{"id":729,"date":"2013-01-30T11:53:28","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T11:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com\/?p=729"},"modified":"2019-04-13T23:24:24","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T13:24:24","slug":"questions-for-mr-abbott-on-ashbygate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/questions-for-mr-abbott-on-ashbygate\/","title":{"rendered":"Updated: Questions for Mr Abbott at the National Press Club"},"content":{"rendered":"

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January 31 Press Club review:<\/strong> There are many reasons why the Canberra Press Gallery is failing to fulfil its democratic role. A collapse in media revenues, 24 hour filing, no time to stay with a story and investigate it, an atmosphere which sees journos run from one ephemeral topic to another in waves, an exodus of experienced practitioners with a corporate memory, the removal of quality newspapers as the bedrock of serious journalism…<\/p>\n

When an institution is in trouble, leadership is required.<\/p>\n

I was proud of the gallery I once belonged to today. It was on trial, and it delivered a solid performance. I was moved to tears, though, by the leadership of two of its most experienced, rational, hard-working, intelligent members. I know both of them. They are strong, fearless, and dedicated to the core values of journalism.<\/p>\n

They broke Abbott\u2019s silence on Ashby, and Laura Tingle also called Abbott on his policy of turning his back on hard questions.<\/p>\n

As a result, they have opened a crack in the Coalition\u2019s strategy of refusing to address the implications of the smoking gun Federal Court judgement on Ashby. Then another experienced press gallery journo, Lyndal Curtis, got an answer from Abbott on Thomson that removed all his clothes regarding his backing for Mal Brough. It is now up to the journo colleagues of these three women to pick up the ball and run with it.<\/p>\n

Several days ago I urged citizen journos to find great MSM journos and support their work:<\/p>\n

I think in terms of collaboration between Social Media and committed MSM journos. Old media is fighting for survival and new media can’t thrive without quality journalism reaching a broad audience. Flux. Each of us is helping shape what is to come.<\/p>\n

The media silence post Ashby is system failure. Many MSM journos feel it too. If a way is not found to get the truth a dangerous line will have been crossed in terms of democratic checks and balances.<\/p>\n

The Court has done its job. Politicians feel they cannot press for official accountability because of MSM silence. Social Media has demanded MSM action for 5 weeks yet even Richard Ackland’s column and the Sunshine Coast Daily’s devastating interview with Brough, in which he lied about the Press Gallery, drew nothing in response.<\/p>\n

So Social Media must think laterally. And we are. And we must give maximum support to MSM journos who see their work as a vocation and are prepared to fight for its values.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here is Laura Tingle\u2019s<\/strong> question and Abbott\u2019s answer, Lenore Taylor’s<\/strong> follow-up and his answer to her and Lyndal Curtis’s<\/strong> inspired question on Thomson. Abbott lied on Brough\u2019s transparency. He promised that Brough would now answer questions. He promised to reveal the statistics on his press gallery press conferences. He failed to answer other points. And by his own words about the PM’s position on Thomson he condemned Brough to dis-endorsement – if journos keep the pressure on.<\/p>\n

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Transcript and audio of Waleed Aly interview with Shadow Attorney General George Brandis:<\/strong>
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