Labor Green Loon Deputy PM takes Ray Hadley to Governments broadcasting Star Chamber

Ray Hadley won't apologise for calling Swan a liar and a boofhead
Andrew Clennell 
The Daily Telegraph
July 13, 2012 12:00AM

DEPUTY Prime Minister Wayne Swan has taken 2GB's Ray Hadley to the broadcasting watchdog over a tirade in which Mr Hadley accused him of being a "boofhead" and a liar.


Hadley last night said it was the first time he had been referred to the Australian Communications and Media Authority by a politician, and vowed he would not say sorry.


The furore erupted after a Hadley interview with shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey on June 25, following a Daily Telegraph report on a proposal to cut free bottled water and fruit to school groups visiting parliament. On June 26 The Daily Telegraph acknowledged its report was incorrect, as it was a draft proposal which had been rejected.


Hadley and Mr Hockey both laid into Mr Swan, after Mr Swan emailed media criticising the initial report and saying the cuts were not going ahead.

Labor's manic obsession with media control continues unabated. 

Mr Hockey called Mr Swan a liar and Hadley said: "I don't think he's lying, I just think he's a complete boofhead that didn't know what was happening." He also accused Mr Swan of lying before the election by saying claims there would be a carbon tax were "hysterically inaccurate".


Mr Swan's office contacted Hadley's program and demanded a retraction concerning the bottled water and snacks. Hadley says he did go to air with a correction the next day when he confirmed a decision had been made before the story was published not to proceed with the cuts.

Listen to it all.

Mr Swan's complaint to ACMA claims Hadley should have issued a correction and his program should have telephoned Mr Swan's office before the Hockey interview.


Hadley said last night: "They are trying to stifle debate in print (through proposals for media regulation), now he's trying to hop into the electronic media. I have been doing this for nearly 20 years . . . and to my knowledge no politician has gone to ACMA or the governing body looking for a remedy."


A spokesman for Mr Swan said the report was acknowledged as inaccurate by The Daily Telegraph and "it's important for its listeners that 2GB does the same".



News Ltd CEO Kim Williams vows to fight media censorship in the High Court if necessary


Jessica Leo
AdelaideNow
July 13, 20123:12PM


News Ltd CEO promises to fight proposed reforms
"Should be governed by the consumer, not governments"
Read the full speech here 




NEWS Limited CEO Kim Williams today said he would go to the High Court to protect Australia's freedom of speech.

Speaking at an SA Press Club luncheon in Adelaide, Mr Williams said the Australian media landscape should be governed by the consumer, not governments.


Taking aim at the Finkelstein and Convergence reviews that are currently before the Federal Government, Mr Williams stressed the importance of free speech - and said he would go to great lengths to protect that right.


He said he is prepared to take the matter to the High Court if the recommendations in the reviews are implemented.


In his first public exchange with media since being appointed late late last year, Mr Williams also pointed to a consumer-first model of journalism where the public should govern the news of the day.


"Consumers anoint the winners, not governments or regulators," he said.


Mr Williams also spoke about the increasing diversity of the Australian media landscape and defended the quality of the country's journalism.


The Convergence Review, released in April, outlined recommendations for the new Australian media landscape drawn from more than 340 written submissions and 28,000 comments from a consultation programme across the country.


Its goal was to address "shortcomings" in regulatory frameworks developed in the 1990s.


The Finkelstein Report, the end product of a Greens-led independent inquiry into media standards and ownership in Australia, called for the establishment of a News Media Council.


The proposed council would be a government-funded statutory body with power across all media to set standards for all journalists, including bloggers and owners of websites drawing more than 15,000 visitors a 

Cruel and Unusual Punishment inflicted upon Australian Olympian by the Australian Olympic Committee

Russell Mark takes aim at Australian officials after ban to stop him rooming with wife at London Olympics


Ben English
The Daily Telegraph
July 13, 201212:00AM


OLYMPIC gold medallist Russell Mark last night fired off an extraordinary broadside at Australian officials after he was banned from rooming with his fellow Olympian wife at the London Games.

Mark, a one-time gold medallist heading to his sixth Games, revealed he was told by officials earlier this month he would have to room instead with another former roommate and gold medallist, Michael Diamond.

Michael Diamond

Mark's wife Lauryn said the whole episode had thrown her Games preparations into disarray.


He said the Australian Olympic Committee had told him because accommodation was in a multi-room apartment format, it would be inappropriate for them to share with other athletes.


"The reason they gave was the bathroom sharing ratio would be breached. What a load of absolute rubbish."
As late as July 2, Mark received an email from Australian team chef de mission Nick Green telling him he would not be able to room with his spouse.


But the AOC last night said the pair would be able to room together after all.
"We will hand the keys to the shooting section when they get to the village," spokesman Mike Tancred said.


"If Shooting want to arrange accomodation where Russell and Lauryn can sleep together that's OK with us."


Mr Tancred said AOC sport director Erica de Jong had issued the directive to shooting section manager Nick Sullivan "about a week ago".


However, Mark said Sullivan had told him two days ago he was still rooming with Diamond.


"I think the AOC hasn't caught up with this," he said."It's disappointing because I have worked for the Olympic movement, either on the AOC athletes commision and the Victorian Olympic Council, for 16 years.


"I ask for one favour and it seems it's all forgotten.


"I suspect the real reason is I have upset someone over my Stillnox comments."


Mark caused a stir when he became the first current team member to criticise the AOC for its decision to ban Aussie athletes using Stillnox and two other sleeping pills at the London Games.


Lauryn Mark, who is competing at her second Olympics for Australia, said she was stunned by the decision.


"I was shocked and more than a bit disappointed," she said.


"It's taken me a few days to come to terms with it."


Lauryn, 32, said the decision had disrupted her preparation for London.


"I am really trying hard not to let it affect me.


"We have roomed together for such a long time. It's part of my routine.


"I have to be in a calm frame of mind to perform well."


Lauren has already courted controversy in recent weeks, agreeing to pose scantily clad for racy men's magazine Zoo, posing with a rifle.


The photos have yet to be published.

Lauryen swears by Pole Dancing as a means of keeping fit and healthy
Mark says pole dancing improved her core strength and arm muscles, vital when using her rifle for competition.

Diamond told News Limited Newspapers he would not be concerned if he did have to room with Mark.


"It would be excellent because we have had a happy history of roominig together. He gives me a great positive vibe and I've usually performed well."


The pair roomed together in Barcelona and Sydney, when Diamond won gold in the trap.


Russell Mark has however, maintained his sense of humour about the row.


"I did say to Michael, "you'll have to wear the pink nighty now. But it won't be the same."