tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post2601946464916135063..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: SpoiledAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-44885082972189511582014-08-20T14:06:10.376+10:002014-08-20T14:06:10.376+10:00Yes, a classic position from Tony. 'It was onl...Yes, a classic position from Tony. 'It was only rape because she said no'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-21393690171577262502014-08-20T09:27:27.499+10:002014-08-20T09:27:27.499+10:00It's quite opaque but I dare say we will find ...It's quite opaque but I dare say we will find out more about it this week from ICAC, the fourth arm of government.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-5199997327009842762014-08-20T09:16:04.590+10:002014-08-20T09:16:04.590+10:00The value of a journalist lies not in capturing qu...The value of a journalist lies not in capturing quotes, but in thinking about what they write. If they are going to insist on 'context', as with Gillard's misogyny speech on 9 October 2012, then they cannot get away with presenting no context (like the absence of a debt crisis, for example).Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-87391218099791956282014-08-20T09:08:40.893+10:002014-08-20T09:08:40.893+10:00A blog post, not a book. Soon, bb. A blog post, not a book. Soon, bb. Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-6642092145375303222014-08-20T03:00:00.946+10:002014-08-20T03:00:00.946+10:00A blog piece on Joe Hockey which doesn't ment...A blog piece on Joe Hockey which doesn't mention his performance as Shadow Treasurer in the 2010 election campaign; the formation, aims and objectives of the Hockey Club and the End of the Age of Entitlement speech http://www.joehockey.com/media/speeches/details.aspx?s=90 - seems without substance and just an excuse for another shallow Abbott-derangement rant.<br /><br />You didn't even mention that Abbott joined himself to Hockey's hip by chairing the Expenditure Review Committee and as such enjoys senior joint ownership of the Budget. bbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-31369106208295497302014-08-19T22:18:49.693+10:002014-08-19T22:18:49.693+10:00Grattan and Abbott are friends apparently.Her comm...Grattan and Abbott are friends apparently.Her commentary prior to the election sent my blood pressure soaring.Sadly we must<br />continue to watch helplessly, now pleading with that wimp Uhlmann to ask a decent question. Please! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-34586750502037888162014-08-19T16:47:12.258+10:002014-08-19T16:47:12.258+10:00"Abbott is every bit as popular today as Juli..."Abbott is every bit as popular today as Julia Gillard was eighteen months ago, when everybody (but me) knew that she was finished."<br /><br />Ha ha! Well played, sir!<br /><br />Yes, Grattan's description of her boy Tone - "a leader for whom the core task of governing and delivering has become very hard" - is just bizarre. It only takes the most basic of comprehension skills to realise that her use of 'become' implies Abbott has, at some stage in the past, found it very easy to govern and deliver.<br /><br />Clearly, Abbott has never displayed these skills. So why would Grattan write that? And why isn't there an editor somewhere pointing this out to her?<br /><br />So many things I don't understand. All I understand is that it feels as if everything good about my country is under vicious attack by this mongrel bunch in government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-71716319472383580782014-08-19T14:27:57.441+10:002014-08-19T14:27:57.441+10:00One additional thought has occurred to me followin...One additional thought has occurred to me following Hockey's insistence that he has been misunderstood.<br /><br />That is. that he cannot diferentiate between the actual dollar aggregate and what that represents as a percentage of income or GDP.<br /><br />At first, when this started some four years back I'd assumed that he and others were either lying or being deliberately misleading when they attempted to make debt a big issue of the Labor government's competence.<br /><br />The reality, of course, is that it is only a small percentage of the GDP, and a lesser percentage than 'benchmark' type economies such as Germany. On that measure only Estonia, Switzerland and possibly one or two Scandinavian countries were of the same or lower risk. Claiming that we were heading for a Greece or Spain situation was outright lying.<br /><br />Some in government are probably ignorant enough to have believed that. A few probably knew, but thought it was a good scare to run with. There was simply no excuse for any reporter knowing how wrong that illusion was.<br /><br />But Hockey, I suspect, judging by the mess he has made of low income earners incomes and spending and attempting to pretend that petrol excise is a progressive tax, may genuinely not know. He is still comparing the absolute dollar amounts not the percentages. In which case, of course, is as unfit to be Treasurer as Abbott is to be PM.<br /><br />Yet again it comes back to reporting failures. You don't have to be as economically literate as Greg Jericho, Ross Gittins, or the Kouk to figure that out. But these journos would be around to verify it with if you were curious. Yet there remained an unerring theme of economic failure claimed by Abbott's Opposition which was completely at odds with the finance markets and all economic/financial reporting.<br /><br />It wouldn't have been all that hard to check that out, even assuming you were an economic dunce.<br />Gorgeous Dunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10540625260311418333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-22315128544170602312014-08-18T23:09:28.882+10:002014-08-18T23:09:28.882+10:00Hi Andrew,
fantastic read as usual.
I was hoping...Hi Andrew,<br /><br />fantastic read as usual.<br /><br />I was hoping you may know more about the North Sydney Forum. I have had a look at their website and there are no lists of the membership.<br /><br />After the strange Medical Research Fund announcement in a budget wher the CSIRO had their funding cut, and the various shenanigans with the NSW Liberal. Are you aware if any journo has investigated the link between the Libs and big pharma, including the North Sydney Forum?<br /><br />I have asked some questions around this to Joe's website directly, but had no response.<br /><br /><br />I think that would be a very interesting story, especially considering the amount of big pharma logos on Tony Abbott's bike tights.<br /><br />DannyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-20554645964442646362014-08-18T20:36:18.447+10:002014-08-18T20:36:18.447+10:00Andrew as usual an excellent article.
The behav...Andrew as usual an excellent article. <br /><br />The behaviour of MSM over the past six years with respect to one-sided reporting with Coalition good; Labor bad has in hindsight achieved good results. As your article shows the ship of coalition credibility is turning from good to something other, even Andrew Bolt gets offended by the government. I say hooray to that. <br /><br />Michelle Grattan and many of her fellow MSM stenographers (not a journalist / reporter amongst them) have the credibility of head lice. <br /><br />The good thing is that many people have just stopped subscribing to MSM because of their abysmal reporting of the Australian political situation. MSM circulation print media is down, advertising is down and so are profits. If it wasn't for the sport pages, MSM would be history by now. <br /><br />More people are seeking out informative blogs like yours to get an alternative outlook of what is actually out there. Online publications like the Guardian, Crikey keep people interested and away from subscribing to MSM. If this trend continues, Michelle Grattan and her ilk be on a stenographers ticket to nowhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-40952331280766334262014-08-18T16:23:46.820+10:002014-08-18T16:23:46.820+10:00And now Tony says it's all Labour's fault ...And now Tony <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/18/icac-tony-abbott-says-problem-was-labor-banning-developer-donations" rel="nofollow">says</a> it's all Labour's fault for making donations from developers illegal - comedy gold!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-57441012953357594732014-08-18T14:37:04.427+10:002014-08-18T14:37:04.427+10:00Quite so, Gorgeous. As you know it's a recurri...Quite so, Gorgeous. As you know it's a recurring theme and it's worth pursuing, given the privileged position of the media (which includes their avoidance of blame). It's good to know this has an audience, and one looking for answers - and so insistent upon the right ones - as I am.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-13691299931019496332014-08-18T14:30:11.979+10:002014-08-18T14:30:11.979+10:00I'll have more to say about that later, Ian.I'll have more to say about that later, Ian.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-33200204808193782512014-08-18T12:07:17.665+10:002014-08-18T12:07:17.665+10:00Off topic I know, but Premier Baird in NSW says as...Off topic I know, but Premier Baird in NSW says as 'atonement' for the sins of Owen and Cornwell, the Libs will not run a candidate in Newcastle or Charlestown.<br /><br />So much for the enfranchisement of Liberal voters in those two electorates. Now that was my very first thought when I heard the statement. I'm not really a deeply perceptive guy; but I have not heard that sentiment in the media to date. No journalist has questioned Baird's reasoning.Iannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-32254450625850064352014-08-18T12:01:39.848+10:002014-08-18T12:01:39.848+10:00Yes, he's doing a Dorothy Parker.Yes, he's doing a Dorothy Parker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-69315899560870184542014-08-18T11:56:26.279+10:002014-08-18T11:56:26.279+10:00Andrew, I hung off every word. You're getting...Andrew, I hung off every word. You're getting better with each posting. What a 'shining light' for journalism you are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-46256803332300343182014-08-18T06:49:44.924+10:002014-08-18T06:49:44.924+10:00Further to above I should add that I feel very sor...Further to above I should add that I feel very sorry for Hockey. He has had the dunce's cone plonked over a Marie Antoinette wig by the media playing their Game of Binary Opposition.<br /><br />Of course he has provided so many opportunities for colorful headlines and scarifying comment but he is not the real story. Again the MSM have gone for the cheap option and have not examined what elements of this budget signal for the country. The big question is whether Australia is in the process of being shaped into a country none of us will recognise.<br /><br />Meanwhile all the custard pies are going Hockey's way while TA rides off on his bike with promises of change because HE HAS LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE. That will be the next chapter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-49095929585158230652014-08-18T06:41:45.878+10:002014-08-18T06:41:45.878+10:00Andrew - your analysis of our Theatre of the Absur...Andrew - your analysis of our Theatre of the Absurd is excellent as usual. Is Brecht scripting Australian politics from the grave? You are certainly a fine reviewer of the antics and skulduggeries.<br /><br />I have come to the conclusion that the MSM flocked to TA because he sees and shapes the world as they do. A pantomime. Goodies and Baddies. White hats and black hats. Cowboys and Indians. They were in the front row at the Punch and Julia show, laughing and squealing with mock horror as the blows rained down.<br /><br />Well Hockey has gone whether he remains physically or not. I have a faint suspicion that he might just chuff off himself. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-17838569894734671762014-08-17T23:18:43.607+10:002014-08-17T23:18:43.607+10:00You have got at the heart of the problem with this...You have got at the heart of the problem with this post. It was a terrible week for Hockey, as bad as Budget Week, and the MSM and Grattan have argued, 'who'd have seen this coming?'<br /><br />Hockey might have been unbelievably stupid and insensitive, just as Abbott and most of his front bench have been at various times. But that doesn't answer that question. <br /><br />The whole point is that the entire Abbott front bench was used to, in opposition, saying the first thing that entered their head and seeing it pass through unchallenged by an uncritical Press Gallery, or indeed any other reporters. It didn't have to make sense. The press never required them to offer an alternative because they were more comfortable watching a minority government, assumed likely to fall any minute or if not be swept aside by the magic of Rudd. They failed the nation by ignoring the process of government and delivering legislation and programs.<br /><br />Hockey's behaviour on the day of Reserve Bank Board meetings was a case in point. Always it was about interest rates. Despite much speculation from the likes of Terry McCrann and others, most meetings went off without any change. Occasionally the rates went down.<br /><br />Hockey always had his case ready. If rates went up it was because the government had over-stimulated the economy and needed to cut back spending. If they went down, it was because business had stopped investing and had lost confidence in Labor's policies. If they stayed the same, it was because not enough was happening either to encourage investment or give relief to people on high mortgages.<br /><br />The point is, surely not all three positions can necessarily be bad news for the government. Reporters should at the very least have challenged him on that multitude of positions. They never did, and it is not a big step for someone not all that bright to imagine that that might continue regarding any pontification that came to him. Alas for him, it is a little harder, even with News Ltd cheerleaders, to pull off that same sort of nonsense when you're Treasurer.<br /><br />So the lesson is being driven home again just how badly our media let us down over the past four years. It is sad that they have not yet acknowledged the enormity of what their failure has done to this country.Gorgeous Dunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10540625260311418333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-70453156220828667172014-08-17T19:33:04.067+10:002014-08-17T19:33:04.067+10:00Your paragraph eighth from the end is so right an...Your paragraph eighth from the end is so right and there is a growing list of Coalition Government front-benchers to whom Mr Abbott is proving that when he speaks of being "collegial", he is only referring to "me, myself and I". Most of those publicly humiliated by the PM will not forget (only Mr Pyne seems to have forgiven his humiliation over the Gonski "unity ticket" announcement, perhaps due to the euphoria of winning the election).<br /><br />The MSM continue to fail to analyse anything the PM says and does. Mr Abbott has now linked terrorism and welfare payments with his latest security update (I suspect deliberately so) and his latest phrase "terrorist tourism" must be giving tourist operators the shudders. His preaching to the Scots is not only embarrassing, but completely at odds with his failure to preach to the Sri Lankan and Japanese Governments on what surely are more serious issues for the world. All I can say after his latest, weird diplomatic debacle is that it is hard to see how the world is being helped by having Mr Abbott as Australia's PM; in fact, it's hard to see how Australia is being helped by having him as PM.VoterBentleighnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-41819613228315702522014-08-17T17:12:42.446+10:002014-08-17T17:12:42.446+10:00"Plainly I wouldn't say that" said A..."Plainly I wouldn't say that" said Abbott of Hockey's poor people and their cars imbroglio.<br /><br />Plainly the PM's office white-anting of Hockey (not that Peta has had to try hard) is maturing ready to burst.<br /><br />Hockey will be gone, either throwing his humiliated handbag down, or tossed by a regretful PM whenever Sloppy Joe next screws up, and that leaves Abbott untouchable at the apex of the Liberal Party in Parliament... according to apparent Peta-thinking.<br /><br />Unfortunately for Peta and Abbott, the "apex of the Liberal Party in Parliament" is tissue-thin and flat as an empty A4 page on a desktop.<br /><br />Empty A4 pages are perfect for resignation letters, PM.<br /><br />End The Abbott Error now.Michael Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01228940480351071082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-69369852580975448232014-08-17T16:11:50.002+10:002014-08-17T16:11:50.002+10:00Ah yes, how could I forget the absence of policy a...Ah yes, how could I forget the absence of policy analysis from Grattan.<br /><br />I don't have much hope - the 2016 exit is the most likely scenario. Mostly the superficial charm works. He doesn't have to pull the tough guy routine often, but when he has it worked for him. Now that he's hit the wall, he can get out - if he wants a future he will have to play it careful, including a few morning teas in Claymore. <br /><br />I assume this govt can't be saved.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-29301519941086792792014-08-17T14:56:16.127+10:002014-08-17T14:56:16.127+10:00I think one day Peta Credlin will quit, and that w...I think one day Peta Credlin will quit, and that will be the end of him. The press gallery are making excuses for 'Tony being Tony' because they've come this far with himAndrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-7462077790751496472014-08-17T14:50:22.239+10:002014-08-17T14:50:22.239+10:00The sorts of people who come up to them and say ni...The sorts of people who come up to them and say nice things, those they see in the 'Daily Telrgraph' or those they see in the mirror.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-88384236089462991902014-08-17T14:36:28.728+10:002014-08-17T14:36:28.728+10:00They have ideas and push them at a time when the L...They have ideas and push them at a time when the Liberals are a vacuum for them.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.com