GERARD HENDERSON’S MEDIA WATCH DOG – ISSUE NO. 278
17 July 2015
The inaugural issue of “Gerard Henderson’s Media Watch” was published in April 1988 – over a year before the first edition of the ABC TV Media Watch program went to air. Since November 1997 “Gerard Henderson’s Media Watch” has been published as part of The Sydney Institute Quarterly. In 2009 Gerard Henderson’s Media Watch Dog blog commenced publication.
- Stop Press: Fairfax Media’s James Massola & Curtin University’s Anne Aly
- MWD Deliberate Mistake Alert: Following Hendo’s Night Out
JAMES MASSOLA’S TONY ABBOTT FLIP-FLOP
What a stunning piece on Fairfax Media’s opinion page this morning.
James Massola, Fairfax Media’s political correspondent, uses two impeccable sources – namely “one political observer” and “another close observer” – to support his view that Tony Abbott was a better prime minister a year ago that he is today. Your man Massola traces the (alleged) deterioration of the Prime Minister with reference to his handling of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 disaster a year ago and his position at the first anniversary of the tragedy today.
This is what James Massola wrote this morning:
…on the first anniversary of the tragedy, one the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Australian government handled with aplomb, it’s hard not to notice how the internal dynamics of the Abbott government have changed.
In the intervening year it has seen off a spill motion, endured a series of cabinet leaks, gone through a reshuffle, delivered a second budget designed to serve as an antidote to the first, and ramped up its focus on national security, against the backdrop of the Sydney siege and other terror incidents and a deepening engagement in the fight against Islamic State.
Or as another close observer of the Prime Minister puts it: “A year ago, with MH17, he cut through the bureaucracy, he appointed Angus Houston, he sent Julie Bishop overseas, he trusted his diplomats and he stayed home as anchor and chief.” But if MH17 happened now, “he would be more interventionist and involved. They need to get back to doing a few things well. It comes back to the narrative. At the moment they are exposed on the ideological front; that is what the fights about Q&A and climate change are about. He is still domestically vulnerable.”
How frightfully interesting, don’t you think? It’s just that Mr Massola did not believe that Tony Abbott was doing all that well a year ago – as Roger Franklin documents in today’s Quadrant Online.
On 14 October 2014 Latika Bourke and James Massola wrote an article in the Fairfax Media titled “Tony Abbott v Vladimir Putin: shirt-front talk switches to robust conversation”. The Bourke/Massola piece essentially mocked the Prime Minister’s approach to the murder of 38 Australian citizens/residents. What’s more, the piece quoted favourably from – wait for it – a second secretary at Russia’s Embassy in Canberra (a certain Alexander Odoevsky) along with Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie. Senator Lambie said how much she admired Russian Leader Vladimir Putin.
So, in October 2014, your man Massola reckoned that Tony Abbott had mishandled Australia’s response to the MH17 disaster. However, today Fairfax Media’s political correspondent reckons that in 2014 the Prime Minister handled the MH17 tragedy “with aplomb”. So there you have it. Or not. Mr Massola has many skills – but, alas, consistency is not one of them.
- ANNE ALY’S “LOOK OVER THERE” APPROACH TO ISLAMIST TERRORISM
How about the lead story in today’s Sydney Morning Herald as decided by editor-in-chief Darren (“The Federal Court found that I was not objective”) Goodsir?
The heading is “Right-wing extremism ‘equal’ to terror threat”. Rachel Olding’s report commences as follows:
Right-wing extremism is emerging as an equal, if not greater, threat than Muslim radicalisation in Australia and multiculturalism is “close to death” at a federal level, academics and police have told a conference on social cohesion.
Violent extremism in Australia is beginning to mirror that of the US, counter-terrorism expert Anne Aly from Curtin University said. She highlighted a New America Foundation study released last month that found right-wing extremists had killed twice as many people since September 11 as jihadists. “Violent extremism isn’t just a Muslim problem in Australia,” she said. “The numbers are staggering and growing in right-wing extremism.”
It’s true that right-wing extremism is a serious problem in Australia and some other Western democracies. But it’s also true that all Australian citizens/residents charged with terrorism related offences in recent years are Islamists. Also, the overwhelming majority of Australian citizens/residents being monitored by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police are all radical Islamists.
Anne Aly is the go-to academic for sections of the ABC and Fairfax Media when in search of a quote on terrorism. Dr Aly (for a doctor she is) has some useful things to say on the subject. But she is sometimes unwise. As when The Australian Magazine on 13 June 2015 reported the Curtin University academic as making this comment on the so-called Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Da’esh):
Aly admits that online seduction is a major problem among young Muslims. The day after Australians woke to news of a raid resulting in the arrest of young Muslim men alleged to be planning an Anzac Day attack, she wrote a poignant article about “the teenager who sits alone in a dark room, his face lit only by the projection of his computer screen”.
“He is transfixed by videos produced by Al Hayat, the media arm of the so-called Islamic State… As he watches, the barrage of images tugs at his emotions: dead Syrian infants with ashen faces; orphans left to perish in the bitter cold of the Syrian winter; grown men with hooded faces, forced to take part in humiliating acts as American soldiers pose smiling… This is Islamic State on the internet.”
Thus the young man is converted to the cause. “In his mind, he’s not wrong,” Aly says. “And I think we have to get our heads round the fact that there might be something nice about ISIS that these people are attracted to.” Not that Aly thinks Islamic State is nice. “I am completely, completely opposed to it on theological grounds, on social grounds – it’s personal,” she adds, with sudden fierceness. “These people want my sons to go and fight and die for their political cause. You become like the dragon mum, protecting her young: ‘Stay away from my sons.’”
So there you have it. Anne Aly does not support ISIS. It’s just that she believes that “we have to get our heads around the fact that there might be something nice about ISIS” which young Islamists are attracted to. [Could it be the beheadings, the crucifixions, the rapes – or, perhaps, a combination of all three? – Ed]
Whilst Dr Aly concedes that some young Muslims might find “something nice about ISIS”, she had nothing nice to say about the Prime Minister. Anne Aly told The Australian Magazine’s Victoria Laurie that “Tony Abbott’s language” has set her deradicalisation “work back ten years”. For the record, the Abbott government funds Dr Aly’s People Against Violent Extremism organisation.
- DUE TO RUDD/ABBOTT/CARR TRIFECTA
Gerard Henderson went last night to the launch of Kevin Rudd’s memoir titled “The Book of Kevin” – in Sandalista Country at Gleebooks in inner-city Glebe. It was a late night – in part caused by the fact that Tony Abbott rocked up and decided to give a speech. As did Bob Carr.
Here’s a pic of Kevin Rudd (aka Nathan Lentern) left, Hendo (aka Hendo) centre and Tony Abbott (aka Jonas Holt) right.
It was a great night – “Here to Help” continues at The Rocks next week – see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-of-kevin-the-rocks-pop-up-tickets-17162902704?aff=erellivorg. But Hendo’s decision to fraternise with the present and previous Prime Minister last night means there has been less time for content and accuracy in today’s MWD. This increases the likelihood that avid readers will find a higher quota than normal of John-Laws-style-deliberate-mistakes. Go to it.
Nathan Lentern, “Hendo” and Jonas Holt
This brand new feature is inspired by Sandalista Jane Caro’s tweet of Thursday 9 July 2015 that Tony Abbott is in “deep trouble” – judged by “what I’m hearing in upmarket North Shore dress shops”.
Thus commenced CaroPoll – an opinion poll taken in “upmarket dress shops” on Sydney’s well-heeled North Shore. In view of just how busy Nancy’s (male) owner is, the raw data from this poll has been interpreted by Nancy herself.
Nancy Reports: The latest word from upmarket dress shops indicates that Tony Abbott is still in deep trouble. According to the latest CaroPoll, some 103 per cent of (upmarket) dress-hunting shoppers believe that Abbott will lose the next election if he continues to wear blue ties and continues to support open-cut mining at the ABC site in Ultimo.
According to Ms Jane (Talkalot) Caro: “You have no idea how much Tony Abbott is on the nose. That tie. And that decision to mine on Nice Mr Scott’s sacred site which is a unique Conservative Free Zone. Some North Shore upmarket shoppers were so enraged today that they even threatened to deprive the Abbott Clerical Fascist Dictatorship of GST revenue by shopping at St Vincent’s de Paul’s where a second-hand Prada, Gucci or Zimmerman dress can be purchased for a mere $100 – thus reducing revenue flow to the dictator and his cronies.
This could see the demise of upmarket dress shops on the North Shore. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. Excuse me but I now have to buy a new frock since I’m on The Drum tonight along with David (“I can’t stop talking”) Marr and Jonathan (“I like to babble on”) Green. I hope I can get a word in to support Messrs Marr and Green in denouncing the Abbott Clerical Fascist Dictatorship.”
- JONATHAN GREEN’S CARBON FOOTPRINT
Jonathan (“Proudly the ABC’s Sneerer-in-Chief”) Green made the familiar career march from the leftist Age to the leftist Crikey newsletter and on to the ABC (aka Absolutely Bereft of Conservatives).
In recent times Fairfax Media has been in extreme weather mode. It may be that your man Green has been following the warnings of “The Guardian-on-the-Yarra” or perhaps even the Weather Bureau. In any event, this is what the ABC’s Sneerer-in-Chief tweeted on his way to present Sunday Extra on Radio National last Sunday:
| Jonathan Green (@GreenJ) |
| 12/07/2015 5:41 amAnticipating cyclonic hail I booked a taxi for this morning rather than bike. Seems lovely and still. Humph. |
Humph. What’s this inner-city leftist doing in a taxi? At least he could have tried public transport. Better still he could have walked from his inner-city Fitzroy terrace to the ABC’s Southbank studio. But the ostensibly environment-conscious Green took a carbon dioxide emitting taxi. Can you bear it?
[Er, no. Not really. I’m surprised that the ABC’s Sneerer-in-Chief did not ride his horse. Why he even may have come across a fox with a hangover somewhere in Carlton and made a fox-hunter’s arrest. – Ed]
The Fox-Hunting Jonathan Green
- THE AGE’S SCOOP – MELBOURNE WINTERS ARE COLD
While on the topic of The Age’s weather obsession, here’s a geek at the front page of last weekend’s Sunday Age.
It was a story of a family (from inner-city North Fitzroy, of course) caught in Melbourne’s “bitter” weather in early July. This story spilled to Page 2 where it was reported by Neelima Choahan and Anna Prytz (yes, believe it or not, two reporters) for an article which ran for a mere 274 words:
If you thought yesterday was cold – think again. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Phil King said today would be wetter and wilder…
Perhaps someone should tell the editors at The Guardian-on-the-Yarra that it is WINTER in Melbourne. And Melbourne winters are usually cold and wet. Nancy’s (male) co-owner recalls a winter weekend in Melbourne half a century ago where it was so wet and cold that a round of Australia Rules Football was postponed for a week. Yet these days The Sunday Age reckons that a cold and wet Saturday should be breaking news on Sunday. Can you bear it?
- WENDY SQUIRES’ (FOOTY) SOCKS APPEAL
What a stunning piece by Wendy Squires – Saturday Age columnist, journalist, editor and author – in The Age on 11 July. Oh yes, Ms Squires also appears on the truly boring Hinch Live on Sky News on Sundays.
Wendy Squires’ essential whinges is that childless folk like her do not get enough attention. And yes – it’s all Tony Abbott’s fault. Ms Squires wants “childless taxpayers to be given some respect and acknowledgement” since it’s “hard to get by”. She blames Tony Abbott’s “out of touch” government for the problems experienced by her and her bulldog – which, apparently, all commenced when Mr Abbott became prime minister in September 2013.
All of the above is for those of us who got to the end of Ms Squires’ somewhat tedious “Talking Point” column last Saturday. Here’s a reminder of how it commenced:
Today, I left my sick bed and did a run to the letterbox in my footy socks and jim jams. It was my only outing all week. I was hoping I would find a magazine, pamphlet, menu – anything to divert me from the inertia of free-to-air TV, my only company other than a pile of used tissues for days now.
“Talking Points” went on to whinge about her letterbox being full of bills. Including one for $1500 to insure her canine for a year. Here’s some gratuitous advice for the Melbourne scribbler. Junk the dog insurance – the dog won’t need it. And relieve your boring days and nights by taking out a Foxtel subscription.
That way Wendy Squires will be able to see herself on Hinch Live repeats – per courtesy of Sky News Active. Having realised just how boring it is, she can then watch some interesting television on other Foxtel channels which might stop her from writing about herself.
Otherwise Age readers will have to put up with more of Ms Squires writing about Ms Squires being a bored Ms Squires since Ms Squires is sick and there’s nothing on Ms Squires free-to-air TV channels. Can you bear it?
[This reminds me. The “Media Gutless Wonders” Derryn Hinch and Paul Murray have still not given Hendo a chance to reply on Sky News to their attacks on his criticism of the coverage of Paul Murray Live and Hinch Live (including comments by Wendy Squires) of Cardinal George Pell. Perhaps it’s time to release any internal documents which might reveal that Sky News’ management has (privately) acknowledged that both Mr Murray and Mr Hinch engaged in misinformation with respect to their comments on George Pell. Just a thought – Ed]
- GUY RUNDLE’S GREECE HOWLER
As avid MWD readers are aware, Crikey’s Guy Rundle is Nancy’s (male) co-owner’s favourite Marxist comedian. It’s only when your man Rundle gets into politics or history that problems emerge.
This is what Guy Rundle wrote in Crikey last Friday:
The Syriza government of Greece has concluded a deal with the European Union, five days after a referendum in the country overwhelmingly voted to reject the terms of the last deal demanded by the financial powers. The new deal — which the EU had said would not be made — enacts the substantial will of the people, pushing the emphasis for increased revenue onto tax gathering, rather than cuts to services, especially pensions.
However, there is some phasing out of certain pension payments and a raise of the retirement age. The deal also includes a haircut for the creditors, though this will be disguised by extension of yield terms and changes to debt-servicing conditions — to allow northern politicians to conceal it from their voters. The deal represents a victory for Syriza…
What absolute tosh. It seems that your man Rundle is attempting to out sooth-say Bob Ellis – the False Prophet of Palm Beach – in making lousy predictions. The European Union did not accept the Syriza government’s initial offer and it did not enact the substantial will of the Greek people as expressed in the referendum. Guy Rundle’s prophecy failed within three days. And MWD’s favourite Marxist comedian is Crikey’s expert on matters Greece. Can you bear it?
STEP FORWARD GREGORY PAPANIKOS
While on the topic of Greece, let’s hear from Gregory Papanikos (president of the Athens Institute for Education and Research) on PM last night.
Dr Papanikos, an economist, took aim at Phillip Adams’ bestie – the failed former Greek finance minister and Sydney University academic Yanis Varoufakis. As MWD readers will be aware, the Marxist economist and games theorist turned politician was a recent recipient of Phillip Adams’ Koala Stamp. Let’s go to the transcript:
Mark Colvin : Yanis Varoufakis has been…comparing this [agreement] to the Treaty of Versailles. The obvious implication is that Greece, as Germany did after the Treaty of Versailles in the 1920s, will split into different fractions of extremism. In Germany it was communism versus Nazism – is that likely to happen in Greece?
Gregory Papanikos : I don’t think he [Varoufakis] has a very good prediction model in his head. All his predictions were wrong, all his games turned against him. So, I wouldn’t trust his forecast and his predictions.
Gregory Papanikos: Five Paws.
JULIAN BURNSIDE AO QC – THE (VERY) LATEST ON THE CONFERENCE TRAIL IN CAMBODIA
Following the earlier discussion on Abbott Haters, it’s likely that there will be a reduction in such (political) emissions when Julian (“I love flashing my post-nominals”) Burnside AO QC takes a Well Earned Break in Cambodia shortly.
Thanks to the avid MWD reader who has provided details of the Legalwise Seminars gig which will be held at the stunning Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort in Siem Reap Cambodia on Thursday 8 October and Friday 9 October – followed, naturally, by a weekend.
The lucky legal attendees can gain all their ten CPD points [Their what? – Ed] by attending this two day conference.
Day 1 looks truly exhausting. It commences with “opening remarks from the Chairperson Julian Burnside AO QC, Aickin Chambers” followed by – wait for it – Lunch. This suggests that either the conference will commence late or that JB AO QC will talk for a very long time. Or perhaps delegates will be able to earn CPD points in bed.
It seems that JB AO QC will have the rest of the day off beyond attending Dinner. The Dinner Address will cover such issues as “cultural sensitivity issues”. [Could this mean not talking about the fact that Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Sen was once a member of the Khmer Rouge and presides over a somewhat repressive regime? – Ed]
It looks like organisers are anticipating an exhausting Dinner since Day 2 of the conference does not resume until lunch on Friday – which will be moderated by JB AO QC. JB AO QC will then (i) chair a session on “the ethical issues of being a legal practitioner, (ii) present a session on “contractual interpretation” and (iii) present a session called “the liability of directors”. Then it’s time for the “Farewell Gala Dinner”.
So far, the conference organisers have not indicated who will speak at the Annual Gala Dinner. But Hendo hears that conference attendees (who pay a mere $3550) will hear a speech by Julian Burnside AO QC. The working topic is: “A Survivor of Human Rights Abuses Speaks Out: How I was deprived of full colours for swimming and tennis while at Melbourne Grammar School half a century ago”. [Perhaps you should advise attendees to bring a box of tissues – Ed].
Due to enormous demand, MWD has agreed to cite instances of breaches of courtesy. In the hope that courtesy awareness will help to alleviate this curse on civil society. Nancy’s (male) co-owner is well qualified to assist following receipt of his “A.C.” post-nominal (aka Always Courteous).
Thanks to the avid MWD reader who drew attention to David Marr’s appearance at the Giant Dwarf Theatre (in inner-city Sydney, of course) where the “Story Club” event is held each month and subsequently put out as a podcast. [I guess this is a significantly different monthly event from the Holy Name Monthly publication of your youth – Ed].
In February 2015, David Marr addressed “A House of Cards” theme at the Story Club. As might be expected, your man Marr spoke about your man Marr. The transcript of his address is published on the web under the heading “David Marr Opens Up About Being a Married Gay Man In the 70s”. It contains the following (discourteous) comment:
Young people today grow up in a world where they expect gay men to pair off, dance once or twice at Mardi Gras, get a dog and save for a house on Scotland Island. It seems the natural order of things.
But there was a time when being married – to a woman – was a perfectly respectable way for gay men to live. Even quite admirable. Their families loved it. The community applauded. Role models were everywhere back then and aren’t too hard to find even now – in history, in Hollywood and Federal politics.
The truth – overlooked in these impatient times – is that ambitious gay men make splendid husbands. They have careers, children, rather stocky wives and the occasional lifesaver on the side. But splendid husbands.
What’s this “rather stocky wives” bit? David Marr – off to Hendo’s Courtesy Class for you.
- THE SAGA CONTINUES
What does an ABC highly paid presenter do when she verbals the Prime Minister? Well, nothing of course.
The famous line from the film Love Story was: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” It seems that best practice at the taxpayer funded public broadcaster is: “Being an ABC presenter means that you never have to personally make corrections.”
On Lateline on 25 June 2015, presenter Emma Alberici declared:
…It is worth making the point that the Prime Minister did say today that he [Zaky Mallah] was a convicted terrorist. He’s not a convicted terrorist”
This was pure verballing. What Tony Abbott actually said was that Zaky Mallah was a “convicted criminal and terrorist sympathiser”. Contrary to Ms Alberici’s claim this was an accurate comment.
After Gerard Henderson brought this matter to the attention of ABC management, a correction was first made on the online transcript and later on the program notes that go with the iView footage. However, Ms Alberici has not acknowledged her error on Lateline or on the iView coverage of the program.
It’s much the same with Emma Alberici’s second howler on the same program. The Lateline presenter declared that she was quoting Zaky Mallah “exactly” when she alleged that Mallah had said Parliamentary Secretary Steve Ciobo’s comments “would encourage” many Australians “to join Islamic State”. In fact, Mallah said on Q&A the previous Monday that Mr Ciobo’s comments had “justified” many Muslims going to Syria “to join ISIL”. A significant difference.
After prodding from Gerard Henderson, the ABC published a correction on the Lateline transcript for 25 June 2015 along with one on the iView program notes. But Emma Alberici, again, has declined to make an on-air correction on Lateline or on the iView coverage of the program.
Since Nice Mr Scott rarely insists on ABC staff acting professionally, don’t expect Emma Alberici to personally acknowledge her errors on air. It’s easier to hide behind corrections at the end of transcripts or program notes – in the (plausible) hope that nobody will notice them.
RE THE AGE, HOWLERS AND HENDO
Thanks to an avid MWD reader who noticed this (ill-informed) letter in The Age on 30 June:
Warriors will be miffed
Those warriors from the right who regularly appear on Q&A – such as Janet Albrechtsen, Nick Cater, Gerard Henderson, Sharri Markson, Grahame Morris, Greg Sheridan and Judith Sloan – must be feeling miffed. It would seem they are either invisible to viewers from their own side of politics or, worse, considered to be part of the “leftie lynch mob”. How tragic for them and the Murdoch paper that employs most of them.
Ellie Welkamp, Geelong
Clearly The Age’s Letters Editor does not do much fact-checking. In fact, Hendo has been on Q&A twice in seven years – the second and last occasion occurred in September 2011. Which is a long-way south of “always”. In any event, the essential criticism of Q&A is that it invariably fronts up with no more than two right-of-centre types out of a (usually) five person panel. Then there’s the predominantly leftist audience.
However, The Age did agree to publish a correction – yesterday. Here it is – for the record, of course.
An infrequent event
Contrary to Ellie Welkamp’s claim (Letters, 30/6), I do not “regularly appear on Q&A”. The last time I went on the program was in September 2011. If in the unlikely event another invitation is received, I have no idea whether I would accept or join the ranks of Janet Albrechtsen and Nick Cater who have declined invitations. By the way, when I appeared on Q&A I wrote columns for Fairfax Media (not The Australian).
Gerard Henderson, Sydney
PETER MCEVOY’S LATEST OWN GOAL
At about 10.15 pm last Monday it was overwhelmingly evident that Peter McEvoy, Q&A’s executive producer and long-time ABC house-leftist, had lost his judgment. ABC types spend a lot of time talking about themselves. So it came as no surprise that, for the third week in a row, the powers-that-be at Q&A decided to talk about Q&A on Q&A.
At around 10.15 pm on 13 July, Peter McEvoy (as executive producer) initiated the following exchange on Q&A :
Tony Jones : You’re watching Q&A. It’s live. It’s unpredictable. The next question is a video. It’s from Ashton Platt in Highbury, South Australia.
Ashton Platt : Hello. This question is for the panel. Recently, in the school holidays, I’ve been watching World War II films, such as The Book Thief and Woman in Gold. History interests me because we can learn so much from the past, to do better in the future. What I’ve learnt from these films is that attacking freedom of speech becomes one way in which dictators tried to control public debate and thoughts. I know I’m only ten. But Tony Abbott scares me when he attacks the ABC and tries to control what we see on it. Should we all be afraid of his attacks on Q&A and ABC, both things I love?
So Peter McEvoy thought it appropriate to air a comment from a ten year old boy in Adelaide who has been influenced by such films as The Book Thief and Woman in Gold to see comparisons between Nazi Germany and contemporary Australia. Master Platt used the airwaves provided by the taxpayer funded public broadcaster to allege that the Prime Minister is a fascist-like dictator who “tries to control what we see” on the ABC.
At 9.37 am last Tuesday, the morning after the Q&A night before, ABC News boasted about what is regarded as Master Platt’s you-beaut question as follows:
10yo steals the show on @QandA, telling the panel he is “scared” by Abbott’s criticism of ABC.
Despite the fact that over 50 people work on each Q&A program, Mr McEvoy lacked the savvy to check whether the 10 year old Ashton Platt had written his own question. Not surprisingly, he had not. As Neil Mitchell revealed on Radio 3AW in Melbourne, young Ashton’s question was workshopped by his family. According to Michael Owen’s report in The Australian on Wednesday:
His father said the idea of submitting a video question came about as the family was chatting about some movies they had watched, including The Book Thief and Woman In Gold. Ashton had asked whether freedom of speech could be suppressed in Australia, he said.
“He asked, ‘Can they control what we think in Australia?’, and we said, ‘No, we have freedom of speech here’,” Mr Platt said. He said his children were not encouraged to follow any particular political line, but to question all ideas. “So we said to him, ‘Why don’t we put a question on to Q&A’ … and you can ask Malcolm Turnbull if Tony Abbott is someone you should be scared of.” Mr Turnbull was scheduled to be a panellist, but withdrew in keeping with the Prime Minister’s ban on ministers appearing on the show.
If, say, Tony Abbott had prepped a 10 year old boy to criticise – say – Greens’ Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the comrades at Q&A would have been up in arms. But Master Platt’s question linking Tony Abbott with Adolf Hitler was widely applauded by the Q&A audience.
Predictably, the ABC managing director and editor-in-chief Mark Scott has said nothing about the very latest Q&A farce. The fact is that Nice Mr Scott is too weak to confront Comrade McEvoy and the Q&A Soviet.
Until next time.
“On Sunday before Insiders…I was giving you a rich and full account of what a weird shit I think you are…”
David Marr to Gerard Henderson, 1 June 2015
To #swf2015 this morning. Sunlit harbour, fabulous crowds radiating civility. And no Gerard Henderson ! It doesn’t get any better.
– Mike Carlton, via Twitter, 1:48 PM – 21 May 2015
Gerard Henderson’s friday self-harm update is here
– Adam Brereton, via Twitter, May 15, 2015
[Gerard Henderson’s Media Watch Dog is] batshit mad.
– Guy Rundle in Crikey, 14 May 2015:
I’m in the sort of mood that if I saw Gerard Henderson in the street I’d hit him with his own umbrella
– Ben Pobjie, via Twitter, 8 May 2015
It’s a glorious day when Gerard Henderson has a go at you
– Adam Gartrell, via Twitter, 8 May 2015
Meeting of Gerard Henderson Appreciation Society tonight Sydney Opera House phone booth
– Phillip Adams, via Twitter, 28 April 2015, 1.36 pm (after lunch).
“Gerard’s condescension levels high on #insiders this morning”
– Lenore Taylor, via Twitter, 22 February 2015
“Gerard Henderson and David Marr are on #Insiders this week. Like a political Felix and Oscar.”
– Mark Scott via Twitter 19 February 2015 at 1.10 pm
“I once called Gerard Henderson `a complete f%^wit’. I deeply regret that. I was being much too harsh on f%^wits.”
– Malcolm Farr via Twitter 14 February 2015 at 10:14 am
“Oh Gerard. You total clown.”
– Jonathan (“Proudly the ABC’s Sneerer-in-Chief”) Green on Twitter, Friday 3 October 2014, 4.31 pm [Mr Green must be an obsessive avid reader to respond so soon. – Ed]
“Good morning. All the gooder for being attacked (for thousandth time) by silly Gerard in the Oz”
– Phillip Adams via Twitter, 27 September 2014
“What troubles me most is that he [Gerard Henderson] shows such low journalistic standards, yet he is politically quite influential. He is often on Insiders. It’s hard to see why: he comes across as a crank.”
– Kate Durham as told to Crikey, 16 September 2014
“The unhinged but well spoken Gerard Henderson….”
– Bob Ellis, Table Talk blog, 10 August 2014
“Gerard Henderson and Nancy are awful human beings.”
– Alexander White, Twitter, 25 July 2014
“This is my regularly scheduled “Oh Gerard” tweet for every time he appears on #insiders”
– Josh Taylor, senior journalist for ZDNet, Twitter, 20 July 2014
“…that fu-kwitted Gerard “Gollum” Henderson….”
– Mike (“I’ll pour the gin”) Carlton, via Twitter, 12 July 2014
“[Gerard Henderson is a] silly prick”
– Mike (“I’ll pour the gin”) Carlton – tweeted Saturday 27 June 2014 at 4.15 pm, i.e. after lunch
“If Gerard Henderson had run Beria’s public relations Stalin’s death would have been hidden for a year and Nikita [Khrushchev] and co would have been shot”
– Laurie Ferguson via Twitter – 22 June 2014 [By-line: Mr Ferguson is a member of the House of Representatives who speaks in riddles.]
“[Gerard Henderson] is the Eeyore of Australian public life”
– Mike Seccombe in The [Boring] Saturday Paper – 21 June 2014
“Without in any way wanting to breach anyone’s human rights or free speech – why do people write emails to Gerard Henderson?”
– Katharine Murphy, Twitter, Friday 6 June 2014
“[Gerard Henderson is] an unhinged prick”
– Mike Carlton, Twitter, Thursday 12 June 2014
“There’s no sense that Gerard Henderson has any literary credentials at all.”
– Anonymous comment quoted, highlighted and presumably endorsed by Jason (“I’m a left-leaning luvvie”) Steger, The Age, 31 May 2014
On boyfriend’s insistence, watching the notorious Gerard Henderson/@Kate_McClymont Lateline segment. GH: What an odd, angry gnome of a man.
– Benjamin Law, via Twitter, Thursday 17 Apr 2014, 11:21 pm
Can’t believe I just spent my Thursday evening with a video recap of Gerard Henderson. I’m a f-cking moron.
– Benjamin Law, via Twitter, Thursday 17 Apr 2014, 11:23 pm
“[Gerard Henderson is an] unhinged crank”
– Mike Carlton, via Twitter, Saturday 29 March 2014, 4.34 pm
Complete stranger comes up to me: that Gerard Henderson’s a xxxxxx.
– Jonathan Green via Twitter, 8 February 2014
- and David Marr are on #Insiders this week. Like a political Felix and Oscar.”
– Mark Scott via Twitter 19 February 2015 at 1.10 pm
“I once called Gerard Henderson `a complete f%^wit’. I deeply regret that. I was being much too harsh on f%^wits.”
– Malcolm Farr via Twitter 14 February 2015 at 10:14 am
“Oh Gerard. You total clown.”
– Jonathan (“Proudly the ABC’s Sneerer-in-Chief”) Green on Twitter, Friday 3 October 2014, 4.31 pm [Mr Green must be an obsessive avid reader to respond so soon. – Ed]
“Good morning. All the gooder for being attacked (for thousandth time) by silly Gerard in the Oz”
– Phillip Adams via Twitter, 27 September 2014
“What troubles me most is that he [Gerard Henderson] shows such low journalistic standards, yet he is politically quite influential. He is often on Insiders. It’s hard to see why: he comes across as a crank.”
– Kate Durham as told to Crikey, 16 September 2014
“The unhinged but well spoken Gerard Henderson….”
– Bob Ellis, Table Talk blog, 10 August 2014
“Gerard Henderson and Nancy are awful human beings.”
– Alexander White, Twitter, 25 July 2014
“This is my regularly scheduled “Oh Gerard” tweet for every time he appears on #insiders”
– Josh Taylor, senior journalist for ZDNet, Twitter, 20 July 2014
“…that fu-kwitted Gerard “Gollum” Henderson….”
– Mike (“I’ll pour the gin”) Carlton, via Twitter, 12 July 2014
“[Gerard Henderson is a] silly prick”
– Mike (“I’ll pour the gin”) Carlton – tweeted Saturday 27 June 2014 at 4.15 pm, i.e. after lunch
“If Gerard Henderson had run Beria’s public relations Stalin’s death would have been hidden for a year and Nikita [Khrushchev] and co would have been shot”
– Laurie Ferguson via Twitter – 22 June 2014 [By-line: Mr Ferguson is a member of the House of Representatives who speaks in riddles.]
“[Gerard Henderson] is the Eeyore of Australian public life”
– Mike Seccombe in The [Boring] Saturday Paper – 21 June 2014
“Without in any way wanting to breach anyone’s human rights or free speech – why do people write emails to Gerard Henderson?”
– Katharine Murphy, Twitter, Friday 6 June 2014
“[Gerard Henderson is] an unhinged prick”
– Mike Carlton, Twitter, Thursday 12 June 2014
“There’s no sense that Gerard Henderson has any literary credentials at all.”
– Anonymous comment quoted, highlighted and presumably endorsed by Jason (“I’m a left-leaning luvvie”) Steger, The Age, 31 May 2014
On boyfriend’s insistence, watching the notorious Gerard Henderson/@Kate_McClymont Lateline segment. GH: What an odd, angry gnome of a man.
– Benjamin Law, via Twitter, Thursday 17 Apr 2014, 11:21 pm
Can’t believe I just spent my Thursday evening with a video recap of Gerard Henderson. I’m a f-cking moron.
– Benjamin Law, via Twitter, Thursday 17 Apr 2014, 11:23 pm
“[Gerard Henderson is an] unhinged crank”
– Mike Carlton, via Twitter, Saturday 29 March 2014, 4.34 pm
Complete stranger comes up to me: that Gerard Henderson’s a xxxxxx.
– Jonathan Green via Twitter, 8 February 2014