New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell was shocked into action this week over claims of child sex abuse cover-ups in the Catholic Church, which led to Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement of a full royal commission (brace yourselves — the Irish one lasted nine years). Our weekly measurement shows O’Farrell has rarely made the top three in media coverage despite presiding over the biggest state in the nation.
North of his border, things went south between Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Clive Palmer. The state MPs made headlines by suspending the mining magnate’s Liberal-National Party membership following his “strongly worded” criticism of the pair.
Also in the press was Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, who released the federal government’s energy white paper, reported by Alan Kohler as lacking long-term vision for the states in household power pricing and the domestic energy reform process.
Others up in the rankings include independent Tony Windsor, one of many MPs calling for a royal commission into chuch abuse, and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith over US concerns about cuts to defence funding. Meanwhile, news that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s web filter had been replaced by a deal with telcos to block sites on the Interpol blacklist drew the ire of Malcolm Turnbull, who weighed in saying the original plan would never have worked.
Crikey Political Index: November 7-13
The Catholic Church scandal puts the NSW Premier on the talkback radar. Kevin Rudd is here as always, driven this week by his fireside chat with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, one of a series of media outings staged as the PM took to foreign pastures.
Talkback top five
For the first time in forever K-Rudd has been pushed out of our social media five — providing a perfect example of how media commentators push the backbencher’s boat out without him lifting a finger.
Social media top five
From Flemington to Bondi Beach, social media was abuzz with tweets from Charlie-spotters, as the future king spent last week “coming to a motorcade near you”.
Comparison on media mentions
Barry O’Farrell acted out of political fear. Because of the groundswell of demands coming from victims and their supporters, after a father and victim killed himself because he could not stand the hurt anymore. Starting in the Maitland Newcastle area and being overtly supported by the Newcastle Herald. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1090165/no-time-limit-for-royal-commission-on-abuse/?cs=311
Do not forget. Victims of abuse have been banging on the doors of our political allsorts and Parliaments across Australia. As individuals and in groups for far too long! Consider “Charles” visitors and workers in NSW parliament have all seen him. He is now a frail old man who has protested outside our NSW Parliament for almost two decades with elected representatives and officers of the court walking past as if he is not there. Acting like what his signs expose is nothing of importance! This long overdue and very overt flurry of concern and activity for long suffering victims of pedophiles, by those very same people and political parties who have for the most part ignored our complaints and maintained an offensive yet effective barrier between unsupported abuse victims, our elected representatives and the church. Should be over sighted with suspicion, by those who have won this first battle with government for a Royal Commission because there have been many other enquiries and RCs which have not truly and effectively satisfied the victims by helping expose and lift their heavy burdens. How this Royal Commission plays out will be entirely up to those who have won the first battle (a promise of a Royal Commission) to keep going and have faith in themselves with the overt support of the wider community to achieve everything they are entitled too. Edward James