The Same But Different . . .

Guest Author Uncategorized

Today’s Guest Author is Victoria Rollinson, with a splendid piece first published at The AIM Network. Thank you, Victoria! And hat tip to Puffy and Leone for their recommendations.

(Image Credit: Angus Mordant; Fairfax)

When Turnbull ‘knifed’ Abbott a week ago after publically shaming Abbott’s terrible government on national television while announcing his intent-to-knife, I wondered how the mainstream media would treat this story. I couldn’t help but worry this would be yet another example of a Liberal story being treated with a completely different narrative to the same Labor story. A sitting PM is replaced by a member of their own cabinet. A late night coup. A first term Prime Minister. Abbott lasted a shorter time than Rudd and had already been challenged 6 months earlier. By my reasoning, the white-anting, destabilising activities of Turnbull and his supporters over the last 6 months was far more bloody and underhanded than Gillard taking the opportunity to lead the Labor government when it was offered to her within hours of her colleagues’ decision that Rudd’s chaotic leadership was not going to improve, second chances or not. However you argue it, overall a fair observer would see great similarities in the two situations. But these similarities are clearly ignored by the media and it turns out my worry was well founded. Low and behold, the Turnbull/Abbott story is being treated completely differently to Gillard/Rudd. Of course everyone in the mainstream media is very busy mansplaining to little-old-us the voters why the two situations are apparently completely different. But I don’t need this situation explained for me, because I can see with my own eyes that Turnbull just did to Abbott the same, if not worse, thing Gillard did to Rudd.

If you haven’t already noticed for yourself the differing tone of the stories about new-PM-Gillard with new-PM-Turnbull, take a look at this apple-with-apples comparison.

Here is a transcript of Gillard’s ABC 730 interview with Kerry O’Brien the evening she became PM on 24 June 2010 and Turnbull’s ABC 730 PR campaign interview with Leigh Sales a week after he became PM.

If you can’t be bothered reading these transcripts, take it from me that Gillard was interrogated about her ‘knifing’ of Rudd for the entire interview, and framed as the ‘villain’ who couldn’t be trusted, a tone which continued throughout her time as PM. Gillard was also hectored about what she would do about the mining tax policy, not forgetting she had become PM that day. Turnbull, on the other hand, was treated like a ‘hero’ and provided with the invaluable opportunity to outline his vision for the country on an unchallenged soap box where he was allowed to sell his government’s refreshed credentials. He wasn’t even tested when he claimed Direct Action was working to reduce emissions when there was no evidence backing this claim. Two interviews in similar political circumstances, yet chalk and cheese in their treatment and tone.

A simple word count showed Gillard spoke for 65% of her interview with O’Brien. Turnbull spoke for 77% of his interview with Sales. Sales even apologised for asking a question Turnbull might ‘find offensive’ and then again said sorry for cutting him off. Soft doesn’t even come close to describing this cringe-worthy excuse for journalism. But it gets worse. Check out the word clouds of both interviews and see if you notice the same thing I did.

Here is Gillard’s interview, where the most used words were obviously Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. So the main topic of the interview were Gillard’s villainous replacement of Rudd.

Now here is Turnbull’s interview.

Can you see what is missing amongst all the positive words? Yep, that’s right. The word Abbott. You can do a Where’s Wally search for it if you like, but I’ll save you the trouble and tell you it appeared twice in the interview. Hardly there at all. Abbott’s already gone and the media aren’t dwelling on the part Turnbull played in his demise. Unlike Gillard, who had to put up with the media’s obsession with the Rudd leadership spill throughout her entire tenure as Prime Minister, even after she went straight to an election to prove her legitimacy in the role. Yet Abbott has been erased and shiny-Turnbull-with-a-sly-grin has got off scot-free. See what I mean about same story but very different treatment? How do you even begin to explain this other than to say Labor is always bashed by the media, and the Liberals always excused? Sadly this is the only explanation that makes sense.

322 thoughts on “The Same But Different . . .”

  4. Whatever else Leigh was last night she was also obsequious and fawning. Some might call that sluttish, given she is paid by the ABC which is funded by Waffles.

  5. Interesting how the image or myth of the Australian character of the rebelious larakin has been replaced by the obsequious servant. I will mark that one difference between any Labor leader who is “on par” politically with a LNP. leader, lacks that perceived..mark that ; “perceived” level of wealth and by association; authority that has come to be the most favoured status, most respected and aspired to by a nation of servants…of which the greater majority of LNP. voters are !

  6. A big and unexpected hello from hospital where I am bored witless. I had a small SCC removed from my forehead last Thursday and over the weekend the wound had some severe beeds and then this developed into a painfull and swelling infection down aroud my eye. I’m going to be in here for another two days at this stage.
    The Telstra Bedside gear here is very clunky and lacking in most useful functionalities.
    Rest assured the Dawn Patrol will return – albeit briefly until my next “adventure” on 2 October.

  10. BK,

    Sorry you are still locked up in hospital. Having gone through all this trauma over a simple ‘day surgery’ thingy, I reckon you are entitled to expect a speedy recovery from your shoulder repair procedure. Do take good care of yourself and best wishes for the days and weeks ahead.

  12. It really sickens me, this grovelling and crawling from the MSM. toward those in authority…I put it down to those smarmy “private school” MSM. graduates, that promote an almost unquestioned respect to authority and aspiration toward power by wealth, as against those public schools where I and many other larrikins got our schoolin’ from, where we had no respect for ANYBODY!…the unofficial school motto being ; “Fornicatum tutum !”..or something like that…and believe me when I say we tried our damnest to live up to that most inspiring of mottos.

    But on reading those transcripts above, it brought back to one the unfairness of the treatment of Julia Gillard and one wishes it could be corrected in a poetical justice way besides applying a sound horse-whipping to the culprits!..I don’t think i will forgive “Red Kerry”..to be now known as “Yellow Kerry”.

  13. BK

    Get well SOON ! I have discovered how much I need to have a coffee and a Dawn Patrol to start the day 🙂

  14. BK
    Best wishes. The dawn patrol is essential daily reading, so we need you back in full flight. I assume your don’t have Sky News at bed end to give you a chuckle. I just watched young Wyatt Roy – young enough to be a grandson – talk knowledgeably and intelligently about innovation and technology. At his age, he makes Abbott seem like an irrelevant and ignorant old fogey.

  15. I wonder if it is a conservative ‘thang’ or the Aussie Libs copied this ? Sure sounds like Tones’ jihad to remove any trace of Rudd and Gillard and his preparedness to trash any convention.

    Watched a piece about a notorious meeting of senior Republican pollies held on the day of Obama’s inauguration. There they decided to block everything and work to ensure the Obama presidency would leave no legacy. A comment was made that the conservatives have success because they have an aim and are prepared to break any rule to get there.

  16. Al Palster,

    Well what can you expect, abbott is an irrelevant and ignorant old fogey and a thug to boot! On the other hand, Truffles is a toffy nosed git who thinks he is more knowledgeable and streets above the rest of us.

  17. Excellent – will Brough be the cause of Turnbull’s failure? We can hope.

    Malcolm Turnbull’s Ashbygate albatross: Special Minister Mal Brough lies again
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/malcolm-turnbulls-ashbygate-albatross-new-minister-mal-brough-lies–again,8185

    Brough walking into the leadership vote with Turnbull. Brough made Special Minister of State by a grateful Turnbull. Brough throwing his weight around within hours of being sworn in. All this, and yet Brough really should be in gaol not in parliament.

    Either Turnbull’s judgement is even worse than we thought, if that’s possible, or Brough has something really, really incriminating on Turnbull.

  19. Even more –

    Mal Brough’s attack on crossbench could cost Malcolm Turnbull Senate success

    NSW crossbencher David Leyonhjelm branded Mr Brough’s threats a “brain fart”, warning that the crossbench would go to war against the government if its existence was threatened – most likely in a deal between the Coalition and the Greens to abolish the group voting ticket

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mal-broughs-attack-on-crossbench-could-cost-malcolm-turnbull-senate-success-20150922-gjsdji.html

    Those damned Greens again……..

  20. Al Palster
    As it happens i do have Sky News and did see Wyatt Roy. Yesterday I say both Turnbull and shorten in live long form sessions and couldn’t help but make the comparison to the pathetic and gutless performances by Abbott. Here i hospital i have heard many unsolcited commnts of reief that Abbot s now out of he picture.

  21. Al Palster

    I saw that interview and Young Roy Boy did indeed come across well. He may be in the “wrong” party but he gives hope that not all the LibNats are troglodytic dinosaurs.

  22. ” Wyatt Roy, Australia’s youngest minister, says action needed to stop flight of entrepreneurs”…coupled with Andrew Robb trying to bring people INTO the country and Wyatt trying to stop them leaving,,could young Wyatt be considered : “Robb’s Roy” ?

  25. Someone will have to talk to Young Master Roy, it just won’t do having a Liberal talking sense. Makes the rest of them look even dumber.

  27. Hey, Leone…Don’t knock those Shorten zingers..one day someone will collect them in a book…like ; “The Wit of Whitlam”…: ” I’m Zingin’ in the Reign”..by Bill Shorten.

  30. BK

    Glad to hear you’re recouping nicely, sorry you have to go through this hassle. One thing, it gets you out of all those must do chores your OH has waiting.

  36. Here’s what I think of the NBN. “Promise”…I put this up on our community blog.

    ” The “Find out more about” meeting on the 16th Sept’ at Cambrai Council Chambers between the ; NBN. / Telstra / Local Govt.’

    I was in the “audience” as both observer and consumer of the Broadband Promise…I say “promise” , because that is what it was..a pledge to deliver 25MB/s. To every home by 2020.

    Let me just make an observation here about one of our near neighbours , “across the ditch” ; New Zealand, who I believe, still mainly produce, package and export butter and other dairy products, get Broadband coverage of ..wait for it..from between 200MB/s. – 1GB/s. ..??

    But we are told we WILL…not ARE…but will, (it’s a promise., remember..not a reality) get a whopping 25MB/s..because THAT , it appears , is all we will need..after all. WE are not making that much butter any more, since it seems we outsource our total manufacturing industries to the cheapest provider..Thank you LNP.

    So let’s break down that meeting a tad..:

    Basically, there were four “players” in the room..1) NBN. corp’ ; the owner or the product. 2) Telstra ; once the owner, now the retailer of the product ie; another ISP (Internet Service Provider). 3) Local Govt’ representative..; the liason / customer between US; the constituents, the ISP. Provider and the NBN. 4) WE, the people.

    The NBN. Corp’ gave a power point presentation of what , where and when they will (see that ; “will” again) deliver that 25MB/s to one of three mixes in the area.
    1) Fibre to the premises / node ?
    2) Fixed wireless via selectively placed towers in proportion to population.
    3) Saterlite to the sparsely populated areas.

    Telstra , now reduced to little more than a ISP (internet service provider), delivered a mostly sales pitch about how THEY will (“will”)deliver to us ; the customer a superior service depending on your location, YOUR capacity with up to date tech’ equipment to be able to use that capacity . Townies , of course will be preferred. BUT..you can purchase these new, you-beaut products that will enhance your reception.

    I will note here that there was conciliatory admission of the problem with “punching” transmission reception through the many thick limestone walls of these regional homes..hence the need for the customer to wander around the house and property to get mobile reception . On this point, allow me a degree of levity if I point out that The Vatican , with it’s limestone walls at least 10 feet thick, has not deprived The Pope, for at least a thousand years, the capacity to receive daily instruction from God through, I presume , a sort of “Royal Telephone”!…a delivery system with apparently so much more power that the NBN.

    Local Govt’ and We the people can , I accept be bracketed in the one group on the subject : “What you see is what you will (“will” ) get” customer. In this age of the so-called “Free Market”, the one element of the equation that seems to always get over looked is the most important one..; The Customer….they , if the providers care to reflect are the reason the product is produced..THEY are the reason it will grow and become successful..if ..IF..the product is as good as promised and not just another crappy “just in time technology” that will have to be stitched and patched and band-aided over because of the ideological differences that demand a second rate product…Because, if we recall, under a Labor govt’ (and it can’t be either overlooked or denied!) the expectation from the original NBN. was fibre to the premises for every home in Aust’ except where physically unrealistic or impossible…but then with the LNP. govt’ the whole idea of a government owned enterprise was anathema to the ideology of the “free-market” principles of the LNP. and it’s succulents..so the NBN. was fractured, dissected, slaughtered to deliver what now looks like a dog’s breakfast of ; Multi mix, multi dates, multi ISP. Contracts and god knows when delivery with a MAX’ of 25MB/s!

    In the end, I saw the whole exercise of the Information Day as a kind of “soft-sell” ..more of a reassurance that “it will come, it will come”..like the second coming and YOU will benefit ( there’s more “wills” in these promises than you’d find in the locked safe of any retirement village) ..But I will take a moment to make a sort of futurist observation..: In this high-tech’ shrinking world, I shouldn’t imagine it would be too difficult in the near future for a pirate broadband spectrum deliverer to broadcast from some inner-space platform, say; a all-weather balloon in the stratosphere or whatever, in another country’s air space , a broadband service to any who would like to hook-up and by-pass the local product for a “Better, Faster, Cheaper” broadband service..now wouldn’t THAT put the kybosh on things!

    I leave the rest of the guessing to you, after all, you got till 2020. “

  39. Geezuz, Kaffee’…that really is 70’s gear he wearin’ …and those shades!!…great rocker though.

  40. jaycee423

    Watching Sky recently, I pay ONLY for the rugger buggery, Newscorpse have started pushing heavily their satellite/wireless internet service. Another part of why they want and so far have given us Fraudband.

  41. jaycee423

    Still remember my teenage fashion crimes in the ;70s . Uber flares and platform shoes . Lordy I wish I had photos of it.

    ELO’s mix of mix of classic and modern instrument probably primed me for Apocalyptica. Quite a spin out to see the huge crowd of young uns crowd surfing to a cello quartet.

  42. Have to have a giggle at the “outrage” over the CFMEU. official dumping all the “evidence” before the TURC. could get their hands on it!….ARE THEY KIDDING??…we all know this isn’t a royal commission to find corruption, it’s a star-chamber to bust the unions…IT’S A WAR!..and with any war, ; all’s fair.

    After all, we never see a Union orchestrated “court”, with a Union appointed “judge” hearing evidence against the business community…no..it’s always the “Old School Tie Brigade” , graduated from the private schools and higher education alma maters who get the gig to be the judge…always the upper middle-class who make the rules and enforce THEIR mores…

    This is a war against the workers of the nation and whatever ruse, evasions or subterfuge the unions use, could be justified under the Red Flag rules of conflict!

    ONYA!; CFMEU!

  44. jaycee423

    Don’t worry, Kaff’…someone has…someone has…

    I jealously protect my long expired 1978 passport. It has photographic evidence that once upon a time I had flowing locks of hair. Something that disappeared in a remarkably short time after that 🙂

    Give me a head with Hair.
    Long beautiful Hair.
    Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen.
    Give me down to there Hair.
    Shoulder length or longer Hair.
    Here baby, there Mama.
    Everywhere Daddy Daddy Hair.

  47. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-22/nrn-water-and-ag/6794704

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/22/malcolm-turnbulls-coup-against-abbott-set-off-civil-war-in-news-corp-australia

    http://www.crikey.com.au/2015/08/05/rundle-why-the-oz-has-abandoned-bolt-and-the-populist-right/ this Rundle article from August, now outside the paywall, is well worth reading given the latest Oz vs Bolt fight

    http://theleveller.org/2015/09/british-really-laughing/

    http://s-usih.org/2015/09/the-brideshead-generation.html

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bullingdon-club-initiation-ceremony-claim-1725912

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/world/asia/malaysias-leader-najib-razak-faces-us-corruption-inquiry.html

  48. There is absolutely no doubt that Bill’s Best and Mal’s Mob will take very different policies to the next election.

    (If Mal lasts that long).

  49. So, so dumb – forgot to check for cameras before stealing an election sign, Works for Dutton. Enough said.

    Media adviser for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton found guilty of stealing election sign of Labor candidate for Kallangur Shane King in January State election campaign
    http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/moreton/media-adviser-for-immigration-minister-peter-dutton-found-guilty-of-stealing-election-sign-of-labor-candidate-for-kallangur-shane-king-in-january-state-election-campaign/story-fni9r1i7-1227538704270

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