It is not surprising to find that Louise Adler is one of the prime movers in a grubby dispute.
It helps to know what happened to the Australian Book Review when she became the editor in 1988. Up to that time the monthly magazine of book reviews was a dowdy looking thing with low quality paper and a rather hang-dog look, containing the usual mix of material that you would expect in view of the propensity of the chattering classes to write books and reviews of books. I was a regular cotributor for a couple of years and there was a place for people who did not hew to the politically correct line. Then some things happend, all at the same time.
Louise Adler became the editor.
The magazine appeared on glossy paper with a new format.
The content became unrelieved hard left on every front.
The Victorian Ministry for the Arts appeared as a sponsor.
Courtesy of the taxpayers of Victoria, and Louise Adler, the Australian Book Review was transformed into a print version of the ABC.
The situation improved for a while under the next editor, at least for me because I stuck to science and biographies without any political commentary. The situation deteriorated under the next editor who delayed in sending books to review until eventually she sent a couple of really boring books, which I reviewed, and was paid the token fee, but the reviews did not run. The came Peter Rose and again I expressed interest in reviewing, he replied that he would keep me in mind, after 12 months I reminded him that I was still interested but eventually I realised…
What are a Jew and a Muslim doing on the board of a supposedly Christian school? I know it’s the Uniting Church so they don’t believe in God, but still.
Infidel Tiger
28 Sep 12 at 10:33 am
Yes and trying to kick out a very popular and outstanding leader.
Poor Old Rafe
28 Sep 12 at 10:36 am
Still, Tony Abbott has offered a character reference for her, so she can’t be all bad.
Cold-Hands
28 Sep 12 at 11:26 am
Seriously? This woman?:
http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/timblair/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/louise_addled/
Ivan Denisovich
28 Sep 12 at 11:38 am
Ivan, no…article here
Forester
28 Sep 12 at 11:45 am
Sorry Ivan! …should have read it myself!
Forester
28 Sep 12 at 11:49 am
Good to see people destroying “non-government” schools.
I am sure we will all become ‘happy little vegemites’….
NoFixedAddress
28 Sep 12 at 1:41 pm
“Still, Tony Abbott has offered a character reference for her, so she can’t be all bad.”
I seriously doubt that. Politicians, even (if not especially) Liberal politicians, will do anything to get elected.
Mique
28 Sep 12 at 3:04 pm
Well infidel they have Jewish students so they may as well have Jewish directors.
rob
28 Sep 12 at 6:17 pm
As a casual observer of life and having had my daughter attend MLC, Perth WA (shudder to think 15 years ago). It was her father’s choice, because his mother, the paternal grandmother attended there from Durban, South Africa. It was tradition. I note the traditionalists, the Nicky Hilton’s of Aspro fame, had a meeting last night with other past students, parents, board members, and will be very interested to see how this all plays out with the current board. This sacking was a very quick decision with no written warning, according to today’s article in the Australian.
delfino
28 Sep 12 at 8:06 pm
Ooops, meant the Nicholas family, what was I thinking. Paris, Nicky Hilton. Anyway, the Nicholas family, a formidable opponent to Adler, I’ve no doubt.
delfino
28 Sep 12 at 9:10 pm
Poor Old Rafe, but she was editor for about one year back in 1988. her dead hand must linger
Jim Rose
28 Sep 12 at 11:10 pm
Mr Abbott’s endorsement of Louise Adler. She published his book “Battlelines” so they have worked together despite their political differences.
Cold-Hands
28 Sep 12 at 11:31 pm
The last time Adler appeared on Q&A she closed down the boat people debate within fifteen minutes, by going on a Schindler’s List inspired rant that basically Eichmanised every other no-caring bastard in Australia. They changed the topic to something fascinating like salinity levels in the Murray-Darling basin after that.
Big Jim
29 Sep 12 at 1:12 am
The MLC affair has put the left into a quandary. Normally they’d have no compunction in siding with the Principal against the big bad rich school and its plutocratic board whose members are drawn from the ranks of the Melbourne Club and if they don’t work for Big Oil, they must work for Big Tobacco. In this case they’re stymied, one because most of the board are clearly mad lefties and behaving in the usual mad lefty dictatorial fashion; and two because the Principal has been pulling an annual salary package of $510,000 which makes the usual victim status a bit hard to sustain.
Ubique
29 Sep 12 at 12:13 pm