Alan Jones to be retrained and his radio broadcasts monitored and fact-checked by 2GB

The Australian Communications and Media Authority media release, 18 October 2012:

2GB acts to fix accuracy and present significant viewpoints

Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, the licensee of Sydney radio station 2GB, has agreed to overhaul its processes to ensure reasonable efforts are made to verify facts and present significant viewpoints in its current affairs programs.
2GB conducted a review of its compliance processes following ACMA investigations which found breaches of the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice. The breaches occurred during segments of programs presented by Alan Jones broadcast on 15 March 2011 [2597, 2614 & 2636 - PDF 565 kb] (accuracy) and on 8 and 11 February 2010 [2540 - DOC 1.1 mb] (accuracy and presentation of significant viewpoints).
The review found that 2GB had some fact-checking and verification procedures in place. However, it also highlighted shortcomings in programs hosted by Alan Jones, namely:

• Additional confirmation of accuracy and attribution may be required where the production team (and Alan Jones) source factual material from third parties or other non-media sources.
• The editorial pieces, the subject of the ACMA investigations, did not involve the wider production team.
• There are occasions when a controversial issue of public importance will be the subject of editorial and opinion comment on programs hosted by Alan Jones without any presentation of other significant viewpoints on any other 2GB current affairs program.

To address these issues, 2GB has proposed a series of measures which the ACMA has accepted. A summary of those measures is set out below.
2GB has also improved its electronic complaints system and recently appointed a new program director to oversee its processes following complaints-handling breaches in programs broadcast on 29 and 30 June 2011 and 6, 11 and 12 July 2011 [2674 & 2717 - PDF 205 kb].

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Emma Rossi, Media Manager, (02) 9334 7719 and 0434 652 063 or media@acma.gov.au.

---

Attachment

Summary of 2GB agreed measures–accuracy and presentation of significant viewpoints

New measures applying to programs hosted by Alan Jones Pre-broadcast fact-checking by the program’s executive producer of any material provided by non-media sources or third parties which may require additional confirmation and attribution. Creation and retention (for at least six weeks) of records of the verification material sourced by the executive producer for the facts contained in the editorial piece. Identification by the executive producer of controversial issues of public importance that are not covered by other 2GB current affairs programs. Communication of these exceptions to 2GB’s program director who will then be responsible to ensure that another current affairs program presents an alternative, significant viewpoint to that presented in the program hosted by Alan Jones so that 2GB can discharge its obligations under the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice. Creation and retention of records by the program director for the above steps.

New measures applying to all news and current affairs programs The program director will conduct random checks of daily broadcasts for each of the programs and will record the details of the controversial issues of public importance canvassed in the program. The program director will also record the reasonable efforts made/opportunities that have been given by the relevant programs to present significant alternative viewpoints. Training will be conducted (including with Alan Jones) focussing on the ACMA’s findings concerning factual accuracy and significant viewpoints. The training will be completed by the end of November 2012.

"The Northern Rivers has once again cemented its reputation as the heartland of the anti-coal seam gas movement in Australia"

 

'well, it's going to happen anyway'
NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure 

October 2012

 

How the media saw NSW North Coast concerns in the face of a relentless O’Farrell Government push to mine our land…

 

The Daily Examiner 10 October 2012:

 

Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson said yesterday that his position on Coal Seam Gas has not changed since he voted to pass a moratorium saying he will not support the Coal Seam gas industry until some key issues are cleared up.

"Until there are clear land use policies and the water aquifer policy is adopted Clarence Valley Council will not support the CSG industry," he said.

"We have also asked that any CSG activity on Council land or any application for CSG on Council land be reported and Council be able to consider it."

 

Northern Rivers Echo 11 October 2012:

 

LISMORE City Council approved a motion presented by Cr Simon Clough to request the NSW State Government to revoke all licences for exploration and production from the Lismore City Local Government area.

The motion was for Council to send a letter to the NSW Premier, NSW Minister for Planning, NSW Minister for Local Government and the North Coast, Page MP Janelle Saffin, and Lismore MLA Thomas George to express "its deep concern over the recently introduced Strategic Regional Land Use package"….

 

ABC North Coast NSW 13 October 2012:

 

The Northern Rivers has once again cemented its reputation as the heartland of the anti-coal seam gas movement in Australia.

Organisers of a rally and concert today say about 4000 people marched through the streets of Murwillumbah in opposition to coal seam gas.

 

My Daily News 13 October 2012:

 

Murwillumbah CSG protest stops town in its tracks

 

 

The Northern Star 15 October 2012:

 

ORGANISERS of the Rock the Gate rally, march and concert on Saturday got the 3000-plus they wanted out against coal seam gas and to mark the start of a Lock the Gate Alliance national week of action against the industry.

They had come from all parts of the Northern Rivers and beyond to the Murwillumbah Showground in solidarity and song, in a show of people power which included another blocks-long march through the central business district of a Northern Rivers centre.

You are cordially invited to a local government lynching on October 16 at 4pm. Dress casual. No RSVP required.

 

The Daily Examiner 17 October 2012:

 

THERE were tears and hugs in the public gallery at 7pm last night when Clarence Valley councillor Karen Toms was cleared of breaching the council's code of conduct.

It took councillors three hours, one of which was spent in private, to finally put an end to accusations the elected representative had acted wrongly in her dealings with a party that had held a contract for local swimming pools.

Two parties, the names of which were not revealed, complained Cr Toms breached the code of conduct by contacting a contractor….

About an hour later, Cr Margaret McKenna's recommendation that the council determine Cr Toms made no breach of the code of conduct and that the council review the report and procedures was supported by Crs Toms, Simmons, Challacombe and Baker with Crs Williamson, Howe, Hughes and Kingsley voting against….

 

What this newspaper report does not say is that more than a few local residents had a strong impression that a number of Clarence Valley shire councillors and senior council management thought that they had come together at the ordinary monthly meeting on 16 October 2012 to conduct a quick public lynching.

 

Three hours later this little noose party was in disarray and those watching from the ‘public gallery’ had heard concerns raised about the reliability of the contents of a 132 page confidential report for council's eyes only, due process, natural justice and a possible conflict of interest existing for some of those involved in consideration of Item 13.180/12 Conduct Review Committee.

 

All in all – a painful three hours for Cr. Toms and her family and a testing time for the newly-elected council.

NSW Police accused of lying about Cansdell case

The Sydney Morning Herald 13 October 2012:

THE lawyer for the woman who blew the whistle on the disgraced former MP Steve Cansdell for falsifying a statutory declaration has accused police of threatening her and then lying about their reasons for not pursuing charges against him.

He is also calling for an independent inquiry into the way police have handled the case.

Mr Cansdell, who was parliamentary secretary for police, resigned from State Parliament in September last year after admitting to signing a false statutory declaration that an aide, Kath Palmer, was driving when he was caught speeding in 2005.

On Wednesday NSW police issued a statement saying they would not pursue charges as the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions said there were not reasonable prospects of a conviction for a federal offence. It noted that Ms Palmer ''declined to be interviewed by officers''.

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But Ms Palmer's solicitor, Mark Spagnolo, said yesterday the statement was ''a lie''. In an email to police on October 19 last year, seen by the Herald, Mr Spagnolo said while Ms Palmer declined to be formally interviewed she would make an ''induced statement'' which would protect her from prosecution.

Mr Spagnolo said this was because the investigator, Detective Peter O'Reilly, had earlier told him police were considering charging Ms Palmer with ''perverting the course of justice'' for her part in the false statutory declaration.

Mr Spagnolo said Detective O'Reilly rejected the offer of an induced statement.

According to a file note made by Mr Spagnolo, Detective O'Reilly said ''he did not have to go down that path as Mr Cansdell was going to, using his words, throw his hands up to the matter and therefore as Kath made it public in the newspapers the police will be investigating charges of her''.

Yesterday Mr Spagnolo said Ms Palmer felt ''completely wronged'' and called for an independent investigation.

''After having the courage to blow the whistle on a member of Parliament who was also a parliamentary secretary for the police, my client was threatened by the police with charges of perverting the course of justice,'' he said. ''She was devastated by the fact that going public to report on a politician who was prepared to swear a false statutory declaration and lie to save his driver's licence led her to face the threat of criminal charges''.

Mr Spagnolo said that ''the message from the police is, put in a politician linked to the police by his office for falsifying documents and we will charge you.''

A police spokesman said Ms Palmer was offered a formal interview under caution ''but this was declined''…..

The Australian Parliament is about to live in even more interesting times

The Australian Parliament is about to live in even more interesting times and the new Speaker's mettle will be repeatedly tested, as Abbott & Co. inevitably seek to take a wrecking ball to parliamentary practice in their pursuit of the Gillard Government now that the Independent Member for Dobell is before the court.

The Sydney Morning Herald 15^th October 2012:

“ Fair Work Australia has begun court proceedings against federal MP Craig Thomson over his alleged use of union credit cards to pay for prostitutes.

The national industrial umpire today lodged its claims against the former Labor MP turned independent in the Federal Court.

Mr Thomson faces civil action over a range of offences. As well as the unauthorised use of union credit cards to pay for prostitutes, the claim covers cash advances totalling more than $102,337.45.

FWA is seeking to fine Mr Thomson for these alleged misdeamenours and others, and the repayment of the funds…….”
Statement of Claim in FWA v Thomson here.

West Yamba subdivision questioned

Clarence valley residents and the environmental group Valley Watch continue to ring alarm bells in relation to a proposed subdivision in West Yamba.

Today's Daily Examiner reports: Valley Watch member Ros Woodward said she was disappointed to see the development go through without proper consideration for the sensitive natural environment around it.

"West Yamba could be an example to the world of how to develop sustainably with a small footprint in a very sensitive area, but I am afraid all they can envisage is slab houses on great big mounds," Ms Woodward said.

A submission [to Clarence Valley Council] from Valley Watch raised concerns about how sewage would be dealt with in the development and how practical the filling solution was in the area.

Also in the Examiner is a letter to the editor addressing the issue:

DA concern

It is with a sense of foreboding that I notice that once again council will consider on Tuesday a subdivision on Carrs Drive, West Yamba. This time the proposal is for 15 lots instead of 22, but fundamental problems of sewerage, fill and truck movements remain.

Since Maclean Shire Council endorsed in November 2003 the recommendations of the Yamba Wastewater Management Strategy, the community has been told regularly that development of West Yamba will not go ahead until the sewage treatment works are upgraded. One reason for this was that dual reticulation - a key element of the strategy - was only feasible on a greenfield site. Now we learn that on-site wastewater systems (that is, septic tanks) are proposed for the subdivision in spite of the Zone 1(y) objective that the land be connected to reticulated sewerage. Onsite sewage treatment in a flood-prone area is a major concern, but of even greater concern is the likelihood that this subdivision will make dual reticulation difficult or impossible for the future.

Dual reticulation (that is, use of high quality recycled water for toilet flushing, garden watering and car washing) will substantially reduce the amount of drinking-quality water being used - an important consideration given Yamba's growing population and an increasing risk of below average rainfall, higher temperatures and evaporation, and below average runoff, according to the CSIRO. Its implementation cannot be put at risk by a 15-lot subdivision.

Then there is the matter of the fill necessary for the site. There are 15 lots in this proposal, but the Flood Plain Risk Management Plan recommends that key services remain operable during times of flood up to at least the 100 year +0.5m level - that is 3.24 metres AHD. The height of land in West Yamba at present is between 1.0 metres and 1.5 metres. To fill it to 3.24 m AHD to allow key services to remain operable will take over 12,000 twenty-tonne truckloads a year for about nine years. (Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study, Webb, McKeown and Associates Pty Ltd, July 2008)

One has to ask what the impact of this traffic will be on our roads and bridges. A twenty-tonne truck crossing Shallow Channel every six minutes is a scary thought!

If Yamba wants to remain a desirable tourist destination it cannot afford to have its one road in and out of town clogged with trucks.

Gary Whale, Yamba

Christopher Pyne attempts to rewrite Abbott history

 

Christian politicians cannot check their faith into the parliamentary cloakroom and be otherwise indistinguishable from everyone else…

Why isn’t the fact that 100,000 women choose to end their pregnancies regarded as a national tragedy…

[Tony Abbott on THE ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHRISTIAN POLITICIAN March 2004]

 

Mr Abbott had hoped to encourage a private member's bill on what he termed the "epidemic" of abortion, and was advocating an inquiry.

[The Age 1 February 2005]

 

Given the recent public debate on Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott’s attitude to women, there was an interesting ABC TV Q&A exchange between the Labor Minister for Employment Participation and the Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare and the Liberal Shadow Education Minister and Manager of Opposition Business on Monday 8 October 2012:

 

KATE ELLIS: Well, I just think if you want to talk about his record and if you want to talk about his record as Health Minister, I think we should talk about his record over a number of decades. But if you want to talk about when he was Health Minister, why don’t you talk about the way he restricted access to RU 486 for Australian women across the country because his religious views did not agree with that. Let’s talk about that because is his record...

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: No, he restricted it...

KATE ELLIS: That is his record and he had to be overruled by the parliament when we voted in a conscience vote because, as Health Minister, he refused to do it.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Actually the Department of Health's advice, Kate, because I was the Parliamentary Secretary for Health at the time with responsibility for the Therapeutic Goods Administration, was that RU 486 was and is a dangerous drug and the recommendation is it should not be approved for use in Australia.

 

Apparently Christopher Pyne would have us believe that when he was the Federal Minister for Health in the Howard Government, Tony Abbott was opposing the introduction of this drug based on advice received from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

 

However, this is what Tony Abbott is reported to have said in January 2006:

 

"This use of the drug is sufficiently controversial, if you like - there are sufficient public interest issues involved - for the added accountability of a ministerial decision to be part of that process," Mr Abbott told the Nine Network.

While this is what he wrote himself on 6 February 2006:

 

The abortion pill is too risky to leave to medical officials, argues Health Minister Tony Abbott.  In 1996, the ederal [sic] parliament decided that decisions about abortion drugs were too important to be made by unelected, unaccountable officials…. The parliament decided that it was not just the science of abortion drugs that mattered but the circumstances surrounding their use. Experts can explain fads [sic] but politicians then have to resolve the values that are to be placed on those facts to the satisfaction of a democratic electorate. The parliament decided that ministers rather than bureaucrats should have the final say on these drugs’ availability because polilicians [sic] are accountable for their actions in a way that officials are not….

So far no application to use RU486 has been finalised by the TGA for ministerial consideration.  

 

On 15  February 2006 this is what Abbott as Federal Health Minister told the Australian Parliament:

 

I suppose this is why I pose the question to him and others: why does he trust the head of the TGA, whom he does not know and cannot question, to make these decisions, rather than a minister whom he does know and can question and apparently trusts? I have great respect for the officers of the TGA, but I simply pose the question: why should the head of the TGA, a person whose name would not even be known to most of the members of this House and who has never given an interview, be responsible for making decisions on some of the most fraught questions facing our society, rather than being responsible for simply providing expert advice?.....

So the big issue is not RU486 but what can be done to ensure that the women of Australia have real freedom of choice. That is why I am so pleased that the cabinet will shortly be considering new support for pregnant women facing very difficult decisions.

I believe that, in essence, this private member’s bill before us is a political statement by its sponsors that there should be no external restrictions or controls on abortion whatsoever. I think that society should not be indifferent to the fate of up to 100,000 unborn babies every year, and it will not always remain as indifferent as it currently seems. At the very least, this debate has at least focused attention on how, in this respect, our nation falls so very far short of its best self.

 

By 14 October 2012, under siege for his sexist views, his position had changed according to The Advocate:

 

A spokesman for Mr Abbott responded that ''administration of RU486, as with other drugs, is a matter for the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Coalition will not change that''.

 

Or has it? Do we have this change of heart in writing?

Too Late Mate! or Who's trying to protect Abbott from himself?

  Mr Onthemoon ‏@firstdogonmoon

Interesting that someone went to Sydney Uni Library and cut everything Tony Abbott wrote from old copies of student newspaper honi soit 

15th October 2012

Too funny for words! The horse has long bolted when it comes to Tony Abbot's early forays into print.

Letters originally posted at The Sydney Institute

Christian Kerr thinks Twitter has girl germs and therefore tweeters' opinions don't count

 

 

http://video.theaustralian.com.au/2289902086/Gallery-1-Twitter-0

The Australian newspaper's Christian Kerr gives his opinion

Apparently the latest excuse for dismissing any support for the Australian Prime Minister's 9 October 2012 speech is the perceived failings of social media.

It would appear that Twitter doesn't count as a serious reflection of community attitudes because it is supposedly peopled by women with an average age of 28 years, who use an iPhone, have a propensity to like the colour purple and a small online following of about 280 other tweeters, according to male journalist Christian Kerr aka "Colonel Walter Kurtz" * * aka "Hillary Bray".

Kerr has obviously never read the Beevolve study of 36 million Twitter users he is quoting, because it was careful to point out that Only 0.45% of Twitter users disclose their age and those who do are predominately in the younger age groups - therefore the data here is skewed towards the younger demographic.

Further, the study was only able to determine gender for ~66% of the 36 million Twitter users because Gender information is not readily available on a Twitter user profile.

As 70% of twitter users also didn’t have their bio specified, to differentiate gender the survey guessed using account names, avatars and whatever else could be casually gleaned and, we all know that names and avatars are often used as a running gag and frequently don't reflect true gender.

When it comes to Kerr's fascination with colour, it should be pointed out that of those whose gender was either confirmed or guessed at,  22.1 per cent of female tweeters preferred the colour purple and 36.1 percent of males preferred a steel grey hue. However, calculations exclude the default twitter profile colors, so even these percentages are suspect.

Yes, world wide A twitter user on average has 208 followers, but as this survey apparently counts the 25% of Twitter users who have never tweeted all those zeros skew this average.

Additionally, as this was a commercial marketing potential survey, it did not create a category for tweets with political content, so Kerr can have no real idea of the average global profile of those tweeting about Gillard's speech.

So basically, Christian Kerr has decided on very little evidence that political tweets tend to be ferociously partisan (presumably excluding those from the many representatives of mainstream media found on this social platform) and are probably infected with girl germs. Which means that these can easily be dismissed if they don't agree with his assessment of any issue.

But what if Kerr was right to suggest that support for the Prime Minister was being driven by a Twitterverse dominated by women? Why does either the social platform or a tweeter's gender make this support any less legitimate? Ah, yes - it would be because the gender in question is female.

** You’re a little c***, but as someone who’s worked as either a pressie or political advisor for two federal cabinet ministers and a state premier, I’ve got to say that I firmly believe your site was crucial to Saturday’s outcome.
[Quote from a Hotmail allegedly sent by "Colonel Walter Kurtz"]

Cathy Stoner gets caught out and shut down

The Sunday Telegraph 14 October 2012

Unfortunately for Cathy Stoner, it is harder to eradicate tweets than she originally thought.

Here is an example of the last 401 still on record at http://topsy.com/twitter/cathystoner?nohidden=1&page=1 

and, at the time of writing her Twitter Pics were still online at http://www.twicsy.com/i/pzLCE. 

Although www.cathystoner.com/ is now hidden behind a blank pink screen.

cathystoner CathyStoner

@OakeyMP you have abused the trust of all who supported you +your constituents. You were put there for a reason. God will not be mocked.

4 days ago Reply Retweet Favorite 8

cathystoner CathyStoner

@elissa1987 isn't it disgraceful? They clearly think we are stupid.

4 days ago Reply Retweet Favorite

cathystoner CathyStoner

How does Michelle Obama, who is a member of Emily's list, say God Bless and mean it..

5 days ago Reply Retweet Favorite 2

Janelle Saffin MP urges late submissions to state inquiry into the adequacy of water storages in New South Wales

From A Clarence Valley Protest.

Letter to the Editor in The Daily Examiner 6 October 2012:

Not A Drop still holds water

I have noticed a growing number of correspondents expressing concern about the Clarence River, specifically about those who would dam it and divert our water inland or to Queensland.

I reiterate my rock solid commitment to 'Not A Drop', the slogan we all adopted from The Daily Examiner's highly successful 2007 campaign against such moves.

I simply will not allow it, and the Australian Government, as expressed many times through the Leader of the House Anthony Albanese in Federal Parliament, will not allow it.

I wanted to put this firm policy stance on the public record again, for the benefit of people among us who have moved to the Clarence Valley in recent times.

I am sure that these new residents will be surprised and shocked to hear that many vested interests have tried this on for years.

I have urged locals to make submissions to the NSW Legislative Council's Standing Committee on State Developments' current inquiry into the adequacy of water storages in New South Wales.

While the closing date for submissions was August 31, the inquiry is prepared to take late submissions for another six weeks. They can be emailed to statedevelopment@parliament.nsw.gov.au

The primary contact is Cathryn Cummins on 02 9230 3528. I understand the inquiry will hold further publics hearings in Wagga Wagga and Sydney in November and possibly more hearings early next year.

One thing I can be sure of is that there will be some of the regulars who want to raid our water supply - the mighty Clarence.

I call them the River Raiders; they seek every and all opportunity to lay claim to our river.

I thought it was a big worry when the NSW National Party's 2008 State Conference resolved to "support greater efforts to reduce the amount of eastern water lost to the ocean and campaign for more in-depth investigations into finding ways to turn this water inland." - Tweed Daily News, June 16, 2008.

I urge Clarence Valley residents to be watchful of anyone who would have designs on tampering with our most precious natural resource - water.

Janelle Saffin MP

Federal Member for Page

O'Farrell, Stoner, Cansdell, NSW DPP and Police set a dangerous precedent

The Daily Examiner 12 October 2012:

AN ASSOCIATE Professor of Law says the NSW Government's decision not to pursue charges against former Clarence MP Steve

Cansdell sets a dangerous precedent.

Associate Professor Sam Garkawe from the Southern Cross University School of Law said the outcome of the Cansdell case eroded the credibility of a statutory declaration as a legal document.

"I think it does set a very bad precedent and I would suspect the State and the Commonwealth will get their heads together to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again," he said.

"It seems as though he has got off on a technicality where he has wrongly signed a Commonwealth stat dec when he should have signed a NSW stat dec."

Assoc Prof Garkawe said without seeing all the evidence it was difficult to comment on specifics, but he believed Mr Cansdell had still committed an offence under Commonwealth law……

Sexism: a little context for the mainstream media **WARNING OFFENSIVE IMAGE**

Thousands of words have been generated since 9 October 2012 concerning the Australian Prime Minister's speech to the Leader of the Opposition's motion in the House of Representatives.

A surprising number of these involved the notion that the immediately positive reaction to this speech was because people had either seen it on the news or Youtube stripped of its context.

Some journalists have also openly sought to define this support as not representing the majority view of the general public or of women. Others have sought to denigrate social media platforms carrying expressions of support, on the grounds that women use them.

Leaving aside the fact that many people knew the immediate political context because they regularly tune into parliamentary television and radio broadcasts/podcasts, this assumption that the only legitimate context was the Opposition's move to dismiss The Speaker is a rather odd one.

Women in Australia have been living the present and historical context, that the publicly expressed attitudes and behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition and certain other parliamentarians represent, all their lives.

So for the benefit of the Canberra Press Gallery and assorted others........

Australian Bureau of Statistics:

Letters of Note blog:

Transcript (1963)

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
MINUTE PAPER

THE DIRECTOR:

WOMEN TRADE COMMISSIONERS?

Even after some deliberation, it is difficult to find reasons to support the appointment of women Trade Commissioners.

In countries where publicity media is well developed, such as North America and England and where there are no other major drawbacks, such as the Islamic attitude towards women, a relatively young attractive woman could operate with some effectiveness, in a subordinate capacity. As she would probably be the only woman Assistant Trade Commissioner in the whole area, as other countries employ women in this capacity hardly at all, she could attract a measure of interest and publicity.

If we had an important trade in women’s clothing and accessories, a woman might promote this more effectively than a man.

Even conceding these points, such an appointee would not stay young and attractive for ever and later on could well become a problem.

It is much easier to find difficulties, some of which spring to mind are:-

(i) Women are not employed, except to an extremely minor degree, as career Trade Commissioners in any known service;

(ii) It is difficult to visualise them as Trade Commissioners, firstly because they could not mix nearly as freely with businessmen as men do. Most mens clubs, for instance, do not allow women members;

(iii) Relationships with businessmen would tend to be somewhat formal and guarded on both sides. This would make it more difficult for a woman to obtain information;

(iv) It is extremely doubtful if a woman could, year after year, under a variety of conditions, stand the fairly severe strains and stresses, mentally and physically, which are part of the life of a Trade Commissioner;

(v) A man normally has his household run efficiently by his wife, who also looks after much of the entertaining. A woman Trade Commissioner would have all this on top of her normal work;

(vi) If we engaged single graduates as trainees, most of them would probably marry within five years;

(vii) If we recruited from the business world, we would have a much smaller field from which to recruit, as the number of women executives in business is quite small;

(viii) A spinster lady can, and very often does, turn into something of a battleaxe with the passing years. A man usually mellows;

(ix) A woman would take the place of a man and preclude us from giving practical experience to one male officer. She could marry at any time and be lost to us. she could not be regarded as a long term investment in the same sense as we regard a man.

CONCLUSION

It would seem that the noes have it.

(Signed)

(A. R. Taysom)

13th March, 1963.

P.S. I have since ascertained the following, which, it would seem, only serves to support the foregoing views -

Mr. H. W. Woodruff, U.K. Trade Commissioner:

They have a few women Trade Commissioners but only in capital city posts, for they have found that women cannot operate where contact with businessmen is necessary.

The women are fairly senior people from the U.K. Departments and presumably handle trade policy work only.

Mr. N. Parkinson, External Affairs:

Since their recruitments of trainees are made under the Public Service Act, there is no way of precluding women from applying and in fact, many more applications are received from women than from men. Some are chosen and all appointments are made on the basis of the quality of their educational achievements. About one woman is appointed to every twelve men. This year one out of sixteen, last year one out of twelve and the previous year, none.

They have to be trained for 18 months before going to their first post. The average marries within five years.

It is a very expensive process, but External Affairs lack courage to slam the door because of parliamentary opinion, pressure groups and so on.

(Signed)

(A. R. Taysom)

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Right Reverend Dr. Peter Hollingworth AC OBE (2002):

Describing the prolonged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl by the Anglican priest in charge of her boarding hostel in the 1950s: "There is no suggestion of rape or anything like that, quite the contrary. My information is rather that it is the other way around."

ABS National Personal Safety Survey (2005):

17% (1,293,100) of women experienced sexual assault compared to 4.8% (362,400) of men

4.6% (353,700) of women experienced sexual threat compared to 0.9% (69,500) of men

Cardinal George Pell (2005):

But female priests? Out of the question. "As Christians, we follow what Christ did, and he didn't appoint any women as apostles, or what we now call priests. So that's the way it is."

Sheik Hilali (2006):

"If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... without cover, and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's? The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab [the headdress worn by some Muslim women], no problem would have occurred."

 http://youtu.be/oHeDD9tnFw4 (2011)

News Ltd Cartoonist Larry Pickering's depiction of the Australian Prime Minister
found at Google Images (2012)

 Australian Government Equal Opportunity For Women In the Workplace Agency (2012):

The average 25 year old male will earn approximately $2.4 million over the next 40 years compared to $1.5 million for the average female. (AMP NATSEM 2009)
The gender pay gap is currently 17.5%.3 Despite small fluctuations over time, this figure remains virtually unchanged in almost 20 years; in fact, in 1994 the gap was smaller at 15.9%......
A study by NATSEM estimates ‘that 60% of the wage gap is due to either direct discrimination or other factors to do with being a woman.’ Another study that examined the gender pay gap among full-time managers in Australia found that between 70-90% of the gap could not be explained by personal and workforce factors such as employment experience, industry worked in and family situation. Rather, it suggests that as much as 70% of the gap is "simply due to … being female".

October 2012 lines from Twitter discussions on lived experience in Australia:

"You don't need an education but your brother does. All you're going to do is marry and have children."

Yeah, my uncle said this to me when I said I was going to go to uni...

& to my sister in the 80's.. A Respected Private Girls' School! She's a Judge in t UK Now

 yes this was said to lots of us girls of the sixties.

"You might notice that you'll be paid less than X for doing same job. He's a married man w children & you're single"

 I was told in the 80s by prospective employer I wouldn't want ft job as I had children.

Speaking of his son becoming a father: "I was so worried his first child would not be a boy."

And the friend who had 2 sons & said "At least I know I'm not firing blanks."

and the farms were left to the sons and never the daughters

When women on social media sent Julia Gillard's speech around the world, it was not because they didn't understand the political and societal context - it was that they understood it only too well. 

Light Up the Darkness Fundraiser for Mental Health, Yamba 3 November 2012

 

http://www.facebook.com/Lightupthedarknessformentalhealth

 

Light Up the Darkness Fundraiser for Mental Health to be held on Saturday 3rd November at 6.30pm at the Yamba Bowling Club. Tickets $50.00 each and can be purchased from the Bowling Club. Darren 'the gun' Flanaghan who was instrumental in freeing the trapped miners at Beaconsfield Mine in Tasmania 5 years ago is our special Guest Speaker. Please support us as we raise awareness for the need for a Mental Health Practitioner in the Lower Clarence.

Cansdellgate - the matter of 'bankruptcy'

Shortly after the latest news about former and disgraced MP for Clarence Steve Cansdell went into the public domain on Wednesday mention was made by a number of reputable sources about the bloke's bankruptcy. Now, it seems, any mention of bankruptcy was a big mistake.

ABC local radio aired an interview with Cansdell where he said,  "I've had probably the worst 12 months of my life, plus the bankruptcy, although things are getting better." [emphasis added]

Listen to the interview here.

However, the ABC website now reports Cansdell said, "I've had probably the worst 12 months of my life, close to bankruptcy, although things are getting better." [emphasis added]

Today's Daily Examiner carries a piece titled "Clarification". It states:

Former Clarence MP Steve Cansdell was quoted in yesterday's Daily Examiner as saying "I've had probably the worst 12 months of my life plus the bankruptcy although things are getting better." Mr Cansdell was referring to narrowly avoiding bankruptcy - he was never actually bankrupt during those 12 months. The Daily Examiner apologises for any confusion.

So, there you have it! Simple, isn't it?!

Was the former and disgraced MP loose with the truth when he spoke with ABC radio or was he simply bankrupt of good ideas? Perhaps, being a former pollie, he was simply appealing for more sympathy votes.

Image from forbes.com