Former Greens leader describes Murdoch media headlines as ‘a disgrace to journalism’
The conservationist and former federal Greens leader Bob Brown
delivered a broadside at “disgraceful” coverage in News Corp newspapers
as his Stop Adani convoy arrived in Queensland to fervour among activists and stoushes in the local press.
About 5,000 people joined Brown at a rally in the Brisbane central business district on Wednesday afternoon, protesting against the proposed Carmichael coalmine.
But Brown, whose Stop Adani convoy resembles its own mini election campaign, has attracted the ire of News Corp’s Brisbane masthead, the Courier-Mail.
The Courier-Mail’s front page on Monday reported on offensive comments
criticising coal workers, made by someone using a false name, on a
social media page for the convoy. It followed a story last week about businesses in mining communities refusing to serve activists.About 5,000 people joined Brown at a rally in the Brisbane central business district on Wednesday afternoon, protesting against the proposed Carmichael coalmine.
But Brown, whose Stop Adani convoy resembles its own mini election campaign, has attracted the ire of News Corp’s Brisbane masthead, the Courier-Mail.
Brown said the comments on social media “had no place in civil debate” but that they were now being used to tar activists and create hostility.
“Sure you can argue one way or the other, and I respect those who think Adani should go ahead,” Brown said. “I ask for respect in the other direction. Some of the headlines in the Murdoch media are simply disgraceful. They’re a disgrace to journalism and they’re a disgrace to the fourth estate’s responsibility for fair and balanced journalism in this biggest debate facing humanity.
“We come in peace, we come abiding by the laws.
“I absolutely reject [the offensive comments] and as I said to the Courier-Mail last night, I’m sure you take down those comments made on your website, and you separate yourselves from them.
“What [the Courier-Mail] has done today is to use those despicable comments and try to tar everyone else with them. That’s the lowest form of journalism.
“Those comments have no place in civil debate, and they have no place being used to stir up, no doubt, malevolence down the line. And I hold the Murdoch media is responsible for that, if it happens.”
Brown, who rose to prominence because of his opposition to the Franklin Dam project in the 1980s, was asked why the Carmichael mine, and not other proposals, have become the focus of environmental and climate activism.
“I got asked that very often about the Franklin Dam. Why this dam and why not other dams?” Brown said. “This has become a litmus test for coalmining around the world. Bloomberg indeed describes it as the most contentious coalmine in the world.”
Geoff Cousins, the outgoing president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, who is travelling with the convoy, said he had met with Adani Australia’s chief executive of mining, Lucas Dow, recently.
He said Dow had made a well-worn argument in support of the Adani mine; that end-users of coal would source their supply from elsewhere if it wasn’t mined in Australia.
“This country used to lead in these matters,” Cousens said. “That’s what we have to do now.”
No comments:
Post a Comment