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Governments show handHey all, I heard an item on this mornings news which I didn't believe, so I looked up the papers online and found the story in both the Telegraph and the Courier Mail. Here's the story from the Courier Mail, Private coastal road link mooted. The Telly link is, Shortcut from Sydney to Brisbane for $50. Private coastal road link mooted Extract ... Trucks, expected to double in number over the next 20 years, could be charged a toll of up to $200 to use the road. ... Mr Anderson and Mr Costa are believed to be both sympathetic to a private toll road, as neither the State nor Federal Governments are keen to fund the estimated $3 billion price tag of making the highway a dual carriageway. Does this tell anyone what is going on at government level or what? A private road for those that can afford it and a second rate death track for the rest of us. What next? Where is this shit coming from? Maybe I'm still asleep and having a nightmare. I hope so.
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letter to Lindsay Tanner
Lindsay
Tanner MP, Federal Member for Melbourne
Fax'd to (02) 6277 8499
Dear Mr Tanner
I would like to bring to your attention a couple of matters relating to the services provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The ABC performs essential public service with many of its programs, especially Media Watch and Background Briefing. Today's BBing looked at aspects of Public-Private Partnerships, and the central role of Macquarie Bank in the sale of public assets.
Last week in Parliament, Sharman Stone mentioned the Private Financing Advisory Services Panel. I have asked her office for details of the composition of this panel, but haven't received the email yet. Dr Stone's latest speech, on Public Sector Procurement, has some crucial pointers to the way government business will be done in the new environment of the Aus-US FTA.
I believe that, of the news and broadcasting outlets in this country, only the ABC can be relied on to keep these kinds of matters in the public view, in a timely manner.
Last week's Media Watch (May 23) broadcast excerpts from that disgusting outburst by Malcolm Elliot of 2GB, that vilified Indonesians in general, in the context of the Corby trial. But the transcript of that broadcast is not available. There may be a simple explanation for the delay, but if it is a matter of technical resources, that should be looked at urgently. It is not good enough, that matters of such public importance, are not made available. The comments by Elliot would be enough to turn Indonesian sentiment against us, especially as they were not contradicted by someone who uses his shock-jock troops as a convenient megaphone for his own dog-whistling. If we can't examine the roots of our own virulent racism, then we shouldn't be surprised when Indonesians take offence.
Of course, a riot outside our embassy in Jakarta would be lambasted by Howard and Downer, and a convenient distraction away from ministerial woes. I can just hear it “Look (at them), we bring them freedom and democracy on a platter, give generously in their times of need, and this is how they treat us. We know how you feel, but we urge you to be temperate, and not do something, like boycott Garuda.
Please do not think we are trying to plant ideas in your heads.
objectivity
Where is the objectivity in that letter? The ABC was once about objectivity. The objectivity has already disappeared into history at the ABC if you had watched the ABC Insiders on Sunday. The program is just like watching something from News Limited. Paul Kelly from the Australian is having a bigger say in the show.
After the Shapelle Corby case there were bombings in Indonesia in pro-Christian places of worship. It is rubbish to suggest that Malcolm T Elliot's radio program did that. The letter to Tanner will cause trouble in Australia in free speech when the trouble of killing and retribution is in Indonesia and goes back to the Bali bombing. Australians died there.