Tony Abbott has Upset Laurie Oakes
Canberra press gallery veteran Laurie Oakes says the Abbott government is “thumbing its nose at voters” with a contemptuous lack of transparency and communication.
The respected Channel Nine reporter and political commentator told The Gutter Trash that Prime Minister Tony Abbott and senior ministers were breaking their election promise of greater accountability for voters.
“They’re busily trying to avoid the media as much as possible and to control the media and so far they’re getting away with it but I don’t think they will get away with it for too long,” he said.
“You can see the way the story of the expenses rorts is gathering speed, and that horse bolted because Tony Abbott and his Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson didn’t move to nip it in the bud.
“They could have killed it off but they’ve got this attitude of not feeding the news cycle so it got away from them.”
The criticism follows disquiet from journalists and commentators at the lack of access to Mr Abbott and senior ministers including Attorney-General George Brandis and Treasurer Joe Hockey.
Mr Oakes said the government should learn from the experience of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who sought to control media reporting more tightly after his 2010 election, but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Mr Abbott has held just eight formal press conferences since his September 7 election win and requests for information from minister’s offices are frequently left unanswered.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Mr Abbott had held an additional nine doorstop interviews.
Mr Oakes said, “David Cameron was determined to tame the news cycle but he went before the Leveson inquiry two years after he won office and had to admit it hadn’t succeeded.
“Basically it is too hard letting damaging stories go past without dealing with them.”
Singling out Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, Mr Oakes said arrogance and disregard for truth would ultimately backfire.
Since implementing the Operation Sovereign Borders policy, Mr Morrison has moved to hold just weekly briefings in Sydney for journalists and frequently declines to answer questions.
The former government allowed Immigration Department staff to provide information on boat arrivals in real time.
“What’s particularly not acceptable is Scott Morrison’s arrogant attitude. He sees it as getting at the press but it’s not. It’s getting at the voters and eventually I think the voters will wake up.
“[Mr Morrison’s] last effort was as bad as any. It even looked like the Prime Minister might have said ‘Good on you Scott’. If that’s the attitude then I think Tony Abbott’s got a bit to learn.
“You can’t thumb your nose at the voters’ right to know and you can’t arrogantly say ‘we’ll let the voters be misinformed and we won’t help journalists get it right’. That’s just a disgusting attitude.”
Mr Oakes, who has reported from Canberra since the 1960s, said the current crop of press gallery reporters were faced with fewer resources and constant demand for news.
He highlighted Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs and NSW Labor MP Ed Husic as potential leaders of their respective parties.
However, Joe Hockey has slammed accusations that the Prime Minister is “in hiding” saying that Tony Abbott is “too flat out” to talk to the media.
theguttertrash.com 
The criticism follows disquiet from journalists and commentators at the lack of access to Mr Abbott and senior ministers including Attorney-General George Brandis and Treasurer Joe Hockey.
Don’t forget
PropogandaImmigration Minister Morrison! Oh you do, apologies.How come that high school chappie, Greg Hunt, gets away with talking
BSto the meejya, then?What does “too flat out” actually mean … he’s asleep (at the wheel?) 🙄
Do people really want to see more of the politicians?
I’m quite pleased to see a whole lot less of them, and particularly less of Abbott. Oakes is probably stung by his declining relevance, and that of the traditional news media.
The way Gillard (and to a lesser extent, Rudd) would try to hog the headlines every day was extra grating, but Oakes probably misses it.
That said, the antics of Morrison are appalling.
Before the election it wasn’t uncommon for Morriscum to hold three press conferences in one day about asylum seekers, now he says that one a week is sufficient.
What’s changed?
‘How come that high school chappie, Greg Hunt, gets away with talking BS to the meejya, then?’
I suspect the media is confused which side he’s on.
My son has a new name for them all … klingons … 😛
First Dog on The Moon nails it (again)…
http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/11/07/the-walk-of-shame/
There’s no sign of Laurie at Oaks Day, then again there’s no all-you-can-eat buffet at Flemington.
Some journos have (or had) a slightly different take on whether politicians should dance to the media’s 24hr spin cycle:
Before the election it wasn’t uncommon for Morriscum to hold three press conferences in one day about asylum seekers, now he says that one a week is sufficient.
What’s changed?
All generated by the media’s need for “news”, no doubt … not by Morriscum’s need to open his big gob …
As for Abbott’s “quietness” we know how well he handles simple questions …
They just got so much harder … that’s why they earn the big bucks …
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I (and a few others) got sick of applauding Wayne Swan (among many others) dishing out school prizes last night … he was up and down like a yo-yo … that’s why klingons earn the big bucks I guess …
“The quiet from the coalition contrasted with what was happening on the other side of politics. “
Well that’s not entirely true.
Both sides of politics were feverishly hogging any opportunity to get in front of the media pre-election, and now post-election both sides have gone AWOL.
Winning was all that mattered to the Coalition.
Governing in secrecy for fear of stuffing any up is now their modus operandi. You don’t have to be Einstein to see that.
Bill Shorten has turned out to be the Labor Leader many expected. Piss weak.
the first dog comic is brilliant,
(don`t skip it)
‘ ‘ ‘Oakes says the Abbott government is “thumbing its nose at voters’ ‘ ‘
‘
lnteresting that most of teh-press are moaning under the `voter-interest` banner now they are `frozen-out`, but previously weren`t interested in the `voter.
Noice to see the 730 back again … could we see the old version on TV back soon too please …
first dog on the moon is funny
Is Laurie Oakes fatter then ever, or just more pompous?
Ah … jsut read FDoTM … was a bit small before … says it all – I feel so sad for the press … 😆
I can see it now Goofy is running the show with Donald Duck cooking the books..meanwhile Prissy Pyne bends over the desk in Downers suspenders while Shortman dressed as an oompa loompa whips him with a warm soggy letus… welcome to the reighn of the noalition much like the floposition, all bullshit and no steak…
Ricky my boyo is coming home this weekend, so we’ll have a chance to discuss cameras and the like.
He already has an editing suite, practiced on bands and stuff for kudos and experience with the package.
I’ve come up with an idea, but as this is the world wide web it might be prudent to say no more …. except that its funny.
First Dog was very funny. I wonder if he gets the irony that Crikey journos would not have been importuned by the Libs in the first place since the chances of Crikey ever publishing a positive story about them are vanishingly small. Crikey is far more biased than the Murdoch press.
Nigella’s on the telly – bragging about her buttermilk scones.
Is that what she calls them?
LOL @ IPA… 😆
Sweet Laurie and the rest complain coz of what `they`are losing,
Laurie and the whole Canberra press gallery can be replaced.
‘So far, robots have been effective at replacing jobs that require a single process – like the welding robots in factories that made many welders redundant or automatic teller machines that substituted for human cash handlers at banks. Most knowledge jobs, such as journalism, consist of ranges of tasks, so automating one activity may not make a worker entirely superfluous. The diversity of most knowledge has made them harder to replace.
‘But for how much longer?’
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/robot-revolution-to-send-shockwaves-through-workforce-20131109-2x8bn.html#ixzz2kBH2nLkT
Sorry to disappoint ya cabbage man, but that’s not an Orwell quote. In fact, he never used the term ‘media’ at all.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Sorry to disappoint ya cabbage’ ‘ ‘ ‘
l still enjoy the quote lpad`osy, it doesn`t matter to me who said it. l didn`t make the image either lpad`osy.
.
.
This caught my eye from lpad`osy`s link,
.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way. That is, the person who uses them has his own private definition, but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different. Statements like Marshal Pétain was a true patriot, The Soviet press is the freest in the world, The Catholic Church is opposed to persecution, are almost always made with intent to deceive.’ ‘ ‘ ‘
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/06/stop-taking-orwells-name-in-vain/277027/
.
lt then continues with,
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Other words used in variable meanings, in most cases more or less dishonestly, are: class, totalitarian, science, progressive, reactionary, bourgeois, equality.’ ‘ ‘ ‘
No wonder the public debate in so-called democracy`s have devolved to lunacy.
Obviously discussing `science` and `equality` is something `dishonest`. 🙄
So far, robots have been effective at replacing jobs that require a single process – like coping advertisements or press releases.
Watch-out Laurie.
Laurie should consider his future, at least our jobs are secure in the Fifth Estate.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ “You (Abbott) can’t thumb your nose at the voters’ right to know and you can’t arrogantly say ‘we’ll let the voters be misinformed and we won’t help journalists get it right’. That’s just a disgusting attitude.”
I happen to agree with you, Laurie, that keeping voters uninformed is a pretty disgusting and arrogant attitude. And to this, I will say two things − pot kettle black, and, what the fuck did you expect?
You have kept voters uninformed by completely failing to scrutinise what Abbott was going to do as Prime Minister. You perpetuated the utterly ridiculous notion that Abbott could move from nasty, messy, attack-dog to mature, competent Prime Minister. I’m sorry Laurie, but this concept is idiotic.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
http://theaimn.com/2013/11/09/an-open-letter-to-laurie-oakes/
.
.
As you can see, Victoria Rollison has given Laurie a pretty good serve over at coffee-2.
guffaw
‘Cutting funding to scientific research. Embarrassing Australia on the global stage.’
Rollison
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Laurie should consider his future,’ ‘ ‘ ‘
Agree egg, Laurie is past his `use-by` date. l notice that bloggers aren`t buying his bullshit either, and the only folks that are, is the embedded-media.
This will provoke somebody`s feminista,
Just not sure if it will be lain`s or Armchairs.
Our leader is harnessing the power of the interwebs and that tax gets top billing.
“Our Leader” – – You mean “Peanut Face?”
He’s overdone the fake tan and hair dye again. I’m really looking forward to his encroaching baldness causing him to wear a toupee.
chuckle
He even struggles to deliver a fkn script!
Is this the best Australia can do in the 21st Century?
And Tony Abbott certainly doesn’t believe what he’s saying … either that or his eyelash make-up is irritating his eyes … 🙄
No wonder they keep the shutters drawn and the doors locked … the poor buggers will be blinded by the light when Parliament does open … 🙄
‘Is this the best Australia can do in the 21st Century?’
Seems so, but he believes what he’s saying. The first week of parliament should be hugely amusing.
I’ve got bad news for you, egg (again) … and anyone who has watched their kids (or anyone close) telling fibs should agree!
http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/lying-and-deception/detecting-deception/nonverbal-cues.html
And Tones is presenting a SCRIPT! 😆
I guess a script is a “step-up” from a pamphlet…? Or maybe not…. 😯
l`m not sure what Laurie`s pamphlet is a `step-up` to.
Tones is not fibbing, that tax is the first thing on the agenda. And I’ll remind you heathens once again, good catlicks don’t lie.
Shit Hits AGW Propaganda Fan Unit
‘Huge numbers of people on potentially life-saving cholesterol medication have stopped taking it without consulting their doctor after watching an ABC television program, a survey of GPs has indicated.
‘Up to 40 per cent of patients who were concerned by the Catalyst episodes had already gone off their medication, the survey found.’
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/catalyst-patients-stop-taking-cholesterol-drugs-says-survey-20131113-2xfxy.html#ixzz2kUeL5RFS
Good catch egg…
You’ve really got to wonder what sort of people weigh up whether or not to take their meds based on what they see on the telly…
Mind you, the pharmaceutical companies aren’t entirely altruistic in their motivations are they…
Definitely not, but it was pretty irresponsible of the Catalyst team.
And I’ll remind you heathens once again, good catlicks don’t lie.
Well the pricks that lied to me weren’t that’s for sure … can you tell me where all the good one’s live then? I’ve never seen one.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
‘Up to 40 per cent of patients who were concerned by the Catalyst episodes had already gone off their medication, the survey found.’
nature has a very callous way of dealing with Fuckwits® … the jokes on them but its killing them!
When I first started mine (about 1981/82 – fk that’s a long time ago!) , my first quack, now living comfortably off my ten minute talks @$65 a pop … told me that a lot of people stopped taking cholesterol and BP tabs because they couldn’t notice any change???? (Not till it was too late, I suppose) …
Drug company push-polling?
Definitely not, but it was pretty irresponsible of the Catalyst team
not really … it was simply suggesting that the original science should be revisited because it was flawed and so much had spun off from dirty data …
… and no-one said, “stop using the meds immediately!” … I can’t remember any disclaimer but I’d suspect strongly that there is one …
Would these same people stop drinking alcohol if Catalyst put a program up saying it can kill you? ‘Cause guess what! 🙄
‘can you tell me where all the good one’s live then? I’ve never seen one.’
🙂
Catalyst has been biased on the issue of climate change and John Howard agrees with me.
If this medical story opens up a can of worms, putting Catalyst under scrutiny, then it can’t be a bad thing.
Mister Rabid is going to be on the 730 report tonight.
Thanks, no probs here, sreb, I’ve got a few things recorded … 🙂
‘ ‘ ‘1. Tony Abbott was and remains a creation of the media’ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘His current tactic of starving the beast, of strictly controlling media access, of blocking government agencies from giving the media information, of only giving interviews to those he knows will conduct the interview from a kneeling position, is the logical extension of the previous three years of media coverage where they failed to hold him to account, regurgitated almost uncritically his narratives about Gillard government policy, and acted as if his prime ministership was inevitable. Had they not been so compliant then, he couldn’t be getting away with this now. Crocodile tears from Laurie Oakes are just that.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/dunlop-nine-stray-thoughts-on-the-abbott-ascendency/5091798
l repeat,
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Had they not been so compliant then,’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘he couldn’t be getting away with this now.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Crocodile tears from Laurie Oakes are just that.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘the logical extension of the previous three years of media coverage where they failed to hold him to account’
That’s because they weren’t the government, now they can go for tone’s jugular if they so desire.
Did Tony just say something about torture kind of being ok in some circumstances…? 😯
Where the fcuk have you been.?
Off getting married.?
Of course torture is okay from teh-usa and Aust-Govt point of view.
(Habib + Hicks)
So is slavery and sweat-shops, our very-own free-trade economy depends on it.
Bastardizing critters like Assange and Haneef is also a priority if our canberra-clowns want to retain their `all-fours` friendship with washington. Their bitch-position is highly sought-after.
LOL! 😆
I’ve been lurking Dodo.
But the conversation hasn’t really interested me enough to bother commenting…
You cunts need to lift yer game! 😉