By Stephen Fitz
When asked the question, Malcolm Turnbull opposed a federal corruption watchdog. Out of the same mouth came opposition to the banking royal commission. The results speak for themselves and you would have to be a moron not to see what’s going on with the Liberal Party Corporate Coalition.
When you look at the Liberal party cutting $84 million dollars from the ABC’s budget, because they didn’t like balanced editorials, you start to become a bit suspicious about the ABC board of directors sacking managing director Michelle Guthrie. In particular, in the lead up to federal elections.
On the other side of the coin, Guthrie came under intense scrutiny, during her time as managing director, for not defending the ABC against attacks from the Coalition government and from News Corp. While the ABC has been used as a punching bag by the government, staff wanted someone who could stand up and defend the ABC’s reputation as Australia’s most trusted media source.
So, we have two conflicting arguments going on here, to keep us in a state of confusion. That’s generally a tactic used by the Liberal Party and their corporate and media cohorts.
All you good journalists at the ABC – Chew on this: So, what is it… Guthrie was turfed out, so the Liberals could impose one-sided political censorship or, she was turfed out for not standing up in support of freedom of speech? Well, under a Liberal government I’ll tell you what it smells like to me.
If it was the latter, the ABC board of directors would have jumped on the opportunity to promote the ABC’s stance when it comes to free speech and editorial independence – But they didn’t! They bit their tongue and chose to cover-up the reasoning. And, once again – I’ll tell you what that smells like to me. It smells like political, corporate and MSM interference.
So, the ABC reporters and, you are believed to be the best. Willing to face imprisonment for your beliefs. Do you speak out against Guthrie’s sacking as a political manoeuvre, and put your neck on the chopping block? Or, do you zipp-it, sit on your hands, and wait and see what happens. If you are still around under a Liberal appointed managing director at least, you can play the covert game.
And, we will forget that you said you wanted someone who would defend the ABC’s reputation. A reputation the ABC’s Board of Directors has just shot to pieces.
