Vox Pops

Scott Marsh's brilliant Merry Crisis was sadly painted over but happily raised >$90k for firefighters. Scott Morrison is the most recent of 6 Australian prime ministers in the last 12 years. Originally a marketer, over the past couple of years he underwent a re-branding evolution. From his ‘stop the boats’ rhetoric and his utterly cruel and soulless reputation as Immigration minister, to the more business-minded, coal loving treasurer, to the “oh whoops how did I get here” daggy dad Prime Minister. In May 2019, he won an election based on a marketing message – he wasn’t the opposition leader, Bill Shorten. He had no other real policies other than something about franking credits and some bullshit about an Opposition death tax. Based on the fact he had no policies, and that he had been so behind in the polls that he had fuck all chance of winning, he put his election win down to a miracle. So what’s wrong with winning an election with broad brushstrokes and a se...

Since I've been back after 12 months away, I've been having a great time catching up with my friends. After dinner with a friend the other night, a friend emailed me: So it was great to catch up with you last week. I have a follow up question: My brother thinks that because all news that is broadcast is "bad" that he doesn't bother watching, therefore is not informed. Is ignorance bliss? Is the outcome the same or similar if you are not in a position to change anything you observe on the 24 hr news cycle if you watch or don't watch? Thoughts? I went on to reply... ...To be honest I don't know if I can really answer your question because it's been one I've been struggling with since I came back. Before I left Australia I was a total news junkie. Probably almost in the true sense of the word... I used to have "drug" seeking behaviour, I had total withdrawals and terrible FOMO (fear of missing out). It wouldn't be unusual for...

PJK raised a bloody good point on Lateline last night : "... where is the quality of the national debate and why isn't Abbott being flogged by the media for this position (on the Carbon Tax)?" This was f ollowed by the equally good point, " What about that sleepy press gallery of ours? What are they ... ? I mean, is there no premium on quality ?" He's absolutely right. It's utter bullshit that a man who so courageously  says "no" at any opportunity should be given such an obvious free pass. Have we really become that resigned to news companies' bias that we just swallow their "backing" as Joe Hildebrand put it on The Drum last night? And what's worse is people/media/political commentators say Abbott's a good communicator . What?! Are you fucking serious? Even a two year old understands the word "no".  Give me a break. I think there are several salient facts we need to remember in this current environment...