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Last updated on July 13th, 2017 at 01:38 pm
Overlooked in all the, er, excitement of Election 07 was the vital matter of Wentworth preferences. As Media Watch breathlessly reported:
An independent candidate [Dani Ecuyer] in one of the most crucial, marginal seats to be decided at the election says a senior reporter from The Australian tried to persuade her to direct her preferences to the sitting Liberal member, Malcolm Turnbull. Caroline Overington of The Australian emailed the candidate saying that Malcolm Turnbull would be a loss to the parliament – denigrating the value of the ALP’s George Newhouse as a potential MP.
Let’s hand all of Ecuyer’s 684 primary votes to Newhouse. That takes him from 22,889 votes to 23,573 … still substantially short of Turnbull’s 37,191. Didn’t turn out to be much of an issue, did it?
POST-ELECTION TURMOIL UPDATE:
Philip Ruddock today declared he would not be available to serve on the opposition front bench, joining Peter Costello and Alexander Downer as senior MPs who will no longer figure in the Liberals’ upper echelons.
not to mention Bob Carr, Claire Martin, Alan Carpenter, Mary Delahunty among others. In fact, going on previous ABC form, there’s a good chance that Maxi will screw the pooch within the next electoral cycle, regardless of her own KRuddish benefactor. If an ABC journalist can be relied to do anything right, it’s fuck up public policy.
- not satisfied with the coup of the year, they also decided to report on this advertisement, because the lyrics to the soundtrack are, apparently, rather racy.
Obviously, there’s not enough censorship in Australia, and MediaWatch are here to pick up the slack. If nobody else cares enough to complain, then by God, they will step up and do the right thing.Posted by daddy dave on 2007 12 02 at 03:48 AM • permalink
No doubt Kerry O’Brien’s on-air crowing about a victory for the ABC/ALP will be thoroughly condemned by the impartial observers at Media Watch.
Posted by Evil Pundit on 2007 12 02 at 04:10 AM • permalink
Even the name, “MediaWatch”, has a rather Orwellian tone to it. I used to quite like the show, but it’s a rather sinister concept really: monitoring the media, watching the media, reporting on journalists who support the wrong side. Public shaming and humiliation of journalists for percieved infractions.
The main task of MediaWatch, it seems, is outing media conservatives.
Posted by daddy dave on 2007 12 02 at 04:15 AM • permalink
- #8
They would, except it’s a little too far down the news cycle now and no longer really relevant.
And they’re planning a big splash on that most egregious spelling mistake in the May 24th edition of the West Inookalavie Clarion livestock page.
(Professional journalists should know it’s Holstein, not Holstien.)
#9; A MediasWatchWatch should be available from Personal Arm Chronometer Ornaments soon.
Posted by dean martin on 2007 12 02 at 05:03 AM • permalink
While Costello’s retirement from the coalition front bench was a genuine surprise, what isn’t a surprise is Downer and Ruddock deciding they didn’t want the hassle of a shadow minister’s position. Ruddock’s decision is even less surprising than Downer’s. Why it’s reported as some amazing development is mystifying.
I would like to point out to earlier posters (#1, #3,#4) that teh journo was having a lend:
“No sweetie, it is way too early, let’s see what happens on policy from the major parties – if anything,” wrote Ecuyer.
“Too early! My girl, you’ve got four weeks!!” replied Overington. “Please preference Malcolm. It would be such a good front-page story. Also, he’d be a loss to the parliament and George – forgive me – would be no gain.”
And Overington ended the email with a cyber wink – 😉 – just to make it clear this was a jocular exchange…
Ecuyer was the recent ex of Newhouse, so imagine what the front page story would have been if Ecuyer had preferenced Turnbull.
Yeah… I think Ruddock has done a stellar job (especially when he fixed the broad outline of Australia’s immigration program), but I never expected him to be one of the stars for the future, especially given how long the Liberals may be in opposition for, and the opportunity for renewal on the front bench that exists.
Posted by petedenham on 2007 12 02 at 06:23 AM • permalink
#13 that makes MediaWatch’s position even more ludicrous.
Posted by daddy dave on 2007 12 02 at 06:45 AM • permalink
#14, especially considering Ruddock is the longest serving member of the House of Reps (1973), I can’t see him still being around when the ALP finally loses power again.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 12 02 at 07:58 AM • permalink
Another senior Liberal from the Howard era has stepped aside to make way for new blood as the fallout from the coalition’s election drubbing continues.
That’s a nice way to put it. Hope it’s an accurate characterization. In contrast, Congressional Republicans are deserting what they consider a sinking ship in droves like the rats they are. Which, don’t get me wrong, is okay with me–good riddance to most of them. Wish more would follow their lead.
Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 12 02 at 02:13 PM • permalink
- At AEC we read “These results are not final.”
K Rudd is not yet elected to Parliament.Posted by stackja1945 on 2007 12 02 at 08:56 PM • permalink
It must be around mid-day on the East coast of Aus, Kevin Rudd is prime minister.
Any sign of the sky darkening? Plagues of frogs? First born still in good health?
Trust me. It’s much more fun for a critic to be in opposition than with the party of power. Just watch Rudd & Co stare into the Kyoto economic abyss and run around like headless chickens.
And for their next piece, they’ll be asking how all those Labor Party supporters took over the tally room and hijacked the election-night coverage on two stations.
Have no fear. MediaWatch is on it.