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Since October 1995

Tuesday 15th July 1997

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International:

Interesting that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) was the only mainstream media to take up the cause for the residents of the mining town of Bendigo yesterday.

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.

Political:

Here are the latest Newspoll results:

PartyJul 11-13June 27-29 June 13-15 May 30-June 1 May 16-18 Election - March 1997
Coalition 4243% 44% 43%41%47%
ALP 40%37% 36% 37%37%38.7%
One Nation6%6% 7% 7%9%N/A
Democrats4%6% 3% 5%4%6.8%
Greens2%2% 2% 1%2%1.7%
Others6%8% 8% 7%7%5.8%

email the editor

You say:

Media Watch Interactive editor J G Estiot brought us the excellent and impartial first hand experience of the Dandenong launch of One Nation.

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
MWI Editor

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

Now seriously who is the bigot here?

Editor.

Business:

The Australian dollar has dipped to its lowest point in 18 months dropping to below US$0.74 cents on the back of rumours of another interest rate cut.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another gorgeous day in paradise.

Have a good one.


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