In my view, fines such as these for publishing blatant untruths or misleading
newsreports, or temporary suspensions of the right to publish or broadcast, would lead to a major improvement in the accuracy and fairness of ourmediaParliament.
So when a political partymedia outlet, politicianjournalist, or red-necked union activistshock jockdeliberately broadcasts or publishes a statement that they know is factually wrong, and it is subsequently proven that they knew it was factually wrong, they ought to be subject to an appropriate penalty.
This is the Steve Gibbons who when facing the electorate for the first time in 1998 promised to repeal the GST. Mr Gibbon, 3 June 1999:
I rise in this adjournment debate to highlight the complete unfairness of the government’s GST package especially for those people who happen to live in central and northern Victoria. People in that area are going to get slugged when they are driving to Melbourne by having to pay a toll on the Tullamarine Tollway and then having a substantial GST imposed on them.
Did Mr Gibbons complain that the GST would apply on top of the carbon tax? Has Mr Gibbons used the opportunity of Government to work for the repeal of the GST?
This is the man who has been at the forefront of denying Australians the right to buy their books from overseas.
Mr Gibbons has a low opinion of learning and knowledge. He is a disgrace trying to deny his constituents the right to a free press and free speech. Mr Gibbons: misleading and deceptive.
quite so
entropy
21 Aug 12 at 8:15 pm
Hypocrisy thy name is Gibbons
WhaleHunt Fun
21 Aug 12 at 8:18 pm
Rather than updating the wiki entry for Gibbons to say hypocritical fascist perhaps the wiki entries for hypocrit and for Fascist could be updated to simply say Gibbons.
WhaleHunt Fun
21 Aug 12 at 8:21 pm
Par for the course for the Liebor Party.
Dandy Warhol
21 Aug 12 at 8:52 pm
How many journalists yesterday reported that Tony Scott committed suicide because of terminal brain cancer?
Today his family said that wasn’t true.
Who should pay for such inaccurate and misleading reportage Steve Gibbons?
Major Elvis Newton
21 Aug 12 at 9:10 pm
Yesterday they were all breathlessly reporting he fell from a bridge.
Infidel Tiger
21 Aug 12 at 9:19 pm
Why should any of them “pay”? How many times have you “paid” for your own fuck ups, you douchebag Newton.
JC
21 Aug 12 at 9:26 pm
Was his death even reported in Australian papers?
Gab
21 Aug 12 at 9:29 pm
JC
21 Aug 12 at 9:30 pm
Surfing the crimson wave JC?
Dog ignoring you?
Pull your panties out of your ass and grow up.
Major Elvis Newton
21 Aug 12 at 9:31 pm
Newton, stop being a dickhead. It’s almost impossible to sue in the US if you’re a public figure, which is the way it ought to be here. Moreover in the case you mentioned the person in question couldn’t sue anyway as the fucking guy is dead you clown.
JC
21 Aug 12 at 9:38 pm
Steve Gibbons was merely acting as a sock puppet for Gillard yesterday, threatening the media and telling Australians they are too stupid to decide what to read themselves. Part of a concerted effort by Labor to head off any interest in Gillard’s sordid past (or present for that matter. In any case, consider Gibbons’ comments as fodder to feed lefties.
CC
21 Aug 12 at 9:43 pm
Of course Gillard is desperate. She may get sent to gaol after all of this.
Hilarious that Tony Windsor attacked Abbot just prior to this.
Poor dumb bastard trashed his reputation, and for what? To hand power over to the Greens?
.
21 Aug 12 at 9:51 pm
The angry dwarf schtick is getting real old.
Time to stop huffing the furniture polish.
Gibbons is a deluded Party apparatchik who saw it as his duty to defend his damsel in distress.
That there was almost universal silence in condeming his demands from the Fourth Estate says more about the current media landscape and its progenitors than the ramblings of a Labor lemming clinging to the remnant flotsam of his political career.
Major Elvis Newton
21 Aug 12 at 9:58 pm
If Abbott was of any value he would announce a Royal Commission of Inquiry into The Gillard activities. And even promote the new TV series Underbelly: The Carbon Liar.
Sadly it is not in him
WhaleHunt Fun
21 Aug 12 at 10:18 pm
Gibbons is retiring. His replacement is Lisa Chesters. The Midland Express reported today:
“…graduated from university of Qld with an arts degree and supported herself through her studies by working as a cleaner and a hospitality worker. After completing her studies Lisa moved to Victoria and started working for the union that represents these workers. “I went from the shoP floor to become the united voice representative in the Bendigo Trades Hall Council” she said.
Pickles
21 Aug 12 at 11:01 pm
What a scumbag.
Nicely beclowned, Samuel.
C.L.
21 Aug 12 at 11:04 pm
I’m all for it. $100 fine every time a journalist wrote “carbon” when in fact the substance in question was “carbon dioxide” would see Fairfax fined out of existence.
Ooh Honey Honey
21 Aug 12 at 11:04 pm
Then there’s the plastic turkey meme.
Ooh Honey Honey
21 Aug 12 at 11:04 pm
hzh
21 Aug 12 at 11:26 pm
That is terrible, hzh, and sorry to hear it. Must be especially heartbreaking in rural communities where almost everyone knows everyone else and effects all concerned.
The suicide rate in regional and rural areas is almost twice the rate as in metro areas. Very sad and frustrating.
Gab
21 Aug 12 at 11:37 pm
Having rwad this tool’s press release on his website, I have come to understand how putrid and unrelenting the conviction of these tyrants have become.
So now the State will decide who I trust and who not? If I want to trust an unworthy source I’m an idiot. No one else. If I want to waste my time reading irrellevant bollocks then whose time have I wasted? Mine.
Yet these morons just don’t get it. It’s my time, my trust, my stupidity. Leave me alone!!!!
Abraham
22 Aug 12 at 9:21 am
Gibbons was also the man who was pushing for the government to buy the Bushmaster Ute that was manufactured in his electorate even though it is rubbish.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/army-tender-ambushed-20110722-1ht4z.html
Australia will be better for Gibbons’ retirement.
Fred
22 Aug 12 at 9:33 am
The odd thing about the difference in suicide rates between metro and rural/regional is that there is only a difference in the suicide rate in men, not women. So its not just about a lack of mental health services which people can access. Perhaps there are some cultural issues which need to be addressed.
Chris
22 Aug 12 at 11:08 am
Yes, like people like you deciding not to be jumped up little fascist c**ts and telling people to stop living their life a certain way, or conducting their business a certain way.
I bet you are public servant and back the original and disgraceful MDBA plan in its entirety.
Cultural change? People like can fuck off.
.
22 Aug 12 at 11:10 am
Not a public servant, but live in SA and so am quite supportive of the MDBA. SA has done a lot more in the past to conserve water than the other states have. VIC/NSW have to take responsibility for over allocating water rights in the first place. I don’t advocate forcing people out, but instead purchasing their water rights when they are willing to sell.
Well sure if they don’t adapt to changed circumstances then some do end up dying. I’d like to see them get help to avoid that.
Chris
22 Aug 12 at 11:36 am
A gibbon is a long armed monkey. Steve Gibbons needs to evolve significantly before he can reach that lofty height, as he appears to dwell in a gutter!
Westy
22 Aug 12 at 1:22 pm
Steve Gibbons ought to share with us what he thinks should happen to Members of Parliament who get their facts wrong. Or, are they less important than a lone journo in one of many news outlets?
He is obviously running the boundaries for the government to see what the reaction is. He is disposable, and will indeed be disposed of the next time the voters get a say.
johanna
22 Aug 12 at 2:04 pm