THE MONTHLY MARCH 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

Thank you to THE MONTHLY and editor John van Tiggelen
Refreshing perspective and well said

EDITOR’S NOTE

“We’ve got your back, Prime Minister,” was how Paul Howes waved Julia Gillard off the stage at last week’s AWU conference on the Gold Coast – a slightly chilling pledge from a self-professed faceless man of the Labor Party. But who did have her back, if not Howes? Was it his friend and predecessor as AWU national secretary, Bill Shorten? The press gallery had been asking the question all week. On Wednesday the Australian’s front-page headline even went so far as to dare him: “SHORTEN URGED TO END PARALYIS”.

Shorten didn’t miss a beat. What paralysis? The journalists would have to scrape elsewhere to sustain their negativity between poll releases. For two and a half years they’d willed Gillard to be dead meat. It was as if she’d never governed. As if she hadn’t got through key reforms. As if she hadn’t managed one of the most precariously balanced coalitions in the history of federation. As if the key Independents – conservatives, both – weren’t still admirers. Of course there had been blunders; there always are in hindsight. Take asylum seeker policy (see Robert Manne’s essay). Or the mining tax. Two and a half years ago Gillard had the foresight to acknowledge that Rudd and Wayne Swan’s Resource Super Profits Tax was a dog. It now turns out her (and Swan’s) replacement tax is little better. All the same, as you’ll find conceded meekly in the business pages, it probably is better.

The media pack knows all too well Kevin Rudd’s personality is utter anathema to good governance. That’s why News Ltd campaigned so hard to bring him down in the first place. He began his revenge by compelling Gillard to appoint him foreign minister, and has behaved wickedly ever since. At no stage has he shown any inclination to place his party’s interests ahead of his own. He privately continues to fulminate about “Lady Macbeth”, while leaving it openly clear that, although he won’t challenge for the leadership, he’d like to be drafted.

Yet the gallery bangs on and on about his popularity. Why, yes, the last Fairfax/Nielsen poll shows twice as many Australians would prefer Rudd to Gillard as their prime minister. But half of those Australians are coalition voters, who likely include the mischievous as well as the misogynist. Well away from the front page, one finds Labor voters prefer Gillard by 53% to 45%. So where is the story? After all, twice as many Australians would prefer Malcolm Turnbull to Tony Abbott, too.

Under Rudd, the Labor Party was rightly pilloried for taking a they-love-me-they-love-me-not, poll-driven, focus-group-based approach to government. Gillard put a stop to that. Now the Labor Party is pilloried for not heeding weekly popularity surveys such as Nielsen and Newspoll.

There was another national popularity poll out last month, barely reported. The circulations audit for the latter half of 2012 revealed sales of the major newspapers, including the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian, dropped between eight and 15%. Meanwhile the Monthly’s circulation went up 10%. We won’t be joining any pack; hence our cover story. The interview and photo shoot with the seven female ministers took place almost three weeks ago in Parliament House. Anna Goldsworthy’s report is superb and telling: it’s about respect. There’s not enough of it.

John van Tiggelen
Editor

http://www.themonthly.com.au/

Leadership speculation AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN!!!

Yep, here we go... AGAIN … Arrrrrghhh... Enough already!

I can only presume that the Main Stream Media (MSM) is either trying to make the ALP look as unstable as possible, or they hate Julia so much this is their way of getting their own back.

If the tone of some of the non-MSM eulogy articles about veteran political reporter Michelle Grattan’s departure from The Age is an indication, it could be the latter (Grattan's Impact). She has been after Gillard to ‘quit’ for quite some time, amongst others. (Grattan - Why Julia should quit), (Andrew Bolt).

Or maybe it was the now globally infamous misogyny speech that made the male dominated media titchy, and they can’t stand to see a woman, especially Julia, in charge for another three years. (Unleashed), and (Gillard's Misogyny Speech one month on) 

Or maybe – if all the positive NLP rhetoric and reporting can be used as an indication; it is in fact the former. They simply want a Liberal Government in power, for whatever reason. This can be evidenced by the constant negative spin towards the ALP, no matter what they do or say, and positive spin towards the LNP and negative Tony, examples of which are far too many to list. A quick Google news search will demonstrate this.(Google News search)

I don’t know… we plebs can only speculate. But what I do know, is all the speculation hype is over the top; over-imagined; a non-story. And this time around even more so than the many, many times before. Surely there are more important things going on in news in the world?

Rudd, after all, has put the issue in cryogenic storage. (Rudd doesn't want top job)

But even that is not enough for MSM to put up and shut up and get on with real reporting. No… now the angle is… what will it take to melt Rudd out of cryogenic storage. It’s an endless circle (or is that circus?). (Rudd waiting for a Gillard meltdown) 

Can you tell I’m typing very hard on my keyboard at the moment?

Some recent examples of this endless cycle of a non-story include the notorious Sky News Australia. Constant reports on the 24 hour news channel are about the leadership speculation. Yesterday (Fri 22 Feb '13) Sky show The Contrarians devoted almost an entire show to the subject! Perhaps they should change their name to Seinfeld – the show about nothing.

A Galaxy poll of a mere 800 Queenslanders– Rudd’s home state - taken on behalf of the Courier Mail, were asked their opinion on whether a Rudd-lead ALP would make them more likely to vote for the ALP in the next election. Apparently just over 500 polled said yes. In the eyes of MSM, this small sample of Queenslanders' opinions converted to proving the ALP will win the next election if Rudd was leader.

This tiny poll was reported askew right across our beloved MSM, with headlines like “Galaxy poll result could fuel push for Kevin Rudd comeback as Labor leader”, and “Galaxy poll finds Kevin Rudd would lead Labor to election victory if he regained ALP leadership”, including the prime time TV news shows.

"KEVIN Rudd would catapult Labor into an election-winning position if he was reinstalled as leader, according to a new Galaxy poll taken for The Courier-Mail."

BULLSHIT. This poll was a small sample, in Rudd’s home state, commissioned by the Courier Mail to give themselves, and MSM, more fodder to keep the story alive. Marketers won’t take any poll with a test sample of less than 1000 any credence, by the way.

So what about all the polls that say that Malcolm Turnbull would be a more popular leader than Tony Abbott? Where are those harping stories? They barely get a blip on the radar. (Turnbull preferred as coalition head) 

And then there are all the over-opinionated opinion pieces. As if there wasn’t enough opinion in the news pieces! This is one recent abhorrent example I stumbled across from the Sydney Morning Herald, which I believe even out-does the worst of the worst, from former Australian Financial Review columnist and day editor Alan Stokes, in this piece written in his new position as SMH columnist. (Dear Julia, it's time for a dignified exit speech)

How are we supposed to read any news articles in the SMH with any semblance of serious regard when this is the staple of their opinion pieces? Really? And I’m not on my own there if the comments under the piece are to be considered.

"This is written by Alan Stokes who wrote "The biggest issue facing concerned Australians is surely how to get Malcolm Turnbull to become prime minister" on the 21st November 2012 in the Fin Review." for example.

 

It’s enough to turn you off MSM news for good! Lucky for us, independent news websites and professional news blogs (no, not mine) are popping up all over the place and gaining in popularity, ready to take the place of the flailing traditional MSM, who seem to be unable to foresee their own approaching demise.

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, again, again now; report the facts, MSM. Leave the speculation and opinion and bullshit to the bloggers, and just feed us the news. Unbiased. That, after all, is meant to be your job! 

Journalism CODE OF ETHICS - CRIKEY!

News Blogs; Crikey; Politically homeless; The Hoopla; New Matilda; Online Opinion; Independent Australia;

Thanks to Independent Australia

Article: Is mainstream media biased?

Update 10.03.13
P.S. Twitter just showed me this little gem, and thought it was a relevant share re; views expressed above on veteran political reporter Michelle Grattan, by blogger Victoria Rollison; an open letter to Michelle Grattan. Well expressed!

STOP THE BOATS

Things in the news today that annoy me #1

Stop the boats...???

Oh yes, the off-shore processing monster has been very busy recently. It appears we finally have agreement from both major parties to push through parliament the processing off-shore of those evil, queue-jumping asylum seekers.

The agreed legislation has passed the Lower House of Federal Parliament and is likely to pass the Senate by tomorrow, to be enacted within the next month. 

As mentioned in a previous blog, approximately 2000 boat people sought asylum in Australia in 2009 compared to 50,000 people each year that come legally on visitor visas and then over-stay those visas. 

HELLO??? I feel like swearing, but will refrain. 

I’m sure all those fleeing appalling and/or life-threatening conditions or living in refugee camps are glued to their big-screen plasma TVs waiting to hear what is going on in Australian politics before deciding if it is worthwhile taking a life-risking trip to Australia so they can be imprisoned for up to five years or more, even though likely are not criminals, nor have broken the law by seeking asylum.

That's right - seeking asylum is NOT ILLEGAL. These people have a legal right to seek asylum if they are genuine refugees. Get it through your heads! When did the term ‘asylum-seeker’ become a dirty word? Are we a country of red-necks?

Now it’s reported that the Immigration Department plans to create videos featuring Naura and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island to discourage asylum seekers from coming to Australia by boat. 

Yes, you heard me. It's laughable. 

I wonder, will these mucky asylum-seekers be watching these videos on You Tube from their computers using their high-speed internet connection from the side of the road? Perhaps they’re watching on iView from their wireless iPads? GET REAL AUSTRALIA. 

It doesn’t matter what we do. People are not going to stop seeking asylum, or better lives for themselves, as long as the dreadful circumstances they are fleeing from no longer exist. For F**K sake (I compromised on the swearing). 

At the end of June, Opposition leader Tony Abbott Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott offered crossbench MPs to increase Australia's refugee intake from about 14,000 to 20,000 within three years in order to get their support for a coalition amendment on asylum seeker legislation.

However he has now retracted that stance, saying such a move would be a magnet for asylum seekers. Hard to keep up with all the lies and back-flipping in politics these days, isn’t it? 

If we’re all so concerned with our immigration intake, perhaps we should focus our attentions on over-stays? Just a thought…

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UPDATE 28 AUGUST 2012

from the GetUp team 

The SBS TV show, Go Back to Where You Came From returns to our screens tonight, Tuesday 28th August, at 8.30PM.
 
This morning, the horrid news of 17 Afghans reportedly beheaded by the Taliban is an acrid reminder of the circumstances that drive so many desperate asylum seekers to our shores. We've produced a new infographic showing the conflicts and crisis that drive asylum seeker movement. Click here to view it.

Leadership Speculation – AGAIN???

WARNING - Major rant ahead.

I saw a tweet a little while back. It said retweet if you are NOT one of the 27% who believe News Ltd is responsible for the current Labor polling (which was at its lowest at the time of the tweet – according to News Limited's Newspoll - for what that’s worth).

It was from an anti-Labor Twitter Group.

I didn’t re-tweet, but I did reply. You see, as you already know, I have an opinion on everything. And if you read my previous blog about media integrity, then you know I am a dubious ex-journo fed up with the irresponsible, inaccurate reporting in Australian journalism these days. 

And with all the negative press – oppressively so – that Labor has been receiving, I had already formed an opinion that something was dodgy in Dodge Town. After all, let’s not forget that Australia is doing a helluva lot better than most of the rest of the western world post-GFC.  And yet the Labor Party are - day after day - receiving bad press after bad news story after negative spin in the media.

Everyone seems to forget that, along with all the forward motion the government is making in policy and announcements, unemployment is under five per cent nationally, interest rates are down, inflation is under control, and there is a budget surplus - albeit a small one. 

But we don’t hear much about the positive Gillard government achievements in the mainstream media. 

And the only press Tony Abbott and his Liberal cohorts have been receiving is from their negative comments about the Gillard government. 

Forget saying anything positive, coming up with a better alternative, or even mentioning a policy or two of their own that the Liberal Party might have come up with. Nothing like that from the man that touts himself as the alternate PM. Just negative spin-doctoring.

So needless to say, for me, I was just thrilled that 27% of people that came across that poll  could also smell a media rat against Labor. That makes me less conspiratorial and more your average, astute media and political junky. :-)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not 100% a Labor – or Julia – fan. But I do think she is getting a rawer deal in the media than any PM before her. And now, yet again, we are back to the leadership speculation story. 

Is there really a story here, or is it the media again creating a story where none exists; all of the outlets jumping on the same copy/paste bandwagon in an attempt to further deflate the popularity of the current Labor government?

Well let’s have a brief look at just the recent history. 

In February there was a challenge by Kevin Rudd for her leadership (and I could argue the challenge was a result of constant media speculation about a challenge.) Julia received overwhelming support of her Party, 71 – 31. Kev moved to the backbench and made it very clear that he wouldn’t challenge Julia for the leadership again. Both vowed to set aside internal party squabbles to focus their efforts on beating Tony Abbott in the 2013 federal election. 

So that’s the end of that. Right? Oh no…

The media started up again in March. And it wasn’t even induced by anything happening in federal politics, but at the state level, following Labor’s resounding loss in the Queensland elections. 

Again, in April. “Herald-Sun sources” in the Victorian ALP and union (funny how there are never any names) apparently voiced a fresh leadership challenge against Julia Gillard could be mounted by August, with Kevin Rudd still considered the best option. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/kevin-rudd-a-favourite-to-challenge-julia-gillard-again/story-fn7x8me2-1226338306825

 

"There is a growing realisation that next year's election could turn out like the catastrophe of Queensland," one source said. 

“Another senior party figure said…” the article goes on and on, quoting unnamed sources. And I could continue to dig up examples.

And now, in May, Kevin is seen having a coffee with good friend and Member for Hunter and government whip Joel Fitzgibbon, and the speculation is back on - in every media outlet. 

That’s all it takes. 

Fairfax and News Limited papers reported, and other media outlets reported their reports, that Mr Fitzgibbon had been openly canvassing for votes to return Kevin Rudd to the party leadership. And not one direct quote supporting the story.

“Mr Fitzgibbon’s open canvassing of a leadership change last week – reportedly telling MPs 'the hung Parliament is killing us’’ – followed a ‘‘catch-up’’ between the two men at Singleton’s Coal Rock Coffee Bar on Friday, May 18.” says the Newcastle Herald, for one. 

Reportedly? Reported by who?

On Twitter, Mr Fitzgibbon responded ‘‘I thank my colleagues for the publicity but no one does more to support the PM and the government than me!’’. But it didn’t stop the speculation. 

Nor did the denials of all the senior Labor pollies rallying around behind Julia. Foreign minister Bob Carr dismissed the leadership rumblings as a "non-story". "I think there is less to this story than meets the eye. I think this is a revival of leadership speculation without justification," he said. 

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said he had spent Friday with Mr Fitzgibbon, who had mentioned nothing about his support for a leadership change. 

Leader of the House Anthony Albanese said the leadership question was settled in February. 

Finance Minister Penny Wong said, "She has my full support and she has the strong support of caucus and I think this sort of speculation is unhelpful."

In a nice little twist, the latest Newspoll shows a four-point surge in the Prime Minister's popularity, with Julia's rating as preferred prime minister now at 40 per cent, while Tony Abbott's popularity is down three points to 37 per cent. 

The Prime Minister now leads Mr Abbott as the country's preferred leader, while Tony Abbott has suffered an increase in his dissatisfaction rating, up to 60 per cent - his highest figure ever recorded. 

Perhaps it is Tony Abbott’s leadership that the media should be speculating about?

I think the ABC said it best… Weekend reports that chief government whip Joel Fitzgibbon was canvassing numbers for a possible Kevin Rudd leadership challenge have thrown the spotlight back on Ms Gillard's leadership.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-28/discontent-simmers-amid-more-pressure-on-gillard/4036382

 

Yes, the spotlight is back on Julia’s leadership. Again. And my point is; that’s the whole point of this speculation circus.