Kim Beazley was struggling to get his message through so why on earth was he knocking back interviews right through the campaign, including a promised chat with Triple J’s Francis Leach.

The Labor spinners and strategists such as Greg Turnbull, Bob McMullan, Stephen Smith and John Faulkiner were so scared about Beazley being attacked by some traditional Labor voters that they quarantined him from streets walks and limited his talk back.

Beazley is a nice, decent and honest man who has nothing to hide and can deal with unusual situations. In his hour of freedom during the debate he clearly won the argument.

So why not throw him at as many media opportunities as possible. Labor was complaining about not being able to cut through, yet they held their man back.

ABC Melbourne’s John Faine struggled to get him on, Channel Nine’s Today Show ran the empty chair, Neil Mitchell only got him once during the entire campaign and then Big Kim squibbed it with Triple J.

Anyway, enough from Crikey, this is how Triple J’s morning show host Francis Leach recorded the experience of trying to get him on Friday.

Francis Leach versus the ALP minders

By Francis Leach

Triple J Morning Show host

After weeks of constant requests for both OMO and RINSO (this is how the New York Times has dubbed our election – a contest between two men over which can keep Australia whiter than the other), the Triple J Morning Show had no luck convincing either of them to join us in the studio and talk to young Australians about their plans for the future.

They were happy to play corridor cricket with some boneheaded Austereo jocks and take tea and scones and polite conversation with ABC Metro-gnomes around the country, but simply wouldn’t front up for a chat on issues concerning young Australians – after confirming earlier in the year that they would be happy to.

So, with an audience of young ‘uns (many virgin voters as well!) keen to hear what was on offer in the Op Shop Sale of Ideas that has been this election it was only the minor parties who fronted. Brown, Stott Despoja and Pauline Hanson all had their turn on air.

So what’s a decent journalistic team to do if they won’t come to you? Well of course you go to them. Both Howard and Beazley had been frequent visitors to ABC Southbank to chat with other ABC Networks and so it was our intention to stop both of them dead in their tracks in the corridor and ask them why they’ve squibbed it on the J’s.

The Artist formerly known as John Winston (who in this new P Diddy era of re-branding shall be known as OMO) was startled when he was confronted by Triple J. “OMO, why won’t you come on Triple J? ”

“HUH!?!” was the befuddled response from the incumbent as he scurried away from the reporter trailing after him. Not an entire word spoken, Triple J had to settle for a syllable from OMO.

RINSO was little better. He visited on the final day of the campaign and when he did, I lay in wait for him outside the studio door, recorder in hand. About 5 metres away was the menacing presence of the Clark Kent of the Senate, John Faulkner, staring at me, making it very clear I was not invited to this tea party.

As RINSO’s interview was winding up his media wrangler Greg Turnbull materialised, all bad-ass attitude and ready for a showdown.

“What do you think your doing ?”

“I’m Francis Leach from Triple J’s Morning Show, I’m here to ask the Opposition Leader why he won’t come on Triple J.”

“You can’t do that, we’re here to do ABC radio interviews and you can’t ambush us in the corridors with a doorstop.”

“Yes I can. I don’t need your permission to ask The Opposition Leader a question.”

By this time both Turnbull and Faulkner were closing in, right in my face and letting me know exactly what they thought of this attempt at participating in the Democratic process.

Turnbull turns around and lets rip at ABC Management stalwart Murray Green. He’s yelling now.

” Are you going to let this happen? We came here to do interviews we’ve agreed to and now we’re being ambushed in the corridors! ”

Thankfully Murray Green stood his ground and told Turnbull that we worked for neither of the radio services that RINSO was talking to and were therefore fully entitled to put a question to him.

As RINSO emerged from the studio he saw me and my recorder and took off, heading for the wrong studio in an attempt to avoid what he knew was coming.

“RINSO, why won’t you come on Triple J and talk to Young Australians?”

Over his shoulder I heard RINSO say “You’re important but I don’t have time”. So much for the knowledge nation then. The people he expects to build it aren’t even invited to the party.

By this time RINSO has been re-oriented and is heading into the right studio for his next interview. I put the question to him again and asked him why he’d broken his promise to speak to us during the election campaign. By now Turnbull and Faulkner are seething, and as RINSO is safely delivered to the studio, they start up again.

“I’m just doing my job Greg, people want to know why RINSO wouldn’t speak with us. ”

“We know who you’re working for, you work for yourself”

“What?”

“You work for a party, mate ”

He wouldn’t specify which one. And with that he stormed off in a huff.

OMO & RINSO might keep Australia whiter and brighter, but there are just some things that won’t come out in the wash, at least not in this spin cycle.

Feedback to yoursay@crikey.com.au

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