The Australian took a lead yesterday in its reporting of the Toyota deal, but now it seems that it stuck its neck out way too far.
The amusing thing is watching it try to pull back without losing face.
I wrote yesterday about the battle of the spins leading to an odd outbreak of media diversity in the reporting of Toyota’s decision to manufacture the Camry in Australia. The Oz had a giant splash saying that the government subsidies were wasted, because Toyota would have made the decision anyway.
Meanwhile The Age’s motoring writer, Ian Porter, had a piece saying the exact opposite – that only the Rudd Government’s intervention had stopped the Camry going to Thailand. Oddly, this piece still doesn’t seem to be available online.
Now it seems that motoring writer at The Age was right, and the political pundits at The Oz wrong — if one can tell right from wrong when so many are spinning the story so energetically.
Yesterday the spin cycle went into reverse, with Toyota “clarifying” suggestions that the funding wasn’t needed. Our sister publication Business Spectator has the Toyota statement in full, and some analysis from Robert Gottliebsen.
So how does The Oz handle this? Coyly.
Buried at the end of a page four story today is this paragraph:
The Australian understands that when the Victorian Government began negotiating with Toyota last December, state government figures were also convinced that the company had decided to produce the hybrid in Thailand. The about face from Toyota came after lengthy negotiations involving Mr Brumby, Senator Carr and Victorian Industry Minister Theo Theophanous.
In other words, “we were wrong”.
The reverse cycle also makes the commentary of some News Limited columnists look a bit foolish.
The Oz story goes on to say the federal Opposition “seized” on the Toyota comments suggesting the subsidy wasn’t needed.
Well, not as keenly as you seized on them, mateys. Or perhaps you are the Federal Opposition?
Well yes, the Australian has obviously decided to be the Federal Opposition in the absence of an effective Parliamentary one. Trouble is they’re so busy being the Opposition they’ve forgotten how to be a newspaper. Even the crosswords won’t be enough for me to fork out my $1.20 if they carry on like this much longer.
JamesK – are you Irish.? That’s a very long posting trying to convince us that “this is a real story and not spin even if it is eventually proven wrong.”
The Oz was pathetic yesterday in spinning the Opposition line. As was the ABC with its headline given by the Opposition.
Your last sentence is spot on, Margaret. They insist they must be players when we want them to be reporters of fact.
Sorry, I did not realise it was talk-like-a-pirate-day?
It’s obviously too subtle a point for you Patricia…..
With respect Margaret,
A repost to Micheal Pascoe’s piece yesterday which may be relevant:
JamesK
Thursday, 12 June 2008 1:23:15 PM
Breaking News: “Toyota to make hybrids in Thai plant beefup” from The Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=128120
No mention of $70 million government assistance and despite this production starts 2009.
A quote from The Australian yesterday:
“But the funding promise has been undermined by local Toyota chiefs, who told The Australian the decision to make petrol-electric hybrid Camrys in Australia had already been made and was due to be announced “within months”.
Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen said the subsidies meant the announcement was brought forward.
It would have gone ahead without the $70million cash injection, which was not critical to the proposal, he said.
“It would have happened regardless and we wouldn’t bring it to market unless we’re going to make money,” Mr Breen said.
“It’s always nice to have support but it comes back to a business decision.”
Toyota has been explicit about its wish to produce a hybrid version of the Camry in Australia since the model went on sale in Japan two years ago.
At yesterday’s announcement, Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe refused to say if his company would have opted to build the hybrid in Melbourne without the taxpayer assistance, under which the Government will offer $1for research and development for every $3 spent by the company. But Mr Watanabe confirmed Toyota “only recently” heard it would receive a $35million subsidy from the Australian Government’s $500million green car fund “so we are not sure how we will use it”.”
The clarifying comments from Toyota were subsequent to this article and I suspect Toyota or any corporation receiving $70 million of government largesse would say something very similar. It obviously proves nought.
This is a real story and not spin even if it eventually is proven wrong.