You might have noticed some social media and press commentary on the number of flags appearing behind Tony Abbott at his press conferences and prime ministerial announcements. One site, Eclectic Owl, is reporting a pole count surge with a recent sighting of eight flags. This seems quite significant after an average … Continue reading
Our Prime Minister Mr Abbott yesterday described wind farms as “visually awful”. He went on to say, “Up close, they’re ugly, they’re noisy and they may have all sorts of other impacts.” Referring to a current parliamentary inquiry, he added, “It’s right and proper that we’re having an inquiry into … Continue reading
Last week while listening to the radio I heard a term that was new to me: post-fact politics I think I was listening to Jonathan Green, host of Sunday Extra on Radio National. Googling the phrase, I found just 1,890 results, suggesting it has only recently been coined. The interesting thing … Continue reading
Australians were dumbfounded on Australia Day when Tony Abbott announce Prince Philip would be receiving one of the two knighthoods on offer. When asked who he had consulted before making the decision, he fell back on his favourite metaphor: “It was a captain’s pick.” (Of course, Tony Abbott is captain … Continue reading
A few days ago the Australian Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s (ABC) budget would be cut by $254 million over the coming five years.
I’ve been building up a head of steam on this for months now, and finally decided I just had to let it all out. But before I start on this rant, some background… During Gough Whitlam’s term as prime minister in 1972 to 1975, a bill was passed providing for … Continue reading
It’s tough today to get online news for Australians that’s ethical, rigorous and well-written. I’ve always used the ABC, and about a year ago I ditched the Sydney Morning Herald in favour of the Australian edition of The Guardian. When all the bad news starts to get me down I … Continue reading
Most articles about social media safety focus on kids and teenagers. You’ll find plenty of warnings about: Luring and grooming Cyberbullying Sexting and Privacy settings But what about the elderly? We have now reached the point where many elderly people using social media are facing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Can … Continue reading
“We’re sick and tired of the ABC being politicised by adversarial games, whether it was the Labor Party in power or the Liberal Party in power.” says Quentin Dempster, a former staff-elected director on the ABC board. His comments follow appointment of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation columnist Janet Albrechtsen and … Continue reading
In 2013 the US television news satire, The Daily Show, put to air a three part mini-documentary comparing US action on gun control with Australia’s. Strip away the comedy and you’re left with a story of politicians in Australia who were so incensed by the Port Arthur massacre that they put … Continue reading
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