. exercise will not achieve this.

Murdoch HATES pee wees

2010-05-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Along with, women, homosexuals, public services, the rule of law, human rights, Westminster democracy and journalism - Murdoch hates the environment.

This is why his properties produce irresponsible garbage such as this ('Gold Coast Bulletin' - 1/6/10):

Beachgoers on the Gold Coast beware -- a deranged pee wee with a mania for
eyeballs is on the loose and doing damage. ...

Evidently an ophthalmic nurse contacted the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' when a couple of "victims" presented at the eye clinic where she works after they had been attacked by what the publication calls a "psycho", "mad", "deranged" pee wee.

Even if there is a grain of truth here, telling the local Murdoch Press may give you and your business fleeting, incidental PR, but it won't inform the rest of the community, prompt solutions or sensible action by local authorities.

What it will do, however, is possibly incite acts of animal cruelty.

Don't talk to them. By all means, when you encounter a civic or environmental problem - tell your Council, the local wildlife authority - and, maybe, the ABC - but don't engage with the Murdoch Press.

They don't care about you.

Tell the ABC it's not good enough

2010-05-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Morrocks", commenting on 'The Drum' gets it spot on (although not the bit about selling the ABC off - boot the News Ltd. bastards out):

If the ABC honestly laments loss of media diversity, why is it contributing to the problem by allowing itself to be quietly colonised by News Ltd?

Political stories on the Radio National and ABC2 'Breakfast' programs are taken straight from the pages of Murdoch's 'The Australian'. Fran Kelly is basically a walking, talking mouthpiece for the Coalition/Murdoch angle on any issue.

'The Australian's' political correspondent, Dennis Shanahan, is now a regular commentator on ABC Radio. (Hi, Tony Delroy!) Murdoch opinionists dominate the ABC1 political show 'The Insiders'.

ABC reporters write regularly for the Murdoch opinion site, 'The Punch'. Heavens above, until recently 'The Australian's' right wing ranter, Janet Albrechtsen, sat on the ABC's Board of Directors!

If the ABC is "independent", how is so much input from News Ltd justified?

Do we really need a publicly-funded broadcaster when it apes its major commercial rival?

Sell off the ABC and use the money to start over with a truly independent, non-politicised public broadcaster.

As we found before, the ABC try to ignore this valid criticism. It's up to each of you to keep telling the ABC and your politicians this must stop.

The Murdoch press are out of control

2010-05-25T01:38:00.000-07:00

Occasionally, the more decent of our politicians are willing to acknowledge this problem:

... SIMON LAUDER: On the day 173 people were killed by bushfire Christine Nixon was still Victoria's top police officer. Last month's revelation that she went out to dinner on the evening of the fires triggered a barrage of criticism and calls for her to resign from her current role as the head of the Bushfire Recovery Authority.

The royal commission into the bushfires won't make its final report until the end of July, but today's Herald Sun newspaper quotes from the draft final submissions which will be made by the counsel assisting the commission, Jack Rush, QC.

The paper says Ms Nixon will be accused of deliberately misleading the commission in the witness box, by not revealing that she'd gone out to dinner on the night.

It's the second leak of a royal commission document this week and the Premier, John Brumby, says he's gravely concerned.

JOHN BRUMBY: I think they undermine the work of the royal commission. They cast, in part, a cloud I think over its work. They, through this leak, deny natural justice to any of the individuals that are named in counsel assisting's report.

SIMON LAUDER: The first leak revealed plans by counsel assisting the commission to accuse the state government of a substantial policy failure that put lives at risk.

The leaks come as the royal commission enters its end-game, and they pre-empt its final submissions, which won't be heard until later this week.

John Brumby says the royal commission should investigate.

JOHN BRUMBY: I obviously hoped that the commission itself would take some steps to try and determine where this leak has come from.

SIMON LAUDER: There is no comment from the royal commission on the latest leak and it is not sitting today but the chairman of the commission Bernard Teague released a statement on Sunday criticising the leaking of counsel assisting's submission on state government matters.

He says the leaks show only one side of the debate and the commissioners won't make their final decisions until after the royal commission has heard the matters in full.

The leaks could have come from any of several parties who have leave to appear at the commission and are given copies of submissions in advance. ...

Unfortunately, the hopelessly Murdoch grovelling ABC (and virtually all other) journalists don't share the ability to level fair criticism at these clowns and their shameless, and occasionally criminal, disregard for truth or democracy.

Can you count the number of times a politican, media commentator or academic has publicly criticised the Murdoch machine?

And when politicians like Premier Brumby do it, they are hardly robust.

State politicians are constitutionally limited in what they can do to reform this imbalance of media power (other than stop placing government advertising in these trashy rags), but our federal politicians aren't.

And it is an election year after all, so ask your candidates what they'll do about the media ownership laws.

Australia's national broadcasters show a serious lapse of judgment

2010-05-24T03:33:00.000-07:00

ABC Brisbane's 7 PM news bulletin [24/5/10]

SBS World News Australia's 6.30 PM news bulletin [24/5/10]

Rupert Murdoch controls the criminally compromised and totally discredited "News of The World."

This piece of garbage has engaged in criminal activities before. They have no scruples and they have contempt for legal process.

Rupert Murdoch also controls what idiots believe when they accept the rubbish passing as journalism from "Fox", "Sky", "Herald-Sun", "The Australian" and any other of his hundred or so outlets, as representing reality or facts.

It is a simply provable fact that Murdoch deals in lies. Anyone who works for any Murdoch outlet is scum-by-association. Sad but true.

Why didn't either of Australia's public broadcasters (ABC and SBS) mention the name "Rupert Murdoch" when they ran this piece of gutter journalism tonight? Is it because "in Australia the media is 100% governed by Rupert Murdoch"?

Probably. Gutless shills.

Action: Burn a Murdoch paper in a public place!

Rupert Hates Fags

2010-05-20T01:35:00.000-07:00

The 'Come Out To Play' report was funded by Vic Health and is the first comprehensive survey of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual sport experiences in Australia.

"I don't believe in the gay movement....I think they should stay to themselves, just climb back into the cupboards....I don't think they are gay at all, they are very unhappy."
Rupert Murdoch in 1980.

That was quoted from a site with heaps of "Gay" type quotes. Notice how it bears a remarkably close resemblance to 'Akers' suggestion that gay type men keep their gayness in 'the closet'?

Rupert really has an almost half century history of homophobia, if you care to look.

As you know, Rupert tells all his minions how to think and what to say. And boy, they brainlessly follow whatever Rupert wants. Brainless wankers.

"Hey dad! Why are we so rich?"

"Well son, it's because I have never had an independent thought in my life. And I strongly suggest you do the same!"

Wow! What a surprise then that Jason "Piers" Ackermanis, who most people would be surprised to think could work a keyboard, let alone string together a cogent sentence, is able to run such a perfectly Murdoch-scripted-like 'Herald-Sun' column! And on the day of the release of a groundbreaking report into gender, sexuality and sport.

What a coincidence.

Not only that, but by the weirdest of all coincidences this column gets him on early morning Channel 9 and all the right wing ABC morning radio shows just in time to become the nightly news!

We have no comment from Cardinal Pell along the lines of: "Thanks guys, we really pulled together as a male team to bury that one from public and female view and scrutiny."

"Let's all get naked and slap each other on our heterosexually tight bottoms! Yay."

Everybody knows the Murdoch press is riddled with lies, bullshit, spin, racism, sexism, homophobia and so on.

For the rest of our media to even reference Murdoch's rubbish, let alone use it as their primary source, is the best proof that we desperately need media ownership reform in Australia.

How will you vote this year?

GetUp! wastes your money

2010-05-18T00:24:00.000-07:00

The mining industry must be shaking in their boots at GetUp!'s latest campaign:

They can stretch the truth, but they can't scare us!

The mining industry is scared that a tax on their super profits might trim a little fat off their bottom lines.

So now they're trying to scare Australians into opposing it.

You can beat them at their own game, by putting this huge parody ad right alongside theirs in the papers, starting with The Australian this Thursday.

Can you contribute $30, $50, $100 or more to make it happen?

One wonders how much money GetUp! have given to the Murdoch Press over the past few years.

They are laughing as they take your money and continue to use their editorial power to push the mining lobby's line.

Think very carefully about why you would give cash to Murdoch to run this ad. As we've said many times before, there are plenty of other, better, more honest ways that money could be spent to send this message.

Murdoch Loses Another Court Battle: Hartigan's Evidence Rejected

2010-05-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

Murdoch's troops took another hiding in the most recent judicial intrusion into their world.

It all started when News Ltd.'s John Hartigan sacked the 'Herald Sun' editor-in-chief, Bruce Guthrie, in November 2008 at the urging of Peter Blunden. Even though he got paid $844,523 when he was sacked, Guthrie sued News for unfair dismissal and won an extra $580,808 plus costs.

The full transcript of the judgment is a lengthy read. 'Crikey!' has a pretty succinct summary but a longer, more detailed, collection of the juiciest bits of the judgment (read all about how cosy Blunden and Neil Mitchell are or how glassy-jawed Andrew Bolt is) have been collated over at 'Spring Hill Voice'.

The three witnesses for News Ltd. were Hartigan, Julian Clarke and Blunden. All three were rejected by the Judge to various extents. In a general sense, the judgment is unsurprising in what it makes of Murdoch peoples' attitude to truth and the legal process. If you cared about such things, you would have trouble showing your face in decent company after reading this about you or your associates:

"Shortly after those exchanges, the luncheon adjournment occurred. After that adjournment, Mr O’Bryan questioned Mr Blunden generally about the issue. Mr Blunden then gave what, to my perception, was clearly a pre-rehearsed speech, ... The answer which Mr Blunden gave, and the manner in which he gave it, showed that it was the product of thought over lunch. It is flawed. ... I do not accept Mr Blunden’s proffered explanation in his cross-examination, which, as I have stated, bears all the hallmarks of ex post facto rationalisation."

Ouch!

But that's just one of many criticisms of these people, read the summary for more. It really is a spooky insight into how Murdoch people think. The fact is that none of this will bother the Murdoch machine one bit, it's how they're programmed.

For example, in Sarah Ellison's 'War at the Wall Street Journal - How Rupert Murdoch Bought an American Icon', she writes about the imminent negotiated sacking of Marcus Brauchli and how Murdoch and Gary Ginsberg are trying to orchestrate and control the event before it leaks out. If it wasn't managed properly it risked upsetting the puppet editorial independence police, the "Special Committee":

"'Can't we just say that this thing's been written and he's going to sign it?' Murdoch yelled, clearly accustomed to revising reality so the facts served his needs." [p.208]

And it isn't just a few isolated events. It is deeply ingrained News culture in all things. Think the NRL/Storm salary cap fraud was just an unfortunate aberration? Here [p.206] is what Ellison writes about Murdoch's agreement to keep editorial independence once he takes over the 'Wall Street Journal':

"Though many within News Corp. had found it mildly insulting to have to sign an agreement that implicitly said Murdoch was unfit to run a respectable paper, Murdoch was willing to weather such slights. They were minor, temporal; they always faded. Murdoch thought the separation between a newsroom and its owner was another false conceit of American newspapers, ... But if they helped him get what he wanted, he was willing to sign on to an artificial set of rules he would inevitably circumvent."

It's how they do everything.

Action? Well, if you get the chance, sue them! But remember how they conduct themselves in litigation!

Hey ABC: Repeating the latest Murdoch line is NOT journalism

2010-05-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

At least 'Brisbane Times' [14/5/10] undertook some sensible followup (or at least did a 'Google' and had a shot at a followup):

... In 2007, then state attorney-general Kerry Shine, a Toowoomba MP, referred to the state's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner pamphlets distributed around Toowoomba and Cairns promoting the US-based White Legion Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and asking people to join them in becoming klansmen or klanswomen.

Asked about the leaflet episode today, Mr Shine said to his knowledge nothing ever came of the investigation.

He said he had not heard of any KKK-related stirrings in the community since then.

"Not in the last couple of years," he said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if people ... had that One Nation-type view, we had 25 per cent One Nation vote up here."

Yet Mr Shine said he did not believe Toowoomba was particularly susceptible to KKK infiltration.

A Toowoomba Regional Council spokesman told brisbanetimes.com.au talk of a Klan headquarters or branch in the Darling Downs was "no more than rumours and innuendo".

However, a Toowoomba woman, who works with minority groups in the area, said she believed the KKK did have a presence the Darling Downs area.

"There is. But the last few years it's been much quieter, it's better not to give them any airtime," the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said. ... [emphasis added]

Like the 'Gold Coast Bulletin' beatup of the White Pride musical festival on the Gold Coast last month, the ABC unquestioningly push this beatup, with bonus arse lick:

... The ABC understands no formal mention was made of McNeil's role in the Klan to protect him in jail and because it had little relevance to the case.

But his cover was blown in a newspaper article by respected journalist Tony Koch. ...

We've said it before and we'll say it again, News Ltd. is a company that has done inestimable wilful damage to democracy, journalism, reconciliation and the environment in Australia and throughout the world.

The ever-intensifying nature of their beatups and moral panics illustrate the contempt they have for Australian citizens and matters of national decency.

If you are lucky enough to have an alternative news publication to the Murdoch press in your community (or you tune in to the ABC) and your find their constant referral to Murdoch stories unacceptable - let them know.

The more of us who ignore the Murdoch press' nasty (and increasingly obvious) beatups - or call them out for what they are - the better!

Legislation is easy: Ban foreign ownership of Australian media

2010-05-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

... The things that you're liable
To read in the bible
It ain't necessarily so ...

'It Ain't Necessarily So', George Gershwin ('Porgy & Bess', 1935)

This is what the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr said during question time yesterday [13/5/10]:

Senator CARR—I thank Senator Mason for the question. I always enjoy a question from Senator Mason. He has had to wait in the queue for some time. Senators opposite have obviously been pushing ahead of him. The simple fact of life is that the Building the Education Revolution is a program of $16.2 billion which has been supporting jobs in local communities right around Australia—24,000 projects around Australia. We have seen 9,000 schools around Australia enjoy considerable benefit from this program. We have seen a full and thorough investigation into the claims that have been made.

Senator Mason, I have given you this advice on many occasions: the Australian is not the best source of advice that you could find. What you should do is go to the ANAO for advice on these questions. The ANAO have shown that the department of education’s governance arrangements have ensured that the BER and P21 are delivering improved education facilities to almost all primary schools in Australia. [emphasis mine]

All manner of bills and amendments to legislation were passed in Parliament yesterday - from ASIO to immigration and FOI amendments.

If our politicians are concerned about the quality of a publication run by a corporation that runs most of the newspapers in this country as trash tabloid/right wing propaganda sheets, they should do the right thing for Australia's democracy and ban foreign ownership.

Easy.

Have we reached saturation point?

2010-05-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

If it's not obvious enough, consider all the 2010 Federal Budget leaks that have been announced through the Murdoch Press. (Heard the ABC reporting on a budget leak being reported in the Fairfax Press recently?)

Last night [10/5/10], the ABC's 'Media Watch' reported:

... Hedley Thomas is a Queenslander. Melbourne journalists, including some of The Australian's, have been reporting on the Victoria Police, its factions, and politics, and deep pockets of corruption, for years.

It seems they've all been getting it wrong - or at least, missed a major story.

But on Thursday Michael Strong, the director of the OPI, hit back in an interview with the ABC's Jon Faine...

Michael Strong: Can I say something on, about the story on the front page of the Australian and the one yesterday and the one the day before and the one we believe is coming tomorrow and the one we believe is coming on Saturday. The Australian is running a campaign against the OPI at the moment. What they are not disclosing is that they're also suing us Jon. They're trying to stop us reporting to parliament and giving information to the DPP about what we say is criminal conduct. That case is starting in the Federal Court tomorrow and I can say no more about it because I am bound hand and foot by injunctions.

— ABC Radio 774, Mornings with Jon Faine, 6th May, 2010

Well, we can say this much, because we've already reported on it. The Australian will be back in Federal Court this week, arguing that the OPI should be prevented, permanently, from publishing a report into the leaking to its reporter Cameron Stewart of the details of a major anti-terrorist investigation.

The OPI's draft report, we know from court documents,

... contains matters critical of the conduct of the applicants that adversely affects the business and commercial reputation of the first applicant...

— Federal Court documents, 15th March, 2010

...which is the owner of The Australian newspaper.

Nationwide News Pty Ltd is arguing that in investigating the conduct of The Australian, the OPI exceeded its legal powers.

Whether or not Hedley Thomas's stories are in the public interest depends on how accurate they prove to be. But right now, they're certainly in The Australian's. You'd have thought, in the acres of print it's devoted to the OPI last week, that somewhere it would have found the space to disclose that.

I think its readers have a Right to Know. ...

Of course they do.

But that has never been the way Murdoch works.

And next time someone parrots the "Dr Haneef affair Walkley award" line, ask them about the faked photoshopped front page picture of the Dr and his wife in front of the Gold Coast's Q1 tower with it's snide insinuations. Also ask them about Murdoch's full-on support of the Howard government's demonisation of this innocent man.

Take every opportunity to counter the notion that any of these outlets have any authority.

For the love of the game, you must get rid of Murdoch

2010-05-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

Managing Director of Jaycar Electronics (a major sponsor of the Canterbury Bulldogs) Gary Johnstone participated in this week's 'Insight' program on SBS Television

... They shake your hand and they smile
And they buy you a drink
They say we'll be your friends
We'll stick with you 'till the end
Ah but everybody's only
Looking out for themselves
And you say well who can you trust?
I'll tell you it's just
Nobody else's money ...

'Money Changes Everything', written by Tom Gray and recorded by Cyndi Lauper [1984]

Given the gutlessness of Australia's politicians, it's looking very unlikely there will be a public inquiry into the Melbourne Storm salary cap fraud.

What we've seen and heard over the past few weeks on our public broadcasters and corporate media, is the orchestration of a very clever PR campaign to deflect the blame of a cheating culture - which comes straight from News Ltd.

For all their criticism of the fraud, all the commentators (Greg Baum from 'The Age' is an exception) appear remarkably consistent in their blinkered perceptions of how the problem can be solved.

In fact, watching this week's 'Insight' on SBS Television, one could be forgiven for thinking we've all moved on, and that the only thing we need to debate now is whether or not the players should get more money.

One of the participants on the "Cheating to Win" program was the Managing Director of Jaycar Electronics. He recently placed a full page advertisement in the 'Daily Telegraph' criticising the head of the NRL, David Gallop, for taking away the Storm's competition points for the rest of the season.

If the fans, clubs and sponsors want to save Rugby League it is pointless pursuing any of these arguments until they get Murdoch out of the game altogether.

You're never going to get sportmanship and fair play back while Murdoch is involved.

They don't care about you or your community

2010-05-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

They are pushing an ideological agenda that doesn't incorporate informing your community, community engagement, participation or safety.

Stories such as - 'Griffith Street in Coolangatta the scene of violent attacks' [5/5/10] - aren't meant to inform or progress some solution to a problem.

They are about manipulating fear.

When the Murdoch media choose to involve themselves in an issue, things usually take a turn for the worst - unless everyone ignores them.

The best part about this piece is the final sentence:

"Night traders on Griffith Street, where most of the violent incidents have occurred, refused to talk to The Courier-Mail."

We've said it before: Don't talk to them.

Communities on the NSW/Queensland border are lucky. They have an alternative news publication - the 'Tweed Shire Echo' - which has been following the problems of youth and alcohol related violence for months.

Ask your Federal candidate what they are going to do about the concentration of media ownership in Australia.

Which of Australia's politicians will point out the bleedin' obvious?

2010-04-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

Notwithstanding the Storm salary cap fraud, it's been a big day for Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd.

ABC reports:

Former Olympic cyclist Mark French has won a defamation case against a Melbourne newspaper which labelled him a drug cheat.

The 25-year-old sued the Herald Sun for two articles published in 2004 which the Victorian Supreme court found damaged his reputation.

French was cleared of doping charges in 2005.

The Court awarded him $175,000 in compensation plus court costs. ...

While 'The Age' reports:

Publishing supremo John Hartigan warned former Herald Sun editor-in-chief Bruce Guthrie to guard against his predecessor, Peter Blunden, a year before Mr Guthrie was sacked, a court has heard.

Mr Guthrie, who was dismissed 15 months before his three-year contract expired, is suing News Limited for $2.7 million in an unfair dismissal claim before the Supreme Court. ...

At least one of our politicians has the balls to tell it like it is:

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Lateline invited the Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and two other relevant Government ministers, Greg Combet and Martin Ferguson, to appear on the program tonight to answer questions about the decision to shelve the ETS. None of them were available.

Instead I spoke a short time ago to the Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, who was in our Hobart studio. ...
LEIGH SALES: So, Senator Brown, the Lowy Institute for International Policy has been polling people on climate change since 2006. When they asked people to respond to the statement, "Global warming is a serious and pressing problem. We should begin taking steps now, even if this involves significant costs." In 2006, 68 per cent of people agreed; today that's only 46 per cent. Other polls have shown that people are losing interest in climate change as an issue. What do you think is going on there?

BOB BROWN: Well, the Labor and Liberal parties and big sections of the media, including the Murdoch press, want it off the agenda. They're being very sceptical about it. But 46 per cent - the Greens are rating at 12 per cent. We have a very big constituency out there that wants and will be getting more and more behind the Greens as the action party on climate change and that's the people who are thinking about the Australia we're going to hand on to our children and our grandchildren.

We are about giving them a secure future where we haven't left it to them to deal with climate change. A six to 20 per cent hit on their gross income if we don't act now by putting one or two per cent into the measures which would reorient our economy to help us to deal with dangerous climate change in 2010. ...

Action: Vote "Green" in the Senate (except in Queensland, where you should vote for anyone not in bed with the Murdoch Press) so we can have some kind of handbrake on this insanity. Do not vote for any front group like the "huntin'Shootin'Fishin' Party" or such!

Time for a public inquiry

2010-04-27T03:27:00.000-07:00

This is what the Deputy Prime Minister was reported as saying about the (Murdoch owned) Melbourne Storm salary cap fraud in today's [27/4/10] 'Sydney Morning Herald':

... "I believe News Limited and everyone else involved would realise that the investigation here has to be enough - open enough, transparent enough, serious enough - to restore the confidence of the fans and the sponsors in the league," she told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"I believe it's in everybody's interests, including, very very clearly, the interests of News Limited, to get to the bottom of all of this.

"At the end of the day, News Limited, the fans, the sponsors, the players, everyone has an interest in making sure that people are confident that the game is being played well and fairly right across the country." ...

As former CEO of The Storm Brian Waldron said in a statement, which was read out on ABC Radio today:

... I would be prepared to tell everything I know to a properly constituted public and transparent inquiry which requires evidence under oath from all relevant persons.

I am also prepared to give the entire background to Rupert Murdoch so that he has a full understanding of how his Australian company has managed a $66 million investment in the Melbourne Storm.

So where is the Federal Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis? Doesn't it concern her that she and her State counterparts have delivered millions of taxpayer dollars directly and indirectly into Murdoch's News Ltd. coffers by way of subsidies, tax-breaks, infrastructure and, especially through 'your' ABC, free publicity?

A public inquiry is a great idea!

PS: News Ltd's Greg Baxter said something. Not sure what, really. Honest people stopped listening to anything he said right after his great work as chief PR spin-man for James Hardie as they were weaselling out of their obligations to their asbestos victims and making off with their billions into the night. What a piece of work.

Another day, more public hospital bashing

2010-04-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

It seems like every day the Gold Coast Murdoch press attack the Gold Coast Hospital.

Here's today's effort [25/4/10]:

The number of emergency room patients being attended to within the medically recommended timeframe at Gold Coast Hospital are the worst they have been in months.
According to the latest emergency department monthly performance report provided by Queensland Health for February, 40 per cent of patients to present at the Gold Coast Hospital and 44 per cent at Robina waited more than eight hours in the ED before being admitted....

They don't do this out of any desire to remedy inequity or inform the public. They do it to scare the community and to denigrate the notion of universal health care.

If they were serious about reporting on health issues, they would be writing honestly about private and public health systems - not slandering the public health system at every opportunity while at the same time running private hospital PR pieces.

They would also tell you how many taxpayer dollars are spent propping up the private health providers, at the expense of delivering health care services to all.

Murdoch and his properties don't agree that health is a human right.

They are pushing a neoliberal agenda which will tear the heart of our public health system and force us into the hands of ruthlessly, profit driven international companies.

If you are concerned about health issues, don't rely on the Murdoch Press, don't comment on their websites, don't write letters to the editor, speak to your local MP.

And switch off the ABC when they are clearly just following up on the Murdoch agenda.

News Ltd's "Melbourne Storm" NRL Team Are Cheats!

2010-04-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Shock! Horror! Fury! Outrage!

So, Rupert Murdoch presides over a bunch of flagrant cheats. Why is everyone acting surprised?

IT'S WHAT THEY DO!

Unless you are completely stupid you should know that everything in Murdoch's history points to semi-truths, half-truths, non-truths, lies and worse in order to get what he wants. Whether it is a Prime Minister (Thatcher he actually famously crowed about on his front page) needing election, a war-criminal President, a legislative change allowing him more concentrated control and power, some way for him to not pay tax etc... Whatever it is, he knows no lowness to which he is unstoopable.

This could just upset sport-mad footy lovers enough to do something about this shocking man and his company, maybe.

Unfortunately, a quick look at the comments on the 'Courier-Mail' story doesn't even show a hint of anger directed at Murdoch or News Ltd. for this fraud.

Here is what appears if you leave a comment on one of his crappy mono-media papers' website:

Thank you for your comment

Please note that we are not able to publish all the comments that we receive, and that we may edit some comments to ensure their suitability for publishing.

Feedback will be rejected if it does not add to a debate, or is a purely personal attack, or is offensive, repetitious, illegal or meaningless, or contains clear errors of fact.

Although we try to run feedback just as it is received, we reserve the right to edit or delete any and all material.

Maybe that could explain it?

Crooks!

Action:

Boycott 'The Courier Mail'
Botcott 'The Australian'
Boycott 'The Herald Sun'
etc, etc, etc,....

If I wanted to hear from an arsehole, I'd fart.

2010-04-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

'The Australian's' Political Editor, Dennis "Rupert Approves Of Kevin's Bastardy Border Controls And Blank Cheques For Private Health Providers" Shanahan

Here we go again.

Your ABC using peak viewing time ('Lateline' 19/4/10) to broadcast the views of a Murdoch property about a Murdoch poll.

What a joke.

If you think this is ridiculous, let your candidates in the upcoming Federal Election know how you feel.

Or if you just want to complain to the ABC, shoot them an email.

If we are not going to stop this free exposure, it should certainly be valued at commercial rates and taxed accordingly.

Time to end the farce

2010-04-17T02:16:00.001-07:00

This person is very much a Murdoch property, and is also in the powerful position of hosting the ABC's Brisbane morning radio show

Neoliberal mainstream politicians want to normalise Murdoch's absolute control of our news media.

In our view, it is untenable for any Murdoch property to appear on any ABC forum.

For fucks sake, he controls more than 70% of Australia's news media in his own right. It is damaging to our democracy to give these same people a voice on your publicly funded national broadcaster. Doing so explicitly or implictly endorses every view coming from the Murdoch empire.

That is just a fact.

We've already tried numerous times, maybe you might have better luck asking the ABC to stop this Murdoch infiltration.

Worthwhile weekend activities

2010-04-16T02:19:00.000-07:00

'Anonymous Lefty' writes:

Well, News Ltd and other conservative organisations wanted refugee-bashing to be part of our national politics again, and they’ve succeeded. We on the left didn’t counter their utter lies hard enough, or strongly enough, and both major parties (I’m going to ignore the Cruel Samaritan as the irrelevancy he’ll hopefully soon be) are now essentially as repulsive as each other on the issue. Voters who know the facts (please, print that out and put a copy in the Herald Suns in the local cafe) now only have one party to represent them – the Greens. Those progressive, humane ALP members still in that party, trying futilely to change it from the inside (give up guys, it belongs to the Right now) should probably consider this the final straw and jump ship. Looks like we’re going to have to unite against the Liblab bastards together. ...

Excellent idea, print out as many as you can and put them in the Murdoch papers wherever you see them, or be as inventive as you like.

For extra bonus points, print out 50 of these fact sheets and put them in a pile of 'mX's' next Monday!

Australian Politicians Take Note

2010-04-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

Standing up to Murdoch and the neoliberals is SO HOT RIGHT NOW!

Victorian Premier John Brumby gave an address on health reform at the National Press Club today [14/4/10]

Take Premier John Brumby. He's displayed remarkable resilience as a lone voice raising concerns about the Rudd Government's proposed neoliberal overhaul of our health system.

He's the David in battle against a Goliath of a spin machine that includes your ABC, the corporate media and well aired weaselly word attacks by Rudd Government robotrons.

When Sue Dunlevy of the 'Daily Telegraph' arrogantly made a series of blanket assertions about the state of the Victorian Health System in her snarky question at today's address, before slamming her question he said:

"Sounds like someone may have written that question."

Sue "Na na nan naa naa, Rupert, Kevin and the neoliberals would like to know" Dunlevy after having her question slammed down by the Premier

Politicians of Australia - your constituents are not as dim as you think. After decades of media monopoly they are wising up and are easily able to sniff an elected representative dancing to the Murdoch media's tune.

They like politicans who stand up to the neoliberal T.I.N.A. mantra.

They want you to show some balls, and represent their interests, not those of big corporations.

He Lies To You (Using Your Politicians and His Shills)

2010-04-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

Two hours after the actual game, you could watch it for free on Channel 9

Did you think that you could hear your local Rugby League game for free, live, on your ABC radio? No Way, Loser!

We own your entertainment, sports and news and you will bloody well pay for it. It belongs to us, not you.

Not blaming the NBN Channel 9 folks for this abomination. It was the only picture we could get. Actually, who cares about a bunch of rapists without necks? Hate the bloody game, anyway.

But that is not the point! This afternoon, on ABC 'local radio' Coast FM, they casually mentioned that ABC's "Grandstand" would not broadcast live coverage of tonight's [9/4/10] NRL game between the 'Titans' and 'Storm' because the owner of the broadcast rights refused to allow it.

You remember when you all thought it would be such a great idea to hand over all Australia's sport, media and government to Rupert Murdoch and we said that wouldn't be a good idea and you told us to 'shut up'?

Well, suck shit! Hope you enjoy Rupert owning your free footy (not to mention media and government), because you didn't blink when the few of us were saying maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to hand so much power and control to a man who showed such contempt for Australia and its ordinary people.

They stand for no-one: boaties, tradies or "financial types"

2010-04-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

These recent advertisements on Southport bus shelters (and all over the Gold Coast) are visual pollution. Murdoch's failing fortunes are writ small in his abysmally crap 'Gold Coast Bulletin', it is getting desperate and facing the axe as he tries to get his tabloid filth behind a paywall. These ads are indicative of that desperation but they can only be a good sign:

Think about it.

The Murdoch press is advertising for you to read them and advertise with them.

Wouldn't that be a sign of desperation?

Yes.

The bulk of advertising in the Murdoch press appears to be courtesy of mega corporations and local, state, and federal government.

Considering that advertising expenditure is tax deductable, and that it's your taxes that are being given to Murdoch to run his disgraceful war on your democracy - it's not very healthy - and certainly not "for you".

So how would you stop such a psycho organisation who claim "it's just for you" when in fact the opposite is true?

Action: Like an internet troll, urge everyone to ignore them and above all do NOT interact with them. Do not write to them, do not click on them, do not write for them, do not talk to them, do not link to them, do not advertise with them and, most of all, tell their advertisers what you think of them (politely and in calm detail, of course).

April Fools

2010-04-01T03:41:00.000-07:00

Contemplating whether or not medical staff at the new Gold Coast Hospital will be allowed to have a durrie on site is not news. It's mean, small minded, tawdry class war.

Page 5 of this week's 'Gold Coast Sun' (we've blocked the subject's identity)

No quotes from nurses or doctors are included in what is becoming an all too familiar example of the Murdoch press' campaign against universal health care, but the caption to the accompanying image of a person lighting up says: "Nurses want a chance to inhale without leaving the grounds."

We reject the closely aligned ideological agenda of the Murdoch press and that of the government and opposition at Federal, State and Local levels - especially when there are no alternative newspapers.

For instance, this fascist propaganda endorses Moncrieff Federal MP Steven Ciobo's proposition to use prison labour to clean the supposedly litter ridden M1.

Page 7, this week's 'Gold Coast Sun'

Evidently a handful of rubbish on the highway is more worrying to Ciobo (and last week Albert MP Margaret Keech) and the Murdoch Press, than concerns about the environmental and health impact of the recent fuel leak in Miami.

Speaking of pollution, fascism, propaganda, Murdoch and public services:

... MURRAY MCLAUGHLIN: The information super highway was foremost on everyone's mind at Yirrkala school, where every child was given a laptop computer, branded an XO.

Fifteen hundred XO laptops have been distributed in the past year to children in remote schools across Australia.

The project's being driven by a not-for-profit organisation called One Laptop Per Child, which plans to distribute 400,000 laptops to children in remote schools over the next five years. That's going to cost $200 million.

RANGAN SRIKHANTA, ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD: Now that cost is a drop in the ocean in terms of the total spend in terms of education right across Australia, but it can have a monumental impact if we really do reach each of these children.

MURRAY MCLAUGHLIN: The One Laptop Per Child organisation was formed in the United States five years ago to create an affordable educational device for use in developing countries.

JOHN HARTIGAN, CHAIRMAN, NEWS LTD: Well, the first thing that happened several years ago was that Rupert Murdoch put seed capital into the whole program of rolling it out of the Massachusetts media lab and that started a process that, one was exciting, but who would believe that we'd finish up in East Arnhem Land handing them out today. ...

Action?

Never give up.

Who's pulling the strings at your ABC?

2010-03-28T03:11:00.000-07:00

Has the ABC made a decisive move to dumb down their content?

Why is it, every time I tune in I get slapped in the face by some Rupert Murdoch operative?

Like this morning [28/3/10].

Why does Kim Dennison need to interview a bought and paid for Murdoch property, and poison my ears with his know-nothing prattling about the movies Rupert wants you to see?

Sam Cleveland gets paid by Murdoch to sprout his rubbish. Ipso Facto, his opinion is worth exactly what Rupert pays for it. He lies down with dogs and you are not supposed to believe that he gets up with fleas.

Go right ahead, if you're just a stupid sucker for more of Rupert's punishment, but do not expect me to pay for that crap with my taxes. Rupert has a very well known hatred for publicly funded journalism and broadcasting. If you have two operating neurons you would be able to work out why that is.

FFS, Get Murdoch's people OFF MY ABC!

NOW!

Action: e-mail someone at your ABC and tell them what you think.

The ABC's PM gears up for Earth Hour

2010-03-26T02:22:00.000-07:00

I had just been to see the brilliant 'Micmacs', a witty and amusing film pointedly critical of the vermin who profit from the global arms trade, and was feeling a little less despondent about the state of the world, and a little more hopeful about the power of humanity and creativity.

Then I tuned in to PM.

How deflating.

What's this doing on one of Australia's more serious and reputable current affairs shows?:

The latest debate on climate science to emerge centres on a paper which suggests humans played no role in the recent warming trend. Instead, it says El Nino activity is to blame.

A group of climate scientists say that's false, misleading and that the data's been manipulated by climate deniers. They've now had their rebuttal published.

But the authors of the initial report say they wanted to respond, but their attempt was rejected. ...

And this?:

... EMILY BOURKE: Unlike the federal health debate earlier this week, the worm didn't make an appearance.

TORY MAGUIRE: I was on the Daily Telegraph live blog during the debate and we ran a poll at the end and it was wildly in favour of Mr O'Farrell.

EMILY BOURKE: Tory Maguire is the deputy editor of the opinion website, The Punch. She says Kristina Keneally took the curious step of defending her government without conceding to any mistakes.

TORY MAGUIRE: I think she looked like a bit of a Pollyanna, to be honest. She was actually asked by one of the journalists on the panel if she had anything to apologize for, for the Labor Government, for, you know, the last 15 year and she said, no, absolutely not.

EMILY BOURKE: Imre Salusinszky is the New South Wales political reporter for the Australian newspaper.

IMRE SALUSINSZKY: Neither of them was prepared to commit even to such obviously urgent projects as the M5 duplication or the completion of the M4 east. What that tells us is either that they don't think they're going to be able to afford it during the, the four years between 2011 and 2015. Or more likely, that in terms of big ticket promises like that, they will keep their powder dry until we are considerably closer to the election than we are now. ...

Thanks Mark!

If you find it unacceptable that your ABC continues to give air time to climate change sceptics and News Ltd.'s propagandists, then write to the ABC and let them know. Sure, they might ignore you, give you the brush off, or an unsatisfactory response.

But if there's anyone in the ABC who is arguing against the Murdoch/neoconservative/fossil fuel industry agenda, they need all the ammunition, they can get.

Also, 2010 is a federal election year.

Let your candidates know how you feel.

Murdoch Hates Journalism and Democracy

2010-03-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

The 'Columbia Journalism Review' has an interesting piece about Murdoch's war with the New York Times.

Unfortunately, the writer of the piece, Ryan Chittum, is so starry eyed about his ex-employer (the 'Wall Street Journal') that he seems unable to see what Murdoch is really up to there, and everywhere else for that matter.

For a business journalist, Chittum shows a remarkable and depressing naivete.

Action: actively and loudly denigrate and ridicule Murdoch's garbage papers and other outlets at every opportunity to anyone who will listen.

What's missing in this picture?

2010-03-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas featured in a 'Gold Coast Bulletin' story[20/3/10] about their new look

Evidently, Queensland's Deputy Premier attended last week's launch of the "new look, ultra slick" 'Gold Coast Bulletin'.

No one's saying there's anything wrong with politicians attending and speaking at business events and launches etc., but the Murdoch press is in a unique (verging on monopolistic) position in this country.

And because they are so obviously derelict in the performance of their democratic duty they deserve special sanction.

So what's missing in this picture?

You.

Think about it.

In a proper, functioning democracy there is supposed to be a healthy tension between politicians and the media, and both of them are supposed to serve and inform you.

In Australia, we are sliding toward "junk politics" and "inverted totalitarianism", where both work together against the interests of the citizenry, but we still have the bare bones of a democracy.

2010 is a federal election year.

Ignore the corporate media and let your candidates know that you will not accept this any longer.

2010 is an election year - Part 3

2010-03-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

On the ABC's 'Lateline' last night, Senator Stephen "can I say, frankly" Conroy said:

... STEPHEN CONROY: Well, look, I think a comparison between the ABC and the BBC is frankly a nonsense. The BBC has got an enormous resource base. It's been growing for many, many years.

The ABC has been starved of funds through the entire 11 and a half years. Not just starved, it had its funding substantially slashed. And what we've seen for the first time in 12 years is the single largest increase in funding to the ABC since it became incorporated.

We make no apologies for that. We believe after 11.5 years of Howard Government's attacks on the ABC, that it was important to give a big boosts, even though we were in the middle of a global financial crisis.

So I reject the comparisons with the BBC, but what you're seeing is that the ABC is at the cutting edge of the digital transformation that's taking place in the country - fabulous applications like iView; the regional hub broadband program. These are exciting innovations that are keeping pace with where technology is taking us. If other media companies haven't been able to keep pace as well, that's for them to deal with. It's not to say, "Stop..." ...

For all this new technology and proposed national news network, the quality of ABC's reporting of local issues and news coverage has noticeably deteriorated over the past couple of years.

For example, with a few rare exceptions, the ABC's Coast FM spends the majority of airtime reporting and discussing stories which have appeared in the Murdoch press, giving publicity to commercial endeavours (eg yesterday Scott Mayman interviewed James Valentine about his new Foxtel show), unquestioningly repeating talking points and engaging in a general dumbing down and avoidance of environmental and social equity issues, and treating its listeners as if they only have one brain cell and are a bunch of Rona Joyners.

Yes, the surf and traffic reports are very helpful, but despite some good stories, they could do better. In fact the best segment this year so far was Cam Young's interview with an expert who said botox injections not only freeze facial muscles, but can also stifle emotions.

Why aren't ABC Coast FM doing a local Council round up every week? Or interviewing more local politicians of ALL stripes? Or conducting a round up of the Law Courts and Police matters?

2010 is an election year.

Ask your federal candidates what they will do to ensure that ABC local maintains and enhances its coverage of local issues.

If you have a question for your politicans or Council CEOs, write to them directly

2010-03-12T03:58:00.000-08:00

A new column titled "Council Corner", with CEO of the Gold Coast City Council, Dale Dickson, has appeared on the "letters" page in this week's [10/3/10] 'Gold Coast Sun'.

Although this is the first week we've seen anything about "Council Corner" in Rupert Murdoch's 'Gold Coast Sun', Mr Dickson's already received three letters, including this one from Lorraine Campbell:

In Auckland, they have a scheme where there is free bus travel for pensioners between 9am and 3pm. A special card is sent out to home address pensioners only, and that has to be presented on boarding the services. Don't you feel this system could be implemented into the buses on the Coast and Brisbane and you would find people who have no other from of transport would be out spending their money in the cities. Surely this is worth thinking about, or even a reducation fare for a day out. Everyone would benefit.

Intriguingly, he's even replied to these letters!:

In All major cities in Australia, public transport is managed by the State Governments, rather than local councils. In Queensland, Translink is the responsible State agency and I shall contact Translink with your valid suggestion. Council recognises the need to provide low-cost transport options for the elderly and those with a disability. The Council Cab Service was established to enable older people and those with a disability to travel, for only $2 each way, from their home to their local shopping centre. This successful service has expanded and now operates across 48 suburbs throughout the city.

We think Lorraine has a good point. Although public transport should be free for all citizens - and all the time.

And this "Council Corner" is bullshit.

Even though Lorraine obviously has ESP - how else did she and the other letter writers know to write to "Council Corner"? - we think she should be directing her queries about Council services to her local Councillor or directly to Mr Dickson himself:

Mr Dale Dickson
Chief Executive Officer
Gold Coast City Council
PO Box 5042
Gold Coast MC 9729

She could even write to her state and/or federal member - after all, 2010 is a federal election year - along with other locally based newsletters/blogs and Australian owned media publications.

In addition, Lorraine could discuss her ideas with friends, family, National Seniors and any other community groups of which she may be a member.

She shouldn't consent to her concerns being used so cynically by the Murdoch press for their own commercial ends.

The Murdoch Press doesn't care about Australia, it doesn't care about Australians, it doesn't care about you and it certainly doesn't care about public transport.

Tell Media Watch when you see examples of Murdoch press bogusity such as this.

Murdoch is bad for democracy: Fraser

2010-03-10T03:36:00.000-08:00

We can't show you his face because your computer would explode

The 'Australian's' Christian "Rupert wants to know when small "l" liberals are going to fuck off" Kerr makes everyone groan and roll their eyes

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser launched his political memoir at the National Press Club yesterday [9/3/10].

He discussed many things including immigration, refugees, trade, the two party system and the decline of representative democracy in Australia.

Did you hear about it?

Probably not, and that's because we have such suffocating media diversity in this country.

Fraser said the way to protect democracy is to have a range of media publications with proprietors that have different views.

He also said the government can do something about media diversity.

2010 is an election year.

Ask your federal candidates what they will do to enhance media diversity in this country.

Stopping all tax-payer funding to Rupert Murdoch and getting him to pay some tax might be a start. Any other ideas?

It isn't healthy for one organisation to control two sides of a debate

2010-03-08T16:10:00.000-08:00

We've said it before - Rupert Murdoch's Australian operatives do not want us to have a Bill of Rights.

Engaging with any of his publications on this, or any other issue for that matter, is a waste of your energy.

By engaging, we mean:

giving them your hard earned cash to read their putrid propaganda, or to advertise in their pages;

using your intellect and time to write an opinion piece which lends them the credibility they don't deserve;

firing off letters to the editor, or;

participating in their on-line forums.

Last weekend 'The Australian', which is so openly biased against a national Human Rights Act, published two even handed reports on the topic of a Human Rights Act, which got some activists creaming their pants.

It's astonishing that otherwise intelligent people keep crawling back to be kicked in the guts by these dishonest, lying turds.

It is worse than useless to engage the Murdoch media. When you do that, you continue to allow them to own the issue and they will always play you for suckers.

2010 is an election year.

If you think Australia needs a Human Rights Act, write to candidates and let them know how you feel.

Peas in a pod of shot credibility

2010-03-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

Last August, the Brisbane Institute, in association with The Australian Climate Science Coalition, hosted a lecture by Dr Jay Lehr, Science Director of the Heartland Institute titled:

Has Al Gore got it all wrong? Will the war on carbon dioxide kill real jobs?

And anyone with a modicum of common sense can tell you what South East Queensland's media monopoly views on the environment are.

This week they're hosting the third public forum in their "Our Future Your Say" series:

The 3rd of the Our Future Your Say free public forums organised by the Courier Mail in partnership with Griffith University and The Brisbane Institute.

Sunshine Coast residents have an opportunity to have their say about Queensland's population growth and consider these and other issues:

Will the Sunshine Coast become the new Gold Coast?
How can the region retain its unique charm and character?
What measures need to be taken to protect one of the most biodiverse regions of Australia?
These are important matters that need to be discussed in the lead up to the Government's population growth summit on March 30 and 31.

Come along and hear from

Professor Ross Guest, Professor of Economics, Griffith Business School
David Gibson, Opposition infrastructure spokesman and LNP member for Gympie
Ian Christensen, environmentalist
Joanne Wright, local community leader

ADMISSION IS FREE BUT PRIOR REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

TO REGISTER: Email your name and contact details to:

rsvp@brisinst.org.au BEFORE TUESDAY 9TH MARCH

We think people deserve to be held to account based on their record.

Boycott this cheap attempt to yet again control the debate.

If you are genuinely interested in sustainability in South East Queensland, there is an alternative forum where these issues will be discussed without the ideological spin.

The Murdoch creep continues at "your" ABC

2010-03-03T01:33:00.000-08:00

Normally we find ABC Radio's 'Australia Talks' to be a little bit boring (this might partly be the fault of the format), and frustratingly simplistic. So we rarely listen, however, James Sinnamon tuned in to today's [3/3/10] show and has made the following observation:

This had to be one of the dullest 'Australia Talks' that I can remember. It was even more dull than I remember Richard Fidler's interview with Paul Kelly about his (misnamed) book "The March of Patriots" last year being.

Whose decision was it to make two of the three guests journalists who work for two Murdoch-owned newspapers?

Don't Atkins and Kelly already get more than enough opportunity to push Uncle Rupert's prescriptions of what is supposedly good for this country without them taking up more than half of one of only three programmes each week in which ordinary people can express their views before a National audience?

Whilst I thought I could just discern a slight difference in opinions of Dean Jaensch (from looking at what he has written online and not from listening to the program) from those of Kelly and Atkins, very little of what he writes seems likely to fire people's imagination
Why so little participation from callers?
Was that all that phoned in?

If so, wouldn't it have been more appropriate to have given them each individually more time than to give so much time to allow Kelly and Atkins (and presumably Jaensch) to waffle on about those same tired all themes, "uniting the party", style in dealing with the states, how they play the Senate, credibility as economic managers (seen through the prism of Rupert's World view), was Rudd's apology genuine? (of course it wasn't), etc.?

Guests:

Paul Kelly, Editor-at-Large, The Australian
Dennis Atkins, National Affairs editor, The Courier-Mail
Dean Jaensch, Professor of Political and International Studies, Flinders University

2010 is an election year.

Ask your local candidates what their position is on Murdoch's infiltration of our public broadcaster.

What's a bully?

2010-03-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

According to the Macquarie Dictionary, a bully is:

1. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who brow-beats smaller or weaker people.

2. to be loudly arrogant and overbearing.

If anyone knows about bullying, it's the Murdoch media:

... The Courier-Mail, in conjunction with 97.3FM, this week begins a week-long series, Just Say No To Bullying . The campaign culminates on Friday when we encourage Queenslanders to wear orange in support of the cause. ...

The biggest organisation of bullies in the world is the Murdoch media.

Like all bullies, if you push back against them you'll see them run screaming.

Go on.

Try it.

Worth a look

2010-03-01T02:14:00.000-08:00

If this site does anything to hold Murdoch operatives to account, it'll be worth following:

http://andrewboltliesdeceptionsonagw.wordpress.com/

Andrew Bolt has been misrepresenting, deceiving and lying about AGW as an issue for a long time now.

He has denigrated science and scientists with apparently no accountability.

He has refused to admit error or to correct misconceptions that he has created.

This blog is to set the record straight and to put on the record how disingenuous and politically-motivated this individual has been in relation to a subject that he very clearly has very little grasp or understanding.

Who would do a deal with this guy?

2010-02-27T16:29:00.000-08:00

"The Prince" reports in this weekend's 'Australian Financial Review' [27-28/2/10]:

... For the next decade, [Kerry Packer's] Valassis and Murdoch's News America Marketing dominated the hugely profitable inserts market, deftly seeing off challengers. But relations cooled after Packer sold out of Valassis in 1997.

It's a tough market that got a lot tougher last year. It began when NAM lost its final appeal against a $US6.8 million ($7.7 million) damages award in 2005 to rival Floorgraphics for anti-competitive behaviour.

Last March, Floorgraphics claimed in a New Jersey court that NAM ran a dirty tricks campaign to force it out of business, including hacking into its computers 11 times in four years.

Three days into the trial, News Corp settled the case by buying Floorgraphics for an undisclosed sum. Unconfirmed speculation puts the cost at around $US200 million.

Floorgraphics' star witness was a former NAM employee, Robert Emmel, who had turned whistleblower, giving a copy of his computer's hard drive to US regulators. NAM sued Emmel for breach of confidence. ...

It's not the first time News has settled with a struggling company.

In 2002 it settled a $US1 billion industrial espionage case brought by the near-insolvent Canal Plus against News Corp's NDS arm, by agreeing to buy Canal Plus's Telepiu Italian pay TV operation, which held $US1 billion in debt..."

The whole story is well worth a read, considering who else he does deals with.

Not grilling Gillard

2010-02-24T04:59:00.000-08:00

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard addressing the National Press Club today [24/2/10]

She may be wearing a teal ribbon for Ovarian Cancer awareness, but like all the other politicians wearing one of these ribbons today, she is a robotic tool, and her government's actions tend to prove that they don't give a flying fuck about Australians, their health, the education of their children, or the future of the planet.

What's worse than a Minister for Education declaring war on teachers and education professionals?

A bunch of Australia's supposedly finest journalists unquestioningly accepting the declaration.

Whatever happened to journalists asking questions in order to craft a story that informed the majority of their readers?

Questions like:

"But Minister, didn't we have school inspectors in the past?"

"Minister, doesn't the collapse of ABC Learning indicate to you that the free market model for provision of education doesn't work?"

"Minister, isn't this just a big fucking joke?"

"Minister, has it occurred to you that Rudd made you announce this bogus policy to make you look like a real bitch?"

Fourteen journalists asked questions following Gillard's address. Only Scott Hanford (Canberra Times) and David Harrison (The Age) made any attempt to speak truth to power. Six of the journalists were from News Ltd. - they always turn up en masse for the National Press Club talks when Murdoch has an ideological barrow to push, and they are conspicuously absent on serious topics on which he has pre-determined their anti-reality position, wankers! - and today's turn out reflected Murdoch's special interest in education:

... Speaking at a session titled 'Advice to the US President on Competitiveness', Mr Murdoch blamed the teachers' union in America, which he said was very rich and the number one donor to the Democratic party.

He told the audience of international business leaders and politicians that it would take courage and strength for President Barack Obama to fight them....

The 'Courier-Mail's' Emma "Rupert wants to know if you will implement a Naplan test for everything every day" Chalmers

Gillard's announcement today is not about kids, equity or improving education - it's not an education revolution - unless you consider bringing the 'free market' into all of Australia's schools a revolution.

What's happening to our country? Seems like every day one of our politicians decrees some bogus policy plucked straight from the arsehold of neocon central's storeroom of talking points and ideas, to be dictated to Australians.

Are you going to let the neocons continue to have their way?

2010 is an election year.

Ignore the Murdoch press, switch off the telly and the radio when the obvious Murdoch bumlickers at the ABC appear, and Vote 1 for The Greens.

He is everywhere

2010-02-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

Even if you don't buy Murdoch's publications, his propaganda is everywhere ...

Bernard Keane writes [17/2/10]:

When Tony Abbott was attacking Kevin Rudd yesterday over the Government’s despicable $500m handout to free-to-air television, suggesting “it looks like an election-year bribe”, he neglected to mention his own recent dealings with media moguls.

Crikey understands that Abbott had a secret meeting with News Ltd supremo Rupert Murdoch on Sunday morning and had breakfast with him. Murdoch was in Australia to celebrate his mother Elisabeth’s 101st birthday last week.
“I think there’s nothing wrong with ministers and moguls having meetings,” Abbott told talkback radio this morning. “That is probably a natural part of life and it’s probably a good thing that they meet from time to time and I don’t think it’s necessary that there be a tape recorder going that we all get access to, but I guess it’s not a great look when it looks more like a social encounter than a business meeting.” ...

If you think there is something wrong with this, tell your local politicians.

Everybody hates Barnaby!

2010-02-13T02:26:00.000-08:00

"... When shall I hear the banjo strumming?
Down by my good old home"

'Old Folks at Home', Stephen Foster [1851]

Government's "Murdoch's Law" moment of the week (from Parliament House Hansard 11/2/10):

... Mr SWAN—It just shows you what little priority those opposite give to jobs. Those sorts of interjections just demonstrate the fundamental misjudgments and misrepresentations that are coming from those opposite, particularly when it comes to economic policy. That comment just demonstrates how wrong the Liberal Party got its response to this global recession by because, if it had not been for the stimulus that was put in place, this country would be in recession. Instead of growing by 0.6 per cent in the year through to September we would have gone backwards by two per cent and we would be standing here today talking about far higher unemployment.

But, of course, those opposite have so misunderstood the economy, so misunderstood the global economy, that they are a threat to future employment and investment in this country. As the Prime Minister said before, we had the Leader of the Opposition out saying on radio that saving jobs was a waste of money. Well, go and tell that to all of the Australians who are in jobs as a result of the stimulus. Go and tell that to all of the small businesses whose stores are still open as a result of the stimulus. But of course those opposite are masters of misrepresentation and masters of misjudgment, and no misjudgment is more fundamental than the misjudgment that the Leader of the Opposition made when he appointed Barnaby Joyce to the role of shadow finance spokesman. This was summed up in an article in the Courier Mail on 8 February by Tim Hughes, who writes a regular economic column. I do not think he is normally a friend to the government, but this is what he had to say:

What does it say about Abbott when he puts Joyce into the second-most unsuited portfolio for him? … To me it suggests that Abbott thinks the economy is a joke. Either that or he simply does not understand the serious responsibilities of government.
He went on to say:

Abbott made the appointment and, in so doing, has effectively disqualified himself from running our economy. Australia’s long-term future depends on a strong rate of investment and much of the funding for that investment comes from offshore.

That brings me back to Mr Joyce, because Mr Joyce has been out there campaigning against foreign investment— campaigning against the arrangements the government has put in place to make sure that we protect the national interests of this country through the Foreign Investment Review Board. It is a fact that one in four jobs in mining in regional Australia depend on foreign investment, and Mr Joyce has been campaigning right around this country against that foreign investment.

But, of course, he let the cat out of the bag at the Press Club earlier this week, when he admitted that he had been flying around the country with Clive Palmer, the biggest recipient of the foreign investment in this country that is creating jobs. What that says is that Mr Joyce has one standard when he is in the front bar of the pub in Roma or somewhere like that and entirely another when he is in the plane with Clive Palmer at 30,000 feet, sipping a scotch. What that shows is just how short-term—how opportunistic— these people are. There is not a principle that they adhere to, and that is why they are such a massive risk to our economy. ...

Oh dear, oh dear. As we've mentioned before: "In Australia the Government is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation".

Wayne, they are not your friends, as you note at the outset, so starve them of oxygen. Trust us, they will die if you do that.

Murdoch clarifies position on environment: Keith Johnson and Graham Readfearn stop green blogging

2010-02-06T01:35:00.000-08:00

"... And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Sometimes when I play that old six-string
I think about you, wonder what went wrong ..."

'Summer of '69', Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance [1984]

The 'Columbia Journalism Review' reports:

After a mere two-year run, The Wall Street Journal has, for some inexplicable reason—or, rather, for some reason it refuses to explain—canceled its highly regarded energy blog, Environmental Capital.

Three weeks ago, the blog’s lead author, Keith Johnson, unexpectedly posted a short entry announcing that Environmental Capital was “closing its virtual doors” after more than 2,000 posts. The decision apparently came as a surprise to Journal staffers.

“As a matter of policy we don’t discuss editorial decisions, but we remain committed to covering environmental business issues in our news pages,” Dow Jones spokesman Robert Christie told CJR in an e-mail. ...

Co-incidentally, the Brisbane Murdoch's "green blogger", who recently participated in a debate against Lord Monckton, posted on February 3 that he had resigned.

One could speculate for hours why a local wasn't hired by the 'Courier-Mail' to blog on environmental issues, but what would that do?

In Queensand, coal is king and anthropogenic climate change no longer exists.

Murdoch has made his position clear.

Therefore, instead of journalism which uncovers the machinations and dirty business behind the world's largest coal exporter, expect to see more headlines like this:

Job Job Job: Palmer, Bligh in 69 deal

or this:

LNP may have lost the war, but in opposition they've won the peace!

Will you allow this rubbish to continue unchallenged?