The media wants the ALP’s power couple, Della and Bel to cough up to the cops and be interviewed; a reasonable request so that the story about John Della Bosca and Belinda Neal can continue going and the media can continue fielding leaks to keep it in the public eye.
The latest demands followed another paid interview or two on A Current Affair last night, which this time did help boost viewing levels past rival Today Tonight in Sydney and Melbourne, but not nationally.
But Della and Bel don’t have to follow the media’s demands and make themselves available to police, and if they do, they don’t have to answer any questions: people are not required to incriminate themselves, even if it looks bad or makes them appear foolish. Despite ACA‘s loot which has made a number of witnesses open their gobs, the Woy Woy power couple don’t have to say a word.
They will of course pay a price: constant hounding for a while until the media gets diverted by another scandal or a story where ambitious reporters, like ACA‘s Ben Fordham, can see a way of furthering their bylines and careers.
If you were a conspiratorial type and have watched the NSW rightwing dominated ALP at work, you wouldn’t be far wrong in wondering if there was a very subtle strategy at work here now.
When former Neal staffer, Melissa Batten and then her husband went public with paid for interviews on ACA last week, did the ALP’s hard heads realise that this might provide Della and Bel with a way out?
And then there was last night’s story with Iguana’s staff who claims to have been insulted, yelled at and spat at by Ms Neal: Nine has refused to say if it was paid for, so it was.
Paid for interviews can be very problematic in court, as the Seven Network found with the Jodie Power person who was paid for making allegations against Mercedes Corby.
In fact by the time Corby’s counsel Stuart Littlemore had finished with Ms Power, Seven’s defence was in tatters (and should the Woy Woy power couple therefore hire Mr Littlemore?).
Therefore the likes of Ms Batten, her hubbie and the poor dears from ACA last night wouldn’t be the strongest of witnesses against Ms Neal and or Mr Della Bosca, if there was any legal action.
You can imagine the clever counsel asking them: “and how much were you paid? And were you coached; you know, did you go through what you were going to say with the reporter? Did you ‘refresh your memory’ and how? Who did you speak to? Oh, you spoke to your husband, fellow worker. So you concocted this story did you about my clients?” Lots of denials, but by the time a top flight QC or SC had finished with the ‘witnesses’ they might have trouble remembering their names.
So is this the thinking of the NSW ALP? That by hunkering down and refusing to talk to police, the Woy Woy power couple will ride this out and any legal action is bound to fail because of the aggressive activities of the media in polluting the evidence of potential witnesses?
Of course their overall reputations will suffer because of the story and their silence, but then it’s up to them to try and take action if they feel they’ve been traduced. That’s when they have to talk. Defamation remains a claim to be tested by them, if they want to go down that route.
They are still on some sort of vague promise to say something to the Federal (for Bel) and NSW (Della) Parliaments, but that will be under privilege and anything can be said about anybody by an MP and they can’t get away with it.
Is it a crime to be boorish, with an over-inflated ego? If that’s a yes, there are an awful lot of people who should be in the dock with Ms Neal and her hubbie.
” Boorish?”About as close to the mafia as you could get! Big egos, big threats, big manipulation, big mess! Standing over people, helping fabricate false Stat. Declarations, misleading the community. These people should go and quickly.
a few choice questions staff and management like:-
1 How often do you follow patrons and stand in their car doors to prevent them from closing the door and leaving ?
2 How often do you call in Liberal staffers to provide Affidavit forms and have them witness them:
3 What is your relationship with Liberal party staffers?
4 Who notified the press?
5 Did you really believe that Ms. Neal could have carried out her threats?
6 Do you have problems with under aged drinking?
7 Did anyone help the staff to write their affidavit?
8 Have any person closely related to former MP for Roberston ever worked at the club?
9 Are you sure you did not know who the patrons were before they told you?
10 What evidence do you have that both were drunk?
11 How long did the so called argument and dispute last?
12 Did you used physical force to stop Ms Neal from entering what appears to be a store room?
This is only an example of the questions I would liked answered and I am sure any capable legal Representative would be asking these questions and many more. I personally am surprised that the media is not asking the same questions. (That last quote is tongue in cheek} It would be refreshing to see some balance reporting. The press is not there to take sides. it should be their jobs to investigate and report all the facts.
And what about the promises that they would co-operate fully with the police investigation? Perhaps excepting to agree to talk with them?
A few choice answers ( sincere ) to some choice ( dumb) questions:
1. Only when they’ve wrecked the place!
2. We have a hot line to local Liberal party branch, just in case any Labor party patrons decide to have a meal. You cant be too careful.
3. See (1).
4. They tell us to keep a watch for Bel and her crew. We also stake out the local womens’ soccer games!
5. I wasn’t real keen to test her, especially when she flexed those biceps.
6. Can be hard to pick the ” juveniles” but sometimes they’re behaviour gives them away.
7. Just ’cause Bel said we were f****wits doesn’t mean we cant write.
8. I think his mum works in the kitchen.
9. I knew they were bigshots when they arrived with their entourage.
10. He drove off and nearly hit the gate and when she breathed on me between clenched teeth.
11. Who was timing? It seemed like an eternity, just to get these people to change tables!
12. Are you kidding? I like to rumble, but that would have been a massacre.
Can’t wait for another issue, so that mainstream media circus can move on. But a gem this morning, by Michelle Grattan on RN Breakfast, who divulges that the triggering incident was asking restaurant staff to move a couple of tables together! How earth shattering is that? Of course, exactly who said what, in which sequence, to lead to a serious temper tantrum, will never be known. Talk about a storm in a teacup…