ABC is Political

[sails]

Tony Jones on Lateline last night was obviously gleeful interviewing an Indonesian MP and leading him in a direction that suited the ABC agenda.
It was almost like they had agreed beforehand that that Abbots policy regarding the boats was to be attacked.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-...ck-the-boats-policy-is-offensive-and-/4966934

Yes he was led along nicely by the accommodating Mr Jones.

Clearly the new Aussie government has not had time yet to talk to Indonesia, but the statements below seem to confirm Julie Bishop's comments on Meet the Press on Sunday that Indonesia do want to find a solution to the problem. It seems Indonesia has only read what's written in the papers and if they only read the ABC there's a good chance they may have a distorted perception, imo.

From the article you posted, MrBurns:

"Indonesia accepts all possible solutions, all possible proposals from Australia. We are also concerned about it. We don't want it to happen in the future. This case should be settled in a very modest and a very peaceful way."

Mr Yahya says the plan to pay for information about people smugglers and to buy back boats had not been discussed with Indonesian officials as far as he was aware.

"It's very offensive," he said. "We just know everything from the newspaper."

 

[chiff]

Clearly the new Aussie government has not had time yet to talk to Indonesia, but the statements below seem to confirm Julie Bishop's comments on Meet the Press on Sunday that Indonesia do want to find a solution to the problem. It seems Indonesia has only read what's written in the papers and if they only read the ABC there's a good chance they may have a distorted perception, imo.

From the article you posted, MrBurns:[/Q

I think that you will find that the Indonesians are more well informed than you think.
Is Australia indulging in megaphone diplomacy without talking to the Indonesians first?
If the opposition had done that whilst in government the conservatives on this forum would be deriding them.
Do you think that Indonesians see Australia as hypocrites regarding refugees?

 

[boofhead]

Both parties had various discussions with Indonesia in the last few months although the current government was no in power. I expect the Indonesians had a feeling that Abbott would be the next PM.

 

[bellenuit]

Tony Jones on Lateline last night was obviously gleeful interviewing an Indonesian MP and leading him in a direction that suited the ABC agenda.
It was almost like they had agreed beforehand that that Abbots policy regarding the boats was to be attacked.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-...ck-the-boats-policy-is-offensive-and-/4966934

Yes he was led along nicely by the accommodating Mr Jones.

I thought the interview was appalling. It was almost as if Tony Jones wanted Indonesia to declare war on the program. They are trying to create news, not report it. I was anticipating that the outcome of that interview would be the lead story on their NewsRadio channel this morning and I was not disappointed.

 

[boofis]

Glad to see others are switched on to ABC. Have been Tweeting as fast as my fingers allow to try and get an explanation on the interview on lateline.
Also trying to get Media Watch to give an objective rundown on the ABCs election campaign coverage.

 

[craft]

Give me genuine quality and experience over gender equality every time. If the best qualified people happen to be male, then imo Tony Abbott is doing the right thing in promoting them first.

The feminazi will settle down in a day or two.

Mr Abbott is showing every sign of making his own decisions and holding fast to them. Bravo!

Crikey I’m a feminazi and didn’t even know it (didn't even realise I could be one being a bloke and all). Must come from watching too much ABC.

If quality and experience doesn’t end up being broadly similar in the Liberal party to the wider demographics ie 50/50 ish then there is something systemically wrong in how opportunities to gain experience arise or how quality is judged.

Probably not Abbotts fault as he inherited an organisational culture. A reasonable question of him though, is in his nearly four years at the top of the liberal party what’s happened to improve the situation so far?

I'm happy to give him a go and don’t buy the misogyny line but I would be disappointed if in his time some real progress is not made in evening up the ledger at the top.

 

[sails]

I think that you will find that the Indonesians are more well informed than you think.
Is Australia indulging in megaphone diplomacy without talking to the Indonesians first?
If the opposition had done that whilst in government the conservatives on this forum would be deriding them.
Do you think that Indonesians see Australia as hypocrites regarding refugees?

Chiff, it's NOT what I think. I posted what the Indonesian MP said. He said they only knew what was in the papers.

Surely it doesn't have to be spelled out that coalition would have been out of line to start negotiations with Indonesia before they were sworn in let alone before the election. So there is no way an Indonesian MP would be able to predict how future discussions with Indonesia will go and so it looks like he based his comments on what was in the media to date. I understand Abbott is flying to Indonesia next week.

Let's see how things go AFTER the two governments have had meetings. In any case, that article makes it pretty clear that Indonesia wants to address the problem.

 

[sails]

...I'm happy to give him a go and don’t buy the misogyny line but I would be disappointed if in his time some real progress is not made in evening up the ledger at the top.

Surely there are more important problems for the coalition to fix than trying to treat women like second class citizens by promoting them simply because of their gender?

Abbott has two women in high powered positions - one is to be speaker and the other is foreign minister. Both women want to be judged on merit and competence and NOT gender.

I am female and I think it is an insult to place women in positions of power simply because of their gender. I think promotion should be earned.

Abbott is putting up and coming women into positions where they will gain in experience. It seems that is being overlooked by the pathetic left.

 

[McLovin]

Chiff, it's NOT what I think. I posted what the Indonesian MP said. He said they only knew what was in the papers.

Surely it doesn't have to be spelled out that coalition would have been out of line to start negotiations with Indonesia before they were sworn in let alone before the election. So there is no way an Indonesian MP would be able to predict how future discussions with Indonesia will go and so it looks like he based his comments on what was in the media to date. I understand Abbott is flying to Indonesia next week.

Let's see how things go AFTER the two governments have had meetings. In any case, that article makes it pretty clear that Indonesia wants to address the problem.

Diplomacy 101 says that you don't announce foreign policy through the media. It's fine to make general motherhood statement like "stop the boats" but saying things like Australia will use its Navy to tow boats back into Indonesian waters is just stupidity. Imagine if the Indonesian navy said they would be towing boats into Australian waters?

 

[craft]

Surely there are more important problems for the coalition to fix than trying to treat women like second class citizens by promoting them simply because of their gender?

Abbott has two women in high powered positions - one is to be speaker and the other is foreign minister. Both women want to be judged on merit and competence and NOT gender.

I am female and I think it is an insult to place women in positions of power simply because of their gender. I think promotion should be earned.

Abbott is putting up and coming women into positions where they will gain in experience. It seems that is being overlooked by the pathetic left.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t advocate positive discrimination. Just remove the systemic and pervasive negative discrimination and the ledger will balance itself out naturally over time– unless of course women are inferior – not a proposition I accept. I also don’t think everybody who cares about a more balanced female representation in positions of power is a left wing nutter.

Anyrate happy to watch and see but 6 of 42 doesn’t inspire me initially – don’t know enough about what he’s facilitating lower down the organisation to have an objective opinion yet.

Exit stage LEFT.

 

[Ijustnewit]

Glad to see others are switched on to ABC. Have been Tweeting as fast as my fingers allow to try and get an explanation on the interview on lateline.
Also trying to get Media Watch to give an objective rundown on the ABCs election campaign coverage.

It's interesting that ABC is not part of the Free TV network. And therefore not subject to the code of practice of Free TV , relating to fairness and accuracy in news and current affairs.
It states on the Free TV network site that the ABC and SBS are covered and subject to their own " Code of Practice". It goes on to say that if the viewer has any concerns about the ABC or SBS that the viewer must contact those stations and raise the issue with them. Yeah good luck with that :1zhelp:

www.freetv.com.au/content_common/pg-viewer-feedback.seo

Perhaps we should all submit complaints to the ABC or gather a petition ? I wonder what the outcome would be ?
BTW as I type ABC news 24 has Lyndal Curtis one of the ABC's worst offenders giving Abbott another blast about Indonesia.

 

[MrBurns]

BTW as I type ABC news 24 has Lyndal Curtis one of the ABC's worst offenders giving Abbott another blast about Indonesia.

I love the ABC but I think they're getting out of hand, Jones looked the happiest I've seen him as he gave leading questions to the Indonesian MP.

It's becoming obvious now that the ABC is going to give this Govt a hard time no matter what they do.

 

[Julia]

It's interesting that ABC is not part of the Free TV network. And therefore not subject to the code of practice of Free TV , relating to fairness and accuracy in news and current affairs.
It states on the Free TV network site that the ABC and SBS are covered and subject to their own " Code of Practice". It goes on to say that if the viewer has any concerns about the ABC or SBS that the viewer must contact those stations and raise the issue with them. Yeah good luck with that :1zhelp:

www.freetv.com.au/content_common/pg-viewer-feedback.seo

Perhaps we should all submit complaints to the ABC or gather a petition ? I wonder what the outcome would be ?
BTW as I type ABC news 24 has Lyndal Curtis one of the ABC's worst offenders giving Abbott another blast about Indonesia.

Interesting that you should raise this. I've just been looking into how one goes about making a complaint to ACMA. This was sparked by purposely avoiding the Tony Jones interview last night in anticipation of its tone, only to later have Tony Delroy, host on ABC Local Radio network, encouraging Anti Abbott sentiment on his talkback program. The same callers are again and again put to air with their pro Labor/anti government sentiments, with the host echoing such assertions as "Tony Abbott, after all, is a complete economic illiterate".
I was irritated enough to phone, but was refused going to air when I said the reason for calling was to provide a bit of balance and to ask that people give the new government a fair go before shooting them down in flames.

I haven't read the ACMA details yet but as you say above, they do require that complaints must first be made direct to the broadcaster and then if no adequate response is received within 60 days, then the complaint may be lodged with ACMA.

I've made a few protests to the above program in the past, only once receiving a brief and unhelpful reply from the host, eg "phone yourself and say what you want". Yeah, right. As above. The producer doesn't accept the call.
Then the ABC separately has its own formal complaints procedure. Pretty much the same applies as above.

I love the ABC but I think they're getting out of hand, Jones looked the happiest I've seen him as he gave leading questions to the Indonesian MP.

It's becoming obvious now that the ABC is going to give this Govt a hard time no matter what they do.

Yes, during much of the election campaign I felt that Radio National at least was pretty fair in their commentary and interviewing. But that all seems to be over now, and it's stick the boot in as much as possible.

I also overall highly value the ABC. They have some wonderful programs.

Ijustnewit: maybe a collective letter to Malcolm Turnbull?

 

[DocK]

Crikey I’m a feminazi and didn’t even know it (didn't even realise I could be one being a bloke and all). Must come from watching too much ABC.

If quality and experience doesn’t end up being broadly similar in the Liberal party to the wider demographics ie 50/50 ish then there is something systemically wrong in how opportunities to gain experience arise or how quality is judged.

Probably not Abbotts fault as he inherited an organisational culture. A reasonable question of him though, is in his nearly four years at the top of the liberal party what’s happened to improve the situation so far?

I'm happy to give him a go and don’t buy the misogyny line but I would be disappointed if in his time some real progress is not made in evening up the ledger at the top.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t advocate positive discrimination. Just remove the systemic and pervasive negative discrimination and the ledger will balance itself out naturally over time– unless of course women are inferior – not a proposition I accept. I also don’t think everybody who cares about a more balanced female representation in positions of power is a left wing nutter.

Anyrate happy to watch and see but 6 of 42 doesn’t inspire me initially – don’t know enough about what he’s facilitating lower down the organisation to have an objective opinion yet.

Exit stage LEFT.

I, at least, can see where you're coming from Craft. My teenage son raised this issue last night - it was apparently a hot topic of debate between some of the year 12 students. I gather that most of the girls in his group are MOST unimpressed with the lack of female representation in the cabinet, whereas most of the boys think the position should go to the person with the best credentials/ability regardless of gender. I told him I agreed with both of those stated positions, but felt the better question is: "why are there so few eminent female politicians in the coalition, particularly when compared to the other major parties? Certainly Sophie Mirrabella would have been in the inner cabinet had she retained her seat, but that still leaves a very unbalanced cabinet.

I voted for the coalition, and would do so again regardless of this issue. I don't necessarily see it as an Abbott failure, but I do wonder what's going on in the Liberal and National parties that results in a vast predominance of men in the senior positions. Politics is certainly not for the faint-hearted, and by its very nature I think there may always be more men attracted to run for parliament than women - but Labor and the Greens seem able to attract and nurture a far greater % of female talent than the present government. Even though I don't agree with a lot of the ideas, policies and often behaviour of the likes of Gillard, Roxon, Wong, Plibersek, Ellis of Labor, & Hanson-Young, Milne & Waters of the Greens, as the examples that come most quickly to my mind - I do acknowledge and respect their intelligence and skills and abilities in their respective roles.

It saddens me a little that the party that represents my values and ideals most closely also seems to value the contribution of my gender so little. We live in a modern nation in an increasingly modernising world - why is half the population inadequately represented?

 

[Julia]

Crikey I’m a feminazi and didn’t even know it (didn't even realise I could be one being a bloke and all).

Sure you can. They are all for no gender discrimination.

If quality and experience doesn’t end up being broadly similar in the Liberal party to the wider demographics ie 50/50 ish then there is something systemically wrong in how opportunities to gain experience arise or how quality is judged.

Probably not Abbotts fault as he inherited an organisational culture. A reasonable question of him though, is in his nearly four years at the top of the liberal party what’s happened to improve the situation so far?

I'm happy to give him a go and don’t buy the misogyny line but I would be disappointed if in his time some real progress is not made in evening up the ledger at the top.

He has said that their are several women 'knocking at the door of Cabinet'. So let's see what happens in a few years' time.

Question for you: If the choice is a front bench made up of the most experienced and best qualified people who largely happen to be male, do you consider still that that is less desirable than a front bench which offers equal numbers of gender, regardless of experience and capability?

 

[craft]

Sure you can. They are all for no gender discrimination.


He has said that their are several women 'knocking at the door of Cabinet'. So let's see what happens in a few years' time.

Question for you: If the choice is a front bench made up of the most experienced and best qualified people who largely happen to be male, do you consider still that that is less desirable than a front bench which offers equal numbers of gender, regardless of experience and capability?

I said I wasn’t advocating positive discrimination hence I subscribe to merit and experience, but that doesn’t dismiss the fact that something is amiss here. And it also leads to the question of merit according to whom? And experience on what criteria, surely the experience of being a female should be a highly prized experience when it is so underrepresented.

Actually can I just answer your question by saying ditto to DocK’s post – she has put the point I was trying to make much more eloquently then I can and probably in a much more palatable way.

I do think it’s wrong to dismiss the gender representation issue as a feminazi issue or a purely politically motivated argument from the other side.

 

[Logique]

...If quality and experience doesn’t end up being broadly similar in the Liberal party to the wider demographics ie 50/50 ish then there is something systemically wrong in how opportunities to gain experience arise or how quality is judged....

I'm happy to give him a go and don’t buy the misogyny line but I would be disappointed if in his time some real progress is not made in evening up the ledger at the top.

With respect that sounds like Emilys List spin. We've seen how it worked out for the previous Labor/Green government.

 

[craft]

With respect that sounds like Emilys List spin. We've seen how it worked out for the previous Labor/Green government.

I don’t know what Emilys list spin is – but having my personal beliefs likened to spin reminds me why I generally steer clear of politically motivated threads

I guess I’ve had my say - Have a good day.

 

[Logique]

Miranda Devine says it better than I can.

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/mirandadevine/

..For all Gillard’s cynical pandering to mummy bloggers when she was PM, Labor’s quota system represents a narrow cadre of women whose outlook and experiences are wholly alien to the lives of most men and women, and contribute to the Labor Party’s disconnection from its base.

Apart from the fact diversity quotas are guaranteed never to produce the best candidates, they also inevitably lead to disunity because they are inherently unfair.

We’ve just suffered through a three-year experiment of quota queens in charge of the government and what an unmitigated disaster that was, with the objective result that Labor scored its lowest primary vote in a century, despite swapping back to an even more hopeless man at the end..

 

[McLovin]

With respect that sounds like Emilys List spin. We've seen how it worked out for the previous Labor/Green government.

I too have no idea what Emily's List spin is. But I think the point craft is trying to make is not to create a system of quotas but rather to have more women participating in politics so that the pool of available talent means more women can reach the cabinet on merit.

Doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.