Tuesday 15th July 1997
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The town is outraged that Bendigo Mining NL, one of whose major investors is Australia's richest man - Kerry Packer, now wants to start an open cut mine just 40 metres from residential housing. The town council has already given it the thumbs down - but what do you do if you are Packer? Simply put a media clamp on the story and then go hassling the Victorian State Government - with state premier Jeff Kennet a know Packer ally.
People effected by the plans claim that the mine development so close to their homes could cause deathes in children suffering from asthma. But that means nothing to Packer's channel nine station with A Current Affair concentrating on the story where one child was killed in Sunday's implosion at Canberra.
Presenter Ray Martin was at his best with "cluck-clucking tones" about the dastardly deeds of the ACT Labor government.... while back in Bendigo the whole community could become a casualty of his boss' greed.
Black Panther Lorenzo Ervin has been given two days by the immigration department to answer a questionnaire which includes the objectives of his visit to Australia. Ervin was jailed pending deportation before a High Court challenge saw him released.
The big Australian, BHP, who closed down its steel operations in Newcastle recently has been negotiating to buy PT Krakatau Steel in Malysia.
The Malaysian steel company, which employs 6,000 people at Cilegon 100km west of Jakarta, apparently spent US$650 million taking out the controlling stake.
BHPs official line is that it is taking a "more global approach", but the reality, sadly, is that the Malaysian workers get paid a fraction of their Australian counterparts and the loss of Australian jobs in Newcastle is based largely on profits back to shareholders in the company - regardless of the expense to the community they left behind at home.
The left-wing radicals were again at it yesterday protesting against One Nation at Werribee.
More than 200 police were there to control a crowd of about 400 hooligans. The protesters are certainly having an effect on democracy in Australia with only 40 guests braving the gauntlet that they knew they would have to run.
A spokeswoman for the Campaign Against Racism, Ms Dellit, appealed for calm saying, "Our position is not to discourage people by throwing missiles" - a pointed reference to the disgusting actions of protesters who threw urine bombs and eggs at Dandenong.
But the damage is now done with decent Australians seeing all protesters at One Nation meetings no more than left wing hooligans whop are there for a chance to be violent - and nothing to do with democracy. In fact it is now likely the real protesters who have a real concern about Ms Hanson's views have been scared away as well.
One guest, a 19 year old woman, Donna Van Boven, had her hair pulled as she left the venue. She said, "I am definately going to join One Nation now."
Pauline Hanson jump station.
| Party | Jul 11-13 | June 27-29 | June 13-15 | May 30-June 1 | May 16-18 | Election - March 1997 |
| Coalition | 42 | 43% | 44% | 43% | 41% | 47% |
| ALP | 40% | 37% | 36% | 37% | 37% | 38.7% |
| One Nation | 6% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 9% | N/A |
| Democrats | 4% | 6% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 6.8% |
| Greens | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1.7% |
| Others | 6% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 5.8% |
Partly as a result of Mr Estiot's involvement in reporting on the Dandenong launch three men in their 20s have been arrested for allegedly assaulting Keith Warburton. The snivelling cowards who launched the attack on this guest tried to disappear into the crowd after king hitting Warburton from behind as he left the venue.
Here are his comments on the current ethics in balanced reporting by the Australian media.
Editor
Dear Sir,
Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day
As you know, the presence of Media-Watch Interactive at the One Nation
Dandenong launch has resulted in the publication of many photographs and
sound bites on Internet. Although the report is a personal account (and
must therefore be considered 100% opinion), I believe it gives anyone a
good feel for what happened there.
It may not be happening in a big way yet but I feel there is a huge
future for independent journalism on the net. More and more people
should get out there, take photographs, notes, interviews and so on, and
put them on the net. This would give people a wealth of information on
which to base opinion, and eventually bypass the propaganda-based media
we have in Australia.
MWI is not funded, neither by a membership base nor by government funds.
An application to Mr Stockdale, the Victorian Minister for multimedia,
has been knocked back. It was asking for a very small grant to replace
and upgrade old equipment. It really makes you wonder what goes on in
people's mind when MWI which provides an unvaluable service to the
community is squeezed to the point of extinction, and yet, some receive
a $100,000 grant for piling up cardboard boxes and calling it art.
Many have a vested interest in seing a media-watch organisation drop
dead. Some politicians enjoy a good buddy-buddy relationship with the
media and are not interested in having a bunch of smart alexes stick
their nose where they shouldn't.
MWI will probably not be in Geelong for the launch of ON there. It
cannot afford the associated expenses. In my view, the big loser will be
the Internet community because there will not be an independent coverage
of the event to compare it with the media reports. Remember that "The
Age" newspaper here in Melbourne reported for three days that Keith
Warburton may have just fallen when it was known from day one that he
had multiple injuries to the back and front of the head. It's a bit like
the story of the suicide of a bullet to the back of the head, isn't it?
On the scene of Mr Warburton's bashing, I made sure everyone would know
I was an eyewitness to the incident. Police took my details right in
front of a Channel Nine crew who was inside the building at the time of
the incident. Right there was an eyewitness to the blow who knocked
Warburton out and they did not even ask a single question. So much for
good journalism...
To answer some of the criticism I have received after the publication of
my ON launch report, I have never been a member of a political
organisation and the Dandenong launch was the first political meeting I
have attended in 18 years. I am not a ON supporter but I can see a bunch
of dickheads from a long way. This is why Jolly and his stooges may feel
my report is not too flattering of their approach to expressing dissent
in a democracy.
JG Estiot
Subject: Launch of One Nation at Newcastle
Just went to the one nation rally at Werribee
thought your absence was a dissappointment
but will see you at the Geelong meeting
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK
Mick,Jimmy,Alan,Rod,Ruth
Subject: hanson sux
i dont think that ms hanson is worthy of being referred to as a human
being, so instead of 'her' i will use the more appropriate label of
'it'.
anyhow, if 'it' is so sure that 'its' views reflect those of the
majority of australians, then why are there so many more protestors than
supporters at every one of 'its' party meetings. maybe thats something
to think about.
i doubt that ms.hanson will ever catch sight of this email, or any
others like it ; very much in 'its' character to turn and run from the
truth. but hey, maybe i'll get lucky. so if u ever read this ms hanson,
i advise u to quit before any serious harm befalls you personally....
now that would be a real shame, wouldn't it ?? :)
dbell@australia.net.au
MWI Editor
Now seriously who is the bigot here?
Editor.
Have a good one.
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