Yes, we are independent and this is why

The AIM Network

11 years ago

I’ve lost count of the number of times LNP supporters have visited this site with less than complimentary remarks about our, in their terms, ‘alleged’ independence. We can’t be independent, they argue, when nearly all of our articles are critical of the Abbott Government and before that, the Abbott Opposition. We are simply a bunch of whining lefties, again in their opinion, and we couldn’t possibly be independent whilst we sit on just one side of the political fence.

To those visitors, I would recommend seeking counsel in a dictionary and getting a firm grasp on what independent actually means. Capturing the meaning of the word, if it were possible for them to do so, might just see them nod their collective heads and announce that “yes, The AIMN is independent”. Some may not own a dictionary, which wouldn’t at all surprise me given their alleged definition of the word when they race in here with allegations of our non-independence, so I’ll kindly borrow the definition from the Oxford Dictionary for their convenience. ‘Independent’ is an adjective that means:

Free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority.
Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.
Capable of thinking or acting for oneself.
Not connected with another or with each other; separate.

Yes, that sounds like The AIMN. But why is that important?

It is important because of the failure of the non-independent journalists in the Murdoch media to scrutinise the LNP (in both Government and Opposition). Since Tony Abbott formed government, and these are in no particular order, the Murdoch media has ignored the important stories such as:

China’s furious response to an irresponsible remark by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop over its defence zone.

Indonesia’s Trade Minister announcing that they are looking looking elsewhere than Australia for their food imports in the wake of the latest diplomatic row.

Tony Abbott’s and Christopher Pyne’s latest back flips and lies over education funding.

Tony Abbott not keeping his promise to visit an Aboriginal community in his first week as Prime Minister.

The removal of Marine Parks zoning in the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmanian forests.

The continued travel rorts.

The cutting of legal aid for young Indigenous Australians.

The cutting of $1M disability funding for regional NSW.

The cutting of funding to Hearing Impaired Interpreter Services.

Robbing low-income earners of $500 a year from superannuation rebates while cutting taxes on super for the 16,000 wealthiest Australians.

Cutting the age pensioner’s benefit supplement and single mother’s benefits.

Destroying our diplomatic relationship with Indonesia.

Ignoring the ramifications of changes to Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Lying about the alleged Budget Emergency and Joe Hockey’s bumbling as Treasurer.

Cutting scheduled wage rises for 30,000 childcare workers.

Negotiating the potentially damaging Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

Cutting jobs of up to 15,000 school teachers.

Cutting $70M in firefighting services.

Cutting Higher Education subsidy and targets for students from low socio-economic background.

Lying about asylum seeker arrivals and treatment. *

And on and on. This is not an exhaustive list.

You’ll be hard-pressed to see these rate a mention in the Murdoch media.

We and similar sites have the freedom to talk about them, however, as do Fairfax and the ABC. But because we like to raise these issues our independence is challenged, probably by people who are quite content in the knowledge that the Murdoch media shuns the stories that provide the facts about the ineptitude of the Abbott Government. Yes, we are independent and that is why.

The balance we aim to provide is by talking about the issues the Murdoch media ignores. Yet our own balance is questioned. We’re just lefties, apparently. And we’re run by the Labor Party, apparently. But it’s OK for the right-wing media to write about whatever they so desire.

Do you remember what it was like before the election? The Murdoch media ran headlines about real national interest, such Kevin Rudd’s hair flick, Julia Gillard surprising us all by wearing glasses, Julia Gillard knitting a gift for the royal baby, Julia Gillard wearing the wrong dress or Julia Gillard tripping over whilst on a visit to India. Oh, and don’t forget the screaming headlines every time a boat load of asylum seekers sailed over the horizon. For some reason the real issues are no longer newsworthy.

That’s where we come in. That’s what being independent is all about.