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Last updated on August 9th, 2017 at 01:58 pm
GetUp!’s ABC petition has been presented to the treasurer’s office:
More than 50,000 people have added their names to an online petition backing the ABC’s latest funding submission …
The ABC is seeking an extra $38.4 million, on top of its $760 million a year, to boost services to regional areas, produce content for its digital TV project and make more programs.
Instead of crying and moaning and organising petitions and forming pointless activist groups, why don’t each of these 50,000 people simply send $768 to the ABC? Problem solved.
- #2 and because if someone wishes to check the contacts in the petition they will discover a very large percentage of supportive signatories have been falsifiedPosted by Margos Maid on 2006 03 29 at 12:52 AM • permalink
- Ya know, ABC could probably make a few bucks selling that list to Russian lolita porn spammers…Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 03 29 at 12:58 AM • permalink
- Instead of crying and moaning and organising petitions and forming pointless activist groups, why don’t each of these 50,000 people simply send $768 to the ABC? Problem solved.
No Tim, that would never work. The whole idea of the A.B.C. is to make the poor old proletariat pay. We need to feel the connection with our moral superiors. Everybody must pay and we better bloody well be grateful about it too!
- Fixie linkie
Well if nothing else, I hope the feds get a laugh out of some of the fictious petitioners.
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 03 29 at 01:09 AM • permalink
- D’oh who let the italics out?
—Nora
PIMF – fictitious
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 03 29 at 01:10 AM • permalink
- #9 If those names raise a laugh, you’ll like the ones that two blokes got the airport staff at Heathrow and Gatwick to announce over the PA system . You can read them here.
I particularly like “Aynayda Pizaqvick and Malexa Kriest” and “Makollig Jezvahted and Levdaroum DeBahzted”.
- Mr Blair,
Like a majority of Australians, I oppose the war in Iraq, and resent my tax dollars being spent on this folly.
Why don’t you war mongers practice what you preach, form an alliance, and fund the war yourselves? The only downside for you is that I suspect it might cost a little more than $768 per person.
Posted by gustov_deleft on 2006 03 29 at 02:36 AM • permalink
- Here’s a nasty reality jolt for you, Gus- the provision of defence, both external and domestic, is one of the few actual responsibilities of government, and like it or not you benefit from the existence of the ADF and assorted police forces.
Despite your loathing of offshore military action, the elected government of the day determined it was in the national interest to participate in a small way in an attempt to put the bag on recalcitrant, surly and beligerant persons of middle eastern appearance.
We recieve no benefit from the ABC whatsoever, and it’s existence is purely through discretionary spending.
I don’t mind it’s continued existence, after all poking fun at Tony Jones is almost as big a giggle as pulling the wings off flies- I do object to being forced to fund it.
- And BTW- if we weren’t being hosed to fund all the social justice/cultural protection/public “infrastructure”/equity programs so beloved by you and your bath-shy bretheren, we’d have a bucket of dosh for futile military causes- hell, we could probably stump up enough to fix up history and turf the commies out of Veetnam.
- Think about it this way: the ABC is Australia’s only compulsory Pay TV network.Posted by Oafish and Infantile on 2006 03 29 at 03:39 AM • permalink
- Plus we have to fund it year after year until, I guess, the end of time.
Whereas any wars are finite in length.
So, yes, gustov, we warmongers will fund a ten year war if you agree to fund the limitless sink that is the ABC.
Posted by Quentin George on 2006 03 29 at 03:54 AM • permalink
- And to follow on Habib’s discretionary spending theme, the difference between things like tv stations, radio stations etc and military is that there are already well developed private providers of tv and other broadcasting. It is not immediately apparent why a government funded station is needed except to cater to a niche market. As pointed out by other commenters, if needs aren’t being served from existing private providers then some subscription or other way of funding could be attempted to establish new stations if people can’t live without what stations like the ABC provide.
I wouldn’t recommend this approach for military spending.
- Socialists find it easier to talk about money then to give it.Posted by stackja1945 on 2006 03 29 at 04:10 AM • permalink
- i similarly wrote somethig fairly uncomplimentary about the ABC, but i still wondered if they would use our names or at least our entries to bolster there numbers, like some website did a while ago…
a number of us went and registered on some petition that some website was running (forgot what the kukes were on about) and used silly names and rude opinions and dind’t they just edit out the commetns and stuff, but still counted the entry as if we really had supported whatever tripe they were on???
at least if they give the full list of names and hopefully comments, the pollies or there staffers can look through and see what was actually said, and not just take the 50k number at face value….
- They can have their money when they sack sweet fanny addams.Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 03 29 at 04:45 AM • permalink
- Here’s a nasty reality jolt for you, Gus- the provision of defence, both external and domestic, is one of the few actual responsibilities of government
The ABC is enshrined in legislation also, let’s not forget that.You right-wing types should also remember that Hawke tried to neuter the ABC also, and this was blocked in the senate by the Liberals – They weren’t complaining about left wing bias then, were they? Do you know why? Because the incumbent Government always despises the ABC for doing what it is there for – to hold them to account.
Coonan is grinning from ear to ear at the thought demolishing the ABC and it’s perceived bias. But despite the fact the Liberals are well entrenched in Government at the moment, what’s going to happen when they are eventually in opposition and there isn’t a viable ABC to hold them to account?
This is all very short sighted.
Posted by gustov_deleft on 2006 03 29 at 05:16 AM • permalink
- Gustov The ABC is a tv station and radio broadcaster. It is not a government ombudsman. You mention legislation – where in the ABC legislation or charter does it say “holding the government of the day to account”? as an objective. I thought it was the voters’ (and parliament’s) job to hold governments to account.
I’m sure democracy will survive without a government funded broadcaster.
And yes the libs did complain about the ABC in the 80s. Because however hard they were on Hawke (which they were) they were harder on the opposition.
Here’s a nasty reality jolt for you, Gus- the provision of defence, both external and domestic, is one of the few actual responsibilities of government
The ABC is enshrined in legislation also, let’s not forget that.
How utterly unsurprising that you don’t understand the difference between “actual responsibility” and “enshrined in legislation”. Hint: The latter does not imply the former.
Is there any way we can get gus on a priority target list for sundry international terrorist groups in return for his war money back, since he apparently feels that he knows better how to spend that money? (You big Libertarian, you!)
- Red Kerry went in very hard on Howard tonight. Didn’t seem to make much difference. Kerry just wants to nail them, and does not care how.
I cannot remember Kerry being as tough on Keating. I do remember feeling that under the labor governments of that time one felt intimidated by the overbearing PC pilotage, which had both government and media support. There were no blogs.
- Oh, the ABC attacks the ALP as well – but from the left.Posted by Quentin George on 2006 03 29 at 06:13 AM • permalink
- #23 Gustov
Yes, both the Liberal and Labor Parties complain about the ABC – it attacks both parties, but always from the left.
Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 03 29 at 06:19 AM • permalink
- ABC’s Red Kezza got caught tonight selectively quoting from a statement re AWB. Howard was prepared and read out the bit that Kezza omitted. Oops.
Howard hardly ever (seems) to have notes – in speeches or interviews – but tonights little attempted inquisition was so predictable, he went prepared.
Poor Kezza (he of the statement-of-position framed as a long winded question) actually complained about the length of one of Howard’s responses! Poor Kezza. Won’t forgive Howard for banning him from election-time Debates.
Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 03 29 at 06:27 AM • permalink
- When JH won ten years ago the ABC went absolutely nutso. There were public meetings all over the country, and there was, as they say in the classics, much mongering of fear. Programs would be cut, staff numbers savagely trimmed. Funny, though, the WA edition of the 7:30 Report had been axed a year earlier, under the then-Labor government, and the angry masses could barely raise a squawk.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2006 03 29 at 06:33 AM • permalink
- TOTALLY offtopic, but check this for a laugh:
“Cartoon sends Papua row to new low”One of Indonesia’s biggest-selling newspapers has depicted John Howard and Alexander Downer as a pair of sex-crazed dingoes, dragging media outrage over the Papua visa row down to a new low.
The front page of the Islamic-leaning Rakyat Merdeka (People’s Freedom) newspaper was dominated by the cartoon of the two having sex under a palm tree on an otherwise barren island signposted “Papua”.
Headlined “The adventure of two dingo” (sic), the drawing shows the prime minister as the dominant dog, shaking as he tells the foreign minister: “I want Papua!! Alex! Try to make it happen!”
Sensitive chaps these Indonesians, eh?
- Well I’m appalled. Shocked. Shocked and appalled. Who would have thought it? Indonesia you say? Shocked. Appalled.Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 03 29 at 07:02 AM • permalink
- Ere ang on Gusto
Your’re never going to use ABC powderfluffs to defend Australia are you.?
Ab -solutely priceless what -you won’t get them to agree to stand up,let alone fight.
Let alone fight for Astrayans or even their country Astraya.
I realise something that I’ve always known
They still call Australia…………….
racist,fascist,arse licking,subservient,cringeworthy,greedy,war mongering,uneducated, moronic,red necked,indigenous murdering/patronising,fools.
- Why are Righties so scared of the ABC? I think it’s funny watching the Lefties try and try and try to get one over Howard or Downer or any of the Righters who present themselves for interviews. They rarely crack it and make themselves look all the more foolish for their failures.
Lateline may have Fisk on now and then, but they give just as much time to Pipes and Hitchens and the occasional Zionist. If you didn’t have the ABC, do you really think Channel Nine or Today Tonight would get into politics or foreign elections? Like fuck they would.
You might not be happy with Red Kerry’s interview style, but why should we be denied all the rest of the benefits of those shows? We won three Fed elections in a row, dominate the Senate, IR went through, the Iraq War went ahead, anything else the Right want they’ll get, so why panic if Tony Jones doesn’t let Downer rave on for ten minutes straight? It’s great to see all politicians put through the wringer occasionally, we pay their wages, why shouldn’t they have to dance for us and explain themselves?
And don’t lay the Lefty Bias joke on me either, ABC says hammer the Lefties plenty. You reckon Beazley gets a fair run anywhere on the ABC? You should see what the Chaser and Glass House do to him on a regular basis.
Plus the ABC shows eviscerated Latham and his book last year like no other channel did, for weeks on end.
And the guy on Hack on JJJ has Greenies on and he shreds them, at least once a week, while also giving youth access platforms to everyone from Downer to Abbott to Browyn Bloody Bishop. How often do you think Abbott or Bishop get onto MMM-FM? Or 2WS-FM?
I don’t want to live in a country where the only media message is the stuff I want to hear, I mean, you do know what kind of society that talk leads to, don’t you?
Why be so offended and put out by tossers that you don’t respect? Makes us all sound like a bunch of wussies who can’t take some heat or criticism.
The Right are winning victories every week in Australia, and the ABC has to report on virtually all of them, no matter how much some of them might not want to.
Getting up to $1 Billion a year might be a lot of money, but if you can’t stand people screaming at you from television ads every ten minutes about what new piece of crap you should buy, then 4 cents a day (or whatever few cents it works out to) doesn’t seem that much of a price to pay.
Finally, ABC keeps old people off the streets at night. Imagine what they’d be doing if they didn’t have all those British dramas and comedies to keep them hypnotised? They’d be hanging around like the local 7-11 to all hours, picking fights, spraying ‘Old People Rock’ on walls and on the phone asking why we don’t visit them more often, or God forbid, they’d be doing the Pop In.
Now that is far more scary than Red Kerry trying to get one up on Howard and failing miserably, again, as always, as usual.
Posted by LeftieLatteLover on 2006 03 29 at 08:30 AM • permalink
- and speaking of the ABC..
Radio National’s “The Religion Report” was aired this morning.
An English Prof was discussing the “clash of civilisations” argument with presenter.
Professor -“I really feel quite strongly—” – HE IS FADED OUT OR THE VOLUME IS TURNED RIGHT DOWN as presenter cuts in on him with an opposing view.
Prof discusses the fact that the U.S. makes its immigrants accept American values.
Mentions the imbalance in demographics in Europe. Says he feels there could be quite a problem in Europe not attempting integration or demanding its values be observed.
ABC presenter..“but have they EXAGGERATED the numbers in amongst the original populations..”
Prof “well in areas like the Banlieus it is a very high percentage…
ABC presenter again turns the volume down and fades prof out..
Presenter..“isn’t it important though that the DECLINE OF OUR OWN CULTURE causes the problem?”
Have the courtesy abc to allow your invited guest to complete his sentences and get his message across..or don’t bother to have guests at all.
Just enjoy the sound of your own melifluous voices..ad nauseum.
Speaking of which, has the happy snapper news presenter on sbs swallowed a tombola?
I need subtitles to understand her.
- OK, I’ll bite. LLL (sigh… who else?)
And don’t lay the Lefty Bias joke on me either, ABC says hammer the Lefties plenty. You reckon Beazley gets a fair run anywhere on the ABC?
So you think the Bomber’s a Lefty eh? What a f*wit(and I don’t mean Bomber). In saying “we won 3 elections” (its 4 by the way, and I don’t know about “we”) you’re not fooling anyone, you know? But thanks for turning up – the twerp who thinks he’s cool & blending in with the gang, but is just a running joke.
Like I said before, the ABC does attack both Labor and Liberal when in power, but always from the left.
Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 03 29 at 08:54 AM • permalink
- LLL did make some good points. ABC is the only outlet I’ve ever seen Hitchens or Pipes get on here.
And somehow I don’t think “Kochie” or Tracy Grimshaw will be interviewing those two anytime soon.
Sometimes I do want to watch something a little more cerebral than seeing which bogan skank is the latest to root on Big Brother.
- I don’t care what the abc attacks or from what direction, I simply resent being forced to pay their wages. If I don’t want to pay the wages of people on Fox, I simply turn off the channel and don’t pay the subscription fees.
If I don’t want to watch the commercial FTA networks I turn them off safe in the knowledge that I am not funding them and indeed by not watching them I know that ultimately their revenues will suffer.
With the abc however I pay the worthless sacks of sh*ts wages every day regardless of whether I watch them or not, I have no choice in the matter.
What a disgraceful imposition.
Is there any way we can get gus on a priority target list for sundry international terrorist groups in return for his war money back, since he apparently feels that he knows better how to spend that money?
Just tell the world that Gusty is a Danish cartoonist……
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2006 03 29 at 10:28 AM • permalink
- Yeah, yeah, four, four, four, four. Wasn’t paying attention in ‘96. And supporting the Liberals gives me every right to say ‘we’ when I’m talking about the Right in Australia. It’s not a private, members-only club.
Thanks for the friendly advice, Tim B. Will keep them under 150 words in the future.
Good advice, too, just started a ‘Lefty Latte Lover’ blog at blogger.com for the long rants.
Posted by LeftieLatteLover on 2006 03 29 at 11:41 AM • permalink
- When it comes to getting their message out to the public, there is no limit to the amount that leftists are willing to spend … of other people’s money.
Witness their enthusiasm for other socialist communication schemes, such as government schools and taxpayer-funded runs for public office—the latter an idea U.S. policymakers have fortunately contained to the presidential level.
Posted by Rittenhouse on 2006 03 29 at 12:53 PM • permalink
- ekb87:
Sometimes I do want to watch something a little more cerebral than seeing which bogan skank is the latest to root on Big Brother.But that’s (almost) the point. If you don’t want to watch Big Brother (vomit be upon it), don’t watch it – no cerebral loss, no financial loss. But if I don’t want to watch ‘The Glasshouse’ (for example), no loss of stomoch contents either, but I STILL pay for it. If you want it, YOU pay for it.
paco:
I mean, as an American, I’m not familiar with ABC. Is it as bad as our own PBS? Do you have anyone as insufferably smarmy, dishonest and condescending as, say, Bill Moyers?..and I dunno about Bill Moyers, but the words “insufferably smarmy, dishonest and condescending ” could be applied to most of ABC’s current affairs presenters. Other words that apply: “worker’s collective”; “lack of objectivity”; “agenda driven”; “sneering contempt for ordinary folk”.
Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 03 29 at 04:56 PM • permalink
- I think it only fair at this point for space to be allowed for someone representing Getup to explain the safeguards and checking they have in place to ensure that this petition does not consist in the main of signatures by non-existent people.
Go for it guys…
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 03 29 at 04:59 PM • permalink
- Re: #59
I appreciate that getting the right words together can be a right palaver. So in the spirit of co-operation with Getup I offer my humble assistance. I just ask that someone from Getup fill in the blanks – shouldn’t be too hard. Here goes…
“For us at Getup, integrity is highly important to us, because this integrity reflects on the causes that we champion. Without integrity, all our efforts are wasted.
As such, there are a number of ways that we screen our petitions to ensure that petitioners and email addresses are genuine. This is how it works, and here are some examples of how we have added to the integrity of our petitions…”
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 03 29 at 08:25 PM • permalink
- I reckon Aunty is practising to put ads in. The reporter hesitates and says something like “After the break……..” , then changes camera and carries on.
I’ll bet ads will be gradually slipped in whether we like them or not.
I would forgive them anything, even K Obrian, if they would put ‘Red Dwarf’ back on.
- The ABC’s left-wing bias is irritating and we have a right to expect a more objective approach. I attribute this to the baby-boomers who run the place,washed up on their desert island of ‘70s ideology and abandoned there, as the tide moved on.
But that’s not my beef with the ABC. What I resent is the grey boring public broadcasting/TV we get from a grey bureaucratic public institution, for our wasted tax dollars; the intellectual mediocrity and timidity; the lack of experiment and innovation; the paper-shuffling apparachiks who stifle what little creativity exists. There is exciting broadcasting going on in Australia, but it’s not coming out of the ABC. It’s coming from small community radio stations that survive on budgets which wouldn’t keep the ABC in toilet paper for a year.
- Good news, the petition will soon be in the hundreds of millions, bringing required donations to less than a dollar each.
My submission: “I believe that GetUp and other lefty petitions are systematically rorted and entries falsified on a large scale.”
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 03 30 at 01:54 AM • permalink
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As likely as me winning Miss Hamas (insufficiently hirsute, I’m afraid).