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Has Channel Nine crossed the line by using Latham?

Paul Colgan

by Paul Colgan

08 Aug 09:50am

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Filed under: Channel Nine, Election 2010, Julia Gillard, Labor Leaders, Labor Party, Mark Latham, Media, Politics

121 comments

When the Nine Network announced during the week that former Labor leader Mark Latham was working with 60 Minutes on election campaign coverage, a spokesman said he was there to give his insight and insisted it was “not a square-up or an exercise in character assassination”.

Really? He certainly “squared up” to Julia Gillard when he barged at her at the Ekka Show in Brisbane and gave her what one newspaper called “the handshake from hell” before unleashing a spray (complete with finger wagging) over ALP objections to his involvement with the Nine Network.

Now the network’s chief executive, David Gyngell, has called the Prime Minister to apologise for the incident. On ABC TV’s Insiders this morning Julia Gillard made it clear she was annoyed by it, but Latham is still lurking around and his work as a commentator by a major national network is contributing to the continuing spiral of campaign distractions being driven by former Labor leaders.

The Australian’s economics writer George Megalogenis raised this on the Insiders panel this morning when he bemoaned the role Nine has been playing in the campaign. He also remarked on the unseemly spectacle of Gillard being under siege from a gang of political and media heavies. Here’s what he said:

… Don’t take this as partisan comment viewers, but Channel Nine think that they’re part of this election campaign. There are three men here who are not standing for Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd, Mark Latham and Laurie Oakes - and each of them think that the election campaign is about them. Now: would this have happened if the competition was between two men? I’m not sure. I think we have to unpack this to see what we are actually seeing with our own eyes, which is a lot of blokes trying to monster up a woman.

What do you think? Should Latham be involved in the coverage of the election campaign?

And is the treatment of Gillard all starting to look a bit ugly?

(By the way, Laurie Oakes isn’t all to happy about the 60 Minutes project, saying on Twitter he was “unimpressed” by Latham’s involvement.)

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121 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • tony says:

      10:54am | 08/08/10

      Well, just proves the media is in charge of who is elected….. and God help us all if it’s Tony Abbott.

      Reply

    • Phil says:

      12:00pm | 08/08/10

      Tony What bull sh1t.

      Does not the Nine Network and its owners also control the Womens Weekly and therefore access to some 2,000,000 women and whoever reads it. Della Bosca a few days ago put the free publicity of her on the cover for most of the campaign at $ 2,500,000 worth of free advertising. They also got the PM to take 5 hours out of her busy schedule to be dolled up like a supermodel. Yes there sales will no douubt go up this month, but I shall not be one of those buying it.

      You would struggle to find more than a handful of people to support that Oakes was not a friend of KRudd. He is still do doubt pissed that his mate was shown the workchoices style of sacking, no formal warning, and after the first verbal warning where he offered a lifeline, Gillard welshed on it, no doubt due to pressure from her backers.

      The media got KRudd elected. Many were ticked off with John Howard, that is true, but a false union campaign, and a softly softly meeja got Kevin 07 over the line.

    • Jane says:

      12:46pm | 08/08/10

      Absolutely spot on Phil!!
      Latham could show a few other sycophantic journos a few things about getting to the truth and finding facts. To ask the hard questions and make those who would control Australia’s future be held to account.

      The media is responsible for installing Rudd and giving Labor a free kick ever since. We can thank the media for this debacle…for the worst government in Australia’s history…and it’s sheltered existance.
      If it takes Latham to show them up and ask the things they are too scared to do..then good on him. No apology necessary. The kid glove treatment of Hulia to date has been a National disgrace.
      Latham knows only too well the level of deceit, the bully boy culture and backroom manipulation of the ALPU.

      The media have been a dis-service to all Australians and it’s about time someone cut through the sh*t.
      Good on him.

    • Steve says:

      01:09pm | 08/08/10

      Since when is it OK for Mark Latham to stalk our female Prime Minister.  When did it become OK for the news media to encourage this aggressive behaviour. Given the timing, it was probably a publicity stunt, it is nevertheless totally unacceptable.
      I note that Latham attended the Liberal Party Launch is he now an agent provocateur for the Liberal Party dirty tricks section.

    • Jane says:

      01:50pm | 08/08/10

      Steve get a grip!!
      The whole media contingent have been ‘stalking’ both Gillard and Abbott for weeks. It’s not only what they DO but it’s actually what is required on the campaign trail. Asking the hard questions is also what is required…and so far the ALP apologetic media has failed. If Latham stood out it’s because others have not been doing their jobs.

      Drop the invected moral relativism…the sour grapes “Labor is untouchable’ expectation is over nauseating….and inappropriate..

    • Sal says:

      01:59pm | 08/08/10

      Oh come on, Jules is more than a match for Latham.  She hasn’t got to where she is by being a shrinking violet. She’s come through the unions and mixed with the Labor hard men and knows the ropes. 
      I think Latham, will do a good job for Channel 9.  He’s intelligent and on the ball and not afraid to ask the hard questions.  He will be like breath of fresh air through the corridors of the MSM.  Watch the dials all turn to Ch 9 when he comes on with his reports.

    • Go Tony says:

      02:44pm | 08/08/10

      Go you good thing Tony.  Mr Latham please tell us what the labor party is like behind closed doors - we are getting a small picture now of the circus but Mr Latham is our link.  If Latham was done wrong so he should speak up just like Rudd should speak up.

    • KD says:

      05:56pm | 08/08/10

      Am really sick of hearing Liberals lies about the state of debt and the economy.  I know they won’t hear with their one ear but for those interested in facts backed and listed with sources, feel free to look this up http://www.factsondebt.com/Scare-Campaign.aspx

    • Kerry says:

      04:42am | 09/08/10

      Now, channel 9 have lost this viewer and no prize for guessing who was behind the Latham insult to the PM. There are plenty of other ways of getting the news and sports apart from nine these days. Must say though that politicians leave themselves wide open for this sort of thing. The media ask too many questions and I don’t think our leaders have to answer or respond to the petty ones.

    • PeterWH says:

      08:51am | 09/08/10

      Ch9 thinks that they are a cut above the rest Mr.Oakes has virtually told everyone that HE hope that Tony Abbott will be PM and it is as clear as the nose on his face that he dosent like Labor,he dosent like Mark Latham and that he detests all that the Labor Party stand for and this is probably why Ch9 have hiom on their political books.
      Mr.Oakes is a typical Liberal loser who just wants to see his mates in power.
      God help us all if this happens.
      Mr.Oakes YOU are discgrace….NOT Mr.Latham

    • Jack Thomas says:

      12:01pm | 09/08/10

      Latham had the full suport of Rudd, Gillard, and all the other MP’s and Labor power brokers.

      Latham was good enough to be our PM, according to Labor.

      Why isn’t he good enough for TV?

    • Fiona says:

      04:49pm | 09/08/10

      What is so wrong about Mark Latham confronting Julia Gillard who (Channel 9 confirms) “allowed word to filter back to the station that she was unhappy with his appointment”. So she hasn’t got the guts to say it to his face, just wants to white-ant him to his employer. I say good on him for confronting her, she is a bullying coward. If she has something to say, next time she should say it to his face. Be upfront about what she thinks. Or are we too late for that, is back-stabbing your way of life, Joolya?

    • Reg says:

      06:08pm | 09/08/10

      Holy Schweitzer, what’s the matter with you Fiona? You call Julia a bullying coward with Mark Latham looking over your sweet shoulder? Settle down baby, the high-kicks are going to your head.

    • sleemol says:

      10:55am | 08/08/10

      60 Minutes has thrown away the small scrap of credibility it retained by marching out this bitter, sad man. And describing him as a journalist is frankly insulting. Journalism is a profession - impartial examination of issues, like politics, is required by ethics. You can clearly see his motivation, as well as Nine’s. This is a tacky dog act that will damage Nine’s stance in the media landscape.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      12:56pm | 08/08/10

      sleemol,
      You mean that journalism was a credible profession before it became a media outlet for the Liberal party

    • Tom says:

      01:24pm | 08/08/10

      Is Gillard now going to play the “little victim” card? Why not, she has no policies and is extraordinarily incompetent. She desperately needs a diversion even if it is Labor rats providing it.

      Like all Labor spoilers, spoiling is all she knows. When it comes to having to build or deliver something, ... well ... umm ...

    • Sweet Choc says:

      09:52pm | 08/08/10

      “The Prime Minister of Australia, whomever that might be and whatever their political stripe, deserves to be treated with a due level of respect. says Mr Gyngell of Channel 9. However, this is not about “respect”. This is about Latham misusing his position to settle old scores. This is also about sensationalism and misrepresentation. Latham has crossed the line, yet again. He has always had poor judgement, and channel 9 is all the worse for having him on board. I am certain that sensible people will be questioning the authenticity and credibility of the 60 minutes program if Latham is on board.

    • Daniel says:

      07:36am | 09/08/10

      You’re right Tom, we should just follow the Liberal mantra of “do nothing and nothing can go wrong”. It worked for 12 years right? Speaking of no policies…

    • Fiona says:

      04:55pm | 09/08/10

      Sleemol, on what basis do you claim Latham is bitter? I saw no evidence of that. He said that he wanted to know why she complained he had been appointed by Channel 9. Fair enough too. If she complained, he had a right to know why. Clearly she didn’t tell him to his face, she preferred to go behind his back, and for doing so, she deserved to be exposed.  I admire him for asking the question. More of us should ask those sorts of questions and make people accountable.

    • Reg says:

      06:33pm | 09/08/10

      Not Fiona again? Where have you been blossom? In a cave or have you just leapt over the wall?

    • Fiona says:

      08:54pm | 09/08/10

      Reg, you and I will have to agree to disagree. You see I think Gillard should have the guts to say to Latham’s face what she says behind his back. You say you think I live in a cave? Maybe I just live in hope that this country will be someday be blessed with a leader who is actually truthful and can be taken at their word and so far Gillard has proved she ain’t it, despite all the photoshopping of the Woman’s Weekly and soft touch MSM. This is the second case of recent back-stabbing that’s come to light. You seem to think Reg that patronising me makes you appear somewhat clever, but the sad truth is Reg is that lots of voters think just like me. You have your opinion, but it’s no more or less valid than mine.

    • Peter from the bush says:

      06:11pm | 10/08/10

      Sleemol….you mean that Ch9 who are backed and supported by the Liberal Party and also Laurie Oakes dont approve of him.
      The rest of the country except you think that he is an insult.
      I suggest that if you can do better aty your proffesion that you leave it alone and become a journalist…you would probably make as good a one as the rest of them

    • Mark Pesce says:

      10:55am | 08/08/10

      I reckon Megalogenis nailed it.  I read some of Laurie Oakes’ tweets about the Prime Minister this week.  The most telling: ‘New Julia drones on just like Old Julia’.  Which would be funny were it tweeted by the Chaser.  But Oakes is presumably a highly-respected political journo, and this was a clear case where he plainly crossed the line.  Either you’re reporting the facts, or you’re having a go.  But you can’t do both without confusing yourself, your news organization, and the electorate - to say nothing of the politicians.

      Reply

    • glengyron says:

      11:20am | 08/08/10

      Laurie Oakes interview with Roxon this morning confirms this view.

      I didn’t hear a single question that wasn’t about Rudd and Gillard.  The fact that he had Australia’s Health Minister before him seemed irrelevant to pursuing his personal campaign.

    • Phil says:

      11:34am | 08/08/10

      Mark you comment may be right, but Oakes is in many ways reporting the facts. This may be his last federal election campaign therefore he can go down swinging, however, ask yourself one question. Have you noticed a difference between the old FAKE Julia and the new REAL Julia? I havent. Still stage managed scripts, still same old same old. I dont think she dropped off the old Julia to the tip, I think she just shed a skin just like a snake does.

      Yes because she is squarely behind she is begging for a debate, like a dog that begs you for a bone or attention. I think Tony should say yes to a debate in fact have three. Maybe Julia could first debate Kevin over where a good government lost its way. That would be fun to watch and top any ratings ever seen in television. Second Tony could debate Julia on the economy, including the benefits of spending $210,000 per job saved with little to show for it. Thirdly Tony could debate Julia on a topic of his choice. Say Asylum Seekers, Workplace Relations, Health, Seniors, National Security, Pensioners etc etc.

      We all know the first debate wont happen. We all know Kevin is not by title but by actions the default PM as shown with his press conference this week where he clearly looked the better PM material, even if he looked like he was dragged up there in a similar way to a puppy being taken to be desexed, and it would give the challenger Julia a chance to show her true colours. It is also not the reelection of a Gillard Government. She has been PM for 6 weeks and was never elected by the people for that position.

      As for Latham, he is/was always a loose cannon. With Latham, we, because of him, will know the full details of the REAL Julia, her inner thoughts, the way her relationship with a married man started, ended and the consequences to all of that. He will know about her elevation to the top job, the inner workings of the pig. (Pig being the ALP) She once helped his elevation, and was probably behind his demise.

      The ALP is so full of hatred, and this is being shown clearly by Kevin, et al.

      Colgo, shocking performance by the once mighty Wallabies last night. Ran out of legs at 60 mins, and were just holding on before half time.

    • Daniel says:

      07:39am | 09/08/10

      Phil, speaking of Real Julia vs Fake Julia, what about Real Tony and Fake Tony? The current Tony is nothing the like the Tony we saw up until 2 months ago. He’s being puppeted like no one i’ve ever seen. The two face Tony is infinitely more disgusting than any apparent two face Julia.

    • Peter from the bush says:

      09:25am | 09/08/10

      Laurie Oakes out to watch what he says…we know that its a free country,BUT the newspaper media print what he says,BUT hey the papers wont print what we say,and I say that Laurie Oakes is one of the worst journalist running around the country.He should be Tony Abbotts right hand man as he is so Liberal conscious that its as plain as the nose on his face.By the way Mr.Oakes its nice to sdee your nose put out of joint with Mark Latham.Its time some one saw you for what you are….You are the one that should PULL your head in and NOT Mark Latham…you talk more CRAP than anyone else on this campaign trial and YOU should be the one to ‘PULL your head in”

    • Peter from the bush says:

      09:28am | 09/08/10

      I will say just one thing about Laurie Oakes…...he is an idiot and he is the one that Ch9 should look at,NOT anyone else,...he is an absolute insult to Vh9…look at yourself Mr.Oakes,or cant you bear to see what you see.

    • KH says:

      12:47pm | 09/08/10

      Right on, Daniel.  I remember the Tony Abbott who couldn’t go 2 hours without sticking his foot in his mouth, or making some bizarre ‘policy’ proclamation before running it past his colleagues, then seeing it mysteriously disappear or show up as pseudo policy that sits on quicksand.  I guess its easy to avoid these problems if you just don’t say anything. He hasn’t gone away - he just as much of twat as he was before, its just being hidden by a mask like construction built by his minders.  He can hardly be described as ‘real’.

      Just being against the government isn’t a policy, and I am yet to hear the Liberals say anything concrete that makes sense.  In fact, I’m willing to bet money the GST will go up if they come into office - to fund ridiculous ideas such as paying full salaries as maternity leave (what a crock that is), they will have to get the money from somewhere.  It will be all of us - I mean they wouldn’t want to tax some billionaire miners, would they.

    • stephen says:

      10:57am | 08/08/10

      Mark Latham appears highly unstable - without having saved us from ourselves. He has too much energy, should take up a sport, and should disappear from public life forever.

      Reply

    • Tom says:

      01:18pm | 08/08/10

      You all complained the election was boring. Not so.

      Australia owes Mark Latham a huge debt of gratitude for showing us an insight of the ugly “hater” culture that permeates Labor.

      Labor hate the middle class. They hate the workers. They hate small business. They hate big business. They hate anything private, schools, health, health insurance.

      They even hate themselves - just for practice.

    • Mick D says:

      10:59am | 08/08/10

      Well we need SOMETHING to spice up this election campaign

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      01:23pm | 08/08/10

      The government imploding all by itself wasn’t interesting enough?

    • Agnes Mack says:

      11:02am | 08/08/10

      George Megalogenis captured the total unfairness of the campaign being waged against Julia. The idea of a female Prime Minister horrifies mysogynists and probably explains the apparent gender gap in Neilsen poll this weekend.  Sexism is still not far from the surface in Australia despite , EEO legislation…..or maybe because of legal equality which is very threatening to discontented men.

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      12:04pm | 08/08/10

      Ummmm, I totally disagree. Unfairness of campaign - the first two weeks of this campaign were only about JG. I was sick to death of the sight and sound of her (and that hasn’t changed). I did not know who I was going to vote for at the beginning of this campaign, but basing decisions only on policy (which I had to source via party websites because nobody is actually talking about them) I have now made my decison - which is only being cemented by issues such as this. Latham is labor - he shares the ideology of his party - so in attacking, he will through a bit of balance in there. I am an unmarred female with no children and she does not resonate with me at all. I share some feminist ideas - but gender has nothing to do with how poor a leader JG is proving to be. I think everyone needs to get down off their high high horses and realise that the reason why Labor appears to be in trouble is because they are. Their party is a shambles, they spend spend spend in areas that don’t have a great impact. I heard someone criticise all politicians the other day about only thinking about “the next three years, not long term”. Yet in the same breath, when TA delays introduction of major major policies in the best interests of the recovery of the economy - he was criticised for not rolling it out fast enough.

    • Sal says:

      02:31pm | 08/08/10

      What horrifies me is a government that wastes taxpayers’ dollars, will never answer any question directly, is elitist in its attitudes and takes the Australian voting public for mugs.  Whether it is Rudd or Gillard, male or female, at the helm, it is still the same old Labor spin, spin, spin.

    • Youdy beaudy says:

      07:15pm | 08/08/10

      Agnes Mack, Maybe they’re latent, you never know. Well I’ll tell you I have a lot of respect for women that can stand up and be counted and Julia Gillard is one of them. And if you look at her front bench you will see some extremely talented Women there. So go Girls.

      The Liberal party is just serving up the leftovers from the last failed and well kicked out Liberal Regime. Same ole, Same ole boring crew. No new talent, no new ideas, no nothing. Well I hope it comes down to one vote on polling day and it is mine that gets rid of the Liberal Grubs. Put Abbott in, Big Mistake.!!

    • Overflow says:

      11:07am | 08/08/10

      While it may not have been the smartest mover by Channel 9.  Let us not forget it was Julia that used her factional numbers to support both Latham and Rudd.  Karma is a beautiful thing.

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      11:14am | 08/08/10

      “What do you think? Should Latham be involved in the coverage of the election campaign?”

      He is channel 9’s shock jock. He is part of the

      BEST
      ELECTION
      EVER

      or the BEE as it will become known. He is employed to be a human headline. Cheap at twice the price from nine’s point of view.

      The BEE is the election not about policy or direction, with apologies to “moving forward” (snciker) biut rather with a script Machiavelli could not have forseen. Labor eating itself alive is a sight to behold. No other party can do it as well.

      “And is the treatment of Gillard all starting to look a bit ugly?”

      No.

      Simply no.

      This is all of her own creation. She has lost control of her party, she has lost control of the campaign. Abbott has been shown to be running the agenda for some time. Abbott stopped the ETS, he stopped the mining tax in the “unchangable form”, he created the necessary atmosphere to kill KRudd pmship.

      The BER has been shown to be wasteful, her management credentials are trashed. She is the architect of her own demise along with her minders.

      This was a cynical ploy by Labor to steal an election. it has failed.

      Give it to her. Get stuck in.

      Seriously this has become just plain funny. She is a laughing stock with no authority. If elected you can imagine the mess.

      Should she be treated like she was by Latham? No. Never. He is a pig and always will be a pig. Does she deserve extra scrutiny? Absolutely as a blow in form 40 days ago.

      In other news like the line by Joe Hockey on the 7pm thing on Channel 10 - it went something like this.

      “There was Gillard on the 20th floor a few weeks ago pushing Rudd out the window only to race down the stairs and see if he was ok and if could help after he hit the pavement.”

      Ahh Joe…..the picture is so funny. Good on you mate.

      Oh and big congrats to Andrew Robb (also shown on The Insiders) who waxed lyrical about Latham appearing shortly in the campaign after Kruddy was given his 2nd coming ticket. Go Robbo - player of the match so far.

      BEE…....need moar fun this week. Please.

      Reply

    • Phil says:

      11:40am | 08/08/10

      MarK. That is spot on. Abbott has been the default PM since the end of January this year. He is currently the most powerful political figure in Australian Parliment despite him only being the opposition leader.

      Libs I have spoken to didnt think they had a chance in hell 12 months ago at government this time around. It will be close thats for sure, but labor imploding only does the Libs good.

      Lets be clear, Nine would have known what Latham was to do, its just they wouldnt mind a few more interviews before the election, hence the apology. My money is on Lathams story next week during the middle of the ALP campaign launch to be the highest rating ever. It could be fireworks, and Julia knows that, hence the complaint, which he has every right to ask about.

      Julia will only answer selective questions. Latham can give answers to many questions the viewers want answered, and the ALP spin doctors dont like it one bit, as they cannot control the auto play.

    • Jazza says:

      02:08pm | 08/08/10

      Labor deserve all they get. They have mercilessly bagged Tony Abbott with an underlying touch of his Catholicism as the real fear—and when it suits Foolya Julia has stated “I prayed for Kevin’s recovery ” used the Catholic church and Sainthood to her advantage
      Imagine the outcry if Tony Abbott had tried an appeal to voters that went something like this
      ” Julia Gillard and the faceless men of Labor have politically assassinated a Christian churchgoing PrimeMinister in order to insaall in the job an athiest childless living in sin spinster”

    • Luke04 says:

      11:14am | 08/08/10

      I didn’t agree with Chanel 7’s outing of David Campbell. Maybe in this case there should have been more security around Gillard? Instead of being allowed to bully his way through to get to her. Chanel Nine obviously didn’t agree with the way he conducted himself either, hence the apology.

      Reply

    • BahRumbah says:

      11:21am | 08/08/10

      yes the megalomaniac man nailed it.., this is crazy s*** really, meaning the election, the media’s conduct is appalling. Pumped up, pretend, pseudo journalism by immature and egotistical “TV reporters”

      Reply

    • Jingo says:

      11:23am | 08/08/10

      What did Fran Kelly mean when she defended Channel 9’s treatment of Julia Gillard on Insiders this morning by stating that on weekends news stories are hard to come by??

      Reply

    • Axolotl Pluvius says:

      05:09pm | 08/08/10

      By Jingo by golly - Fran Kelly didn’t defend the action by Channel 9 at all. Merely a statement of fact and an ironical remark as to the process of a media group making the news on quiet news days.

    • Dissident says:

      11:28am | 08/08/10

      Giving Latham a job is absolutely the right thing to do.

      a) The man is entitled to work in the job that he chooses;
      b) He knows a little bit about politics;
      c) He isn’t intimidated by politicians like most journalists are - and might actually press for an answer when a pollie talks around a question; and
      d) We are all talking about it - marketing success!

      Reply

    • Barry Jones says:

      02:38pm | 08/08/10

      I’d happily give Latham a job. Cleaning toilets in Afganistan springs to mind. When can you leave, Mark?

    • David says:

      04:25pm | 08/08/10

      Didn’t your Labor mates let you in on the story Barry?

    • Erin says:

      11:36am | 08/08/10

      “There are three men here who are not standing for Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd, Mark Latham and Laurie Oakes - and each of them think that the election campaign is about them”
      Best and most relevant comment of the campaign.  At the end of the day, Kevin needs to in his electorate reminding them why they should still vote for him, Mark needs to go back to his kids (and remember that he’s not a journalist and never has been), and Laurie should remember that he IS a journalist and start acting like one.
      Lets see Julia stand up and take control again.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      12:53pm | 08/08/10

      Erin,
      You forgot to mention the fourth man, Tony Abbott’s shadow, the Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard.

    • MarK says:

      05:24pm | 08/08/10

      Hahahahahaha.

      You guys can’t let Howard go.

      At least he can sit in the same room as his former colleagues unlike Labor that will need photoshop to take a collective picture of its former leaders so much they hate each other they will not appear in the same state together.

      Labor the party of disunity. that rabble does not deserve another term.

    • Reg says:

      06:54pm | 09/08/10

      In an election they all simply stand for election. No one stands to be elected Prime Minister, that is an internal party decision. Whoever gets elected, they are elected as members of parliament not as Prime Minister, or anything else.

      Every other candidate is also elected separately from his party. He simply pledges his allegiance to a party—but—to the people of Australia above and beyond any Party Commitments.

      (Watch this as they get sworn in and hold the bastards to it.)

      Among many others, that was the major failing of the Howard government, they put party ahead of the people. The betrayed their oath to the people.

      Don’t let it happen again.

    • Jamesadel says:

      11:37am | 08/08/10

      Julia Gillard and her “Men with no Faces” utterly publicly humiliated Kevin Rudd and disposed him from his role, so I really see no problem with loud-mouthed Mark Lathan having a few words with Julia in public that may embarrass her. Yes, it does show that Channel 9 is nothing but trash television, but let’s face it 60 minutes and other shows like A Current Affair have been nothing but complete trash for years, they lost all journalism integrity years ago, so it’s no surprise they would use the vile Mark Latham to show up Julia. She gets no sympathy from me though, she’s nothing but a backstabbing puppet.

      Reply

    • Chris kelly says:

      11:42am | 08/08/10

      Channel nine is a disgrace to journalism.  They have witnessed how the might of the mining industry can effect political change in this country and are mimicing their stategy.  Ohh how the mighty have fallen.

      Reply

    • `Against the Man says:

      11:43am | 08/08/10

      Wait a minute! Gillard back stabs Rudd, is hypocritical to the max and has become the face of dirty politics and now she wants to be treated fairly? So she can talk the talk but can’t walk the walk. Let Latham, Rudd and all the others give her a hard time, she brought this upon herself. Thanks to her Australian politics has lost all dignity.

      Reply

    • Brad Coward says:

      07:02pm | 08/08/10

      Poor woman !  The first time she is actually challenged and she jumps up on a chair sqealing about the mouse that’s running about the room whilst pointing to the glass ceiling.

      Keep on stalking, Mark Latham.  Give her hell !

    • Sam says:

      11:50am | 08/08/10

      Latham is a nutter. He is bitter and twisted and has been trying to kill Labor’s election chances for some time. Why else would he take on this job at this time? 
      Speaking of this job, what are his qualifications?. What is channel 9’s motive in hiring him, if not ‘to aid and assist in bringing down a government’?, considering the recent actions of Laurie Oakes, I have to wonder.
      Beyond this election, how long do you expect Latham will retain this job?.  I anticipate, not very long at all. Most assassinations throughout history have been short term contracts.

      Reply

    • Sal says:

      03:36pm | 08/08/10

      Sam:  Speaking of this, what were Maxine McKew’s qualifications to be a politician? What were Labor’s motives in standing her in ‘07 if not ‘to aid and assist in bringing down a government’?  Mark Latham, I would say, probably has more qualifications and experience to be a political journo than McKew had as a journo to be a politician.  Afterall, he has been a Labor politician and has been doing political analysis and political articles for papers for years.

    • Pelle says:

      06:57am | 09/08/10

      Ah, yes! Maxine McWho? I can’t wait to see the Cheshire cat grin wiped from her face on August 21.
      By the way, has anyone seen the invisible Peter Garrett lately? I’m sure after the insulation debacle, he is being kept out of sight for good reason.

    • Spinner says:

      09:48am | 09/08/10

      Sam - I am sure Nine is paying Mark enough to cover his kids schools fees for the next 12 months, even if he only does a 4 week job.

      Sal - true Maxine has no political qualifications but her ‘partner’ (heavy labour party backroom bloke) has more than enough.

      Pelle - I am sure Peter Garrett has been ‘installed’ in a ceiling to insulate the labour party from potential damage.

    • Az says:

      11:57am | 08/08/10

      Legacy media are increasingly irrelevant, so it’s to be expected they will pull any sort of stunt they can to garner attention.

      I don’t care if 9 stepped over any lines - haven’t watched them for over a decade.  The ratings show I’m not alone and I’m picking up more company every month.

      Reply

    • Keith Hammersmith says:

      12:06pm | 08/08/10

      Maybe Laurie Oakes would quit asking Julia questions about KRudd if she would actually answer one…..

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      12:16pm | 08/08/10

      This is the most amazing election I have ever seen.

      We have the conservatives moving far left (paid maternity)
      We have the left moving far right (assylum seekers)
      We have a labor spin machine self destructing in front of everybody.
      We now have the left claiming the media is against them. Perhaps the 250M wasn’t enough.

      Anyone see the media treatment of howard for 11 years? He had to bribe people with tax cuts to fight off the media portrayal of him. 

      I think I have fallen asleep and this is merely a dream because it makes no sense whatsoever.

      And way to go left way continually blowing the sexist whistle. Kevin Rudd, Mark Latham and Laurie Oakes have more issues with Julia Gillard than the fact she is a women.

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      12:19pm | 08/08/10

      Paul,
      What the Mega fello is saying is a bit out of context is it not.
      Both parties have got their reasons to focus on the leaders and with the Libs it is the policies, former policies if you like or redressed or unaddressed policy failures that Julia Gillard was up to her eyenalls in as part of the inner sanctum and the approaches of losing their way, moving forward and that was Kevin’s doing and hello!, who have we resurrected here!
      And is the resurrected fella very focused on someone supposedly sliding in untested?
      And what are Labor doing? and no guesses there but focusing heavily on Abbott! and dragging up as much muck as they can.

      Are you suggesting that any media organisation should be controlled as to who they employ and who they seek to interview.
      If there have been complaints by Labor for Channel Nine using Mark Latham that is also Labor’s right to complain.

      ” Really? He certainly “squared up” to Julia Gillard when he barged at her at the Ekka Show in Brisbane and gave her what one newspaper called “the handshake from hell” before unleashing a spray (complete with finger wagging) over ALP objections to his involvement with the Nine Network. “
      Squared up!, barged at her! and come on now Paul, doesn’t Julia use her hands at times when talking.
      Mark had some questions for her which she more or less brushed off and continued on her merry way.
      And they had been former colleagues afterall!

      As to George Megalongenis and in particular
      ” Now: would this have happened if the competition was between two men? I’m not sure. I think we have to unpack this to see what we are actually seeing with our own eyes, which is a lot of blokes trying to monster up a woman. “
      If the same circumstances existed and a guy and not Julia had ousted Kevin Rudd, it could well have the same questions popping up and is it not the media generally, especially the likes of the WW who reckon a female factor is OK.
      Julia was certainly not disapproving of that and did we hear any complaints from the Labor crew?

      Friday night on Channel Ten, Prime Time with the 7 PM project and Carrie Bickmore in reading the latest political news flipped in reference to Tony Abbott as calling him the Mad Monk and nothing else whilst playing up Julia Gillard as a Princess of sorts losing her shoe - when she was in an industrial setting and should not have been there without safety footwear on.

      Is it OK for mainstream television to call the alternative PM the Mad Monk!

      There ought to be more about that than Marl Latham asking some pointed questions of JG and only to not get any answers again!

      Reply

    • YY says:

      12:22pm | 08/08/10

      Maybe Latham can show the Australian journalists who pander to these politicians by making them accountable for NOTHING, how it’s done. He knows how this political duopoly works. I for one would like a bit of that.

      Foolya Joolya is now calling what Latham did ” inappropriate.” We’re in the middle of an election campaign, I’m the prime minister of this country, I’m not a human interest story.’‘

      WHAT ?
      HELLO ?

      God forbid, anyone ANYONE, addresses her publicly without following the script for the day. She is the prime minister after all, as she now reminds us. Puuuhhhllleeeaaase save us from the Labour/Greens coalition of stupid.

      Reply

    • David says:

      12:28pm | 08/08/10

      Has anyone considered that this might not be what it appears to be? It has done Julia no harm at all has it? It has done her a load of good. Channel 9 is not going to say a thing against her now. Latham has done precisely what Labor wanted him to do and the media has played right into Labor’s hands.
      I think it is time that Julia Gillard was actually required to answer a few hard questions (the sort they keep asking everyone in opposition) rather than being allowed to avoid them - and then using this sort of set up (because that is what it was) to avoid them. Latham would not have had a chance of getting new Julia unless they wanted him to.
      Don’t believe it can’t happen? Then you don’t have any idea what politics (and this election in particular) is about.

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      12:30pm | 08/08/10

      One question I want to ask the commentators here:

      Where was your disdain for Laurie Oakes as he unequivocally backed Kevin Rudd for the past 3 years? Conservatives were blowing up for years over it and suddenly he has turned his attention to Julia and suddly he is a sexist, power hungry pig?

      Christ last week he wrote an article attacjking abbott for his views as a 21 year old in university politics. But have we heard a word from him about Julia’s “interesting” past?

      We have seen the media blow up at the slightest hint of sexism from abbott, “no means no” and hoping his daughters abstain from sexs until marriage.

      But what about julia the atheist constantly using words such as pray, faith, lord, god etc. Its utterly stupid to attack this but so is the effort at painting Abbott a sexist.

      All I can say, is everyone on the left has been baking thier humble pie, for years, and this implosion and sudden tabloid like media attention that Gillard and Labor are getting should taste very nice indeed. Yummmmmm.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      12:41pm | 08/08/10

      Keith Hammersmith
      There are far more important issues and matters than harassing Julia Gillard about KevinRudd, it almost amounts to deliberately stalking the Prime Minister.
      It is such trival and childish media journalism and it is getting beyond the joke, it is pathetic and unprofessional, and they need to realist that it is irrelevent.
      The journalists seem more interested in pursuing this trival issue, and maybe they should question Tony Abbott and ask him why he disposed of the then Leader Malcoln Turnbull in a party room spill, or maybe they could ask Malcolm Turnbull why he disposed of Brendan Nelson in a party room spill, three Liberal opposition Leaders in less than three years.
      Perhaps we could go back in time like the liberals always like doing, and have a look at why the then, Liberal Prime Minister,John Gorton, was disposed by William McMahon i8n a party room spill.
      I see that Tony Abbott has got his shadow behind him in former Prime Minister John Howard, you know the Liberal Prime Minister that lost the 2007 Federal Election and also lost his seat of Benelong, and isn’t he is also the fellow unwanted by the international cricket board
      If the saying is true “birds of a feather flock together’, then Tony Abbott has just lost this election like his shadow and mentor, former Prime minister John Howard.

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      02:35pm | 08/08/10

      Poor, poor christian, the intellectual ability of a fence post, without enough smarts to realise it. You were more than happy to jump on the anti-Tony bandwagon of trivial journalism, no sex before marriage, mad monk, budgie smugglers now the shoe is on the other foot it doesn’t feel so good does it.

      Excluding your rants about John Howard, I would like to discuss the differences between abbott/turnbull and gillard/rudd, but pay attention because I am sick of repeating myself.

      1. Rudd was prime minister in his first term and his popularity had fallen to .... still winning the election.

      2. Turnbull was in opposition and took forward a policy that most of the party had issues with.

      3. Libs had an election where they voted on the new opposition leader. Abbott won by one vote.

      4. Labor installs a new prime minister with the events unfolding within a 24 hour period. No vote was held, no transparency was given, and the only reason provided was “heading in the wrong direction”.

    • BobM says:

      04:20pm | 08/08/10

      Christian Real must be related to Julia - they’re both Real. Can’t wait for them both to become unReal, real soon.

      And also can’t wait to see who’s leading Labor by the time they launch their campaign next week - could be anyone!

    • Sweet Choc says:

      01:33am | 10/08/10

      The Libs had a good run at the expense of Labour fiasco. Now they (Libs) have mucked it up by bringing back John Howard, the utterly beaten PM. He was rejected by massive numbers. The chance that Tony had is sliding because of resurrecting a past ghost. Get Howard off the wagon, Tony. He is a bad reminder of the past. He was the reason for Lib’s loss in the last election. And stop claiming to be the “love child of Howard and Bishop”, Tony. The further the distance between you and Howard, the better the chance for the Libs.

    • Gregg says:

      12:43pm | 08/08/10

      ” The prime minister admitted she’d had some hurdles placed in her way during the campaign.

      “But I’m not going to be distracted by the hurdles in my way, I’m going to crash through them.”

      Ms Gillard said the meeting with Mr Rudd was about campaign strategy.

      She reiterated that the former leader would serve as a senior member in a re-elected Labor government.

      “My expectation is that senior members of my team are out campaigning for the re-election of the government,” she said.

      The prime minister refused to directly answer a question about whether Mr Rudd would campaign by her side, but suggested he wouldn’t. “

      Being interviewed in Darwin, Julia reckons barging through the hurdles is the way it seems, or perhaps a dodge and a weave here and there.

      But most successful hurdlers actually win by clearing hurdles and those not can injure themselves and fall by the wayside, a bit of what seems to be happening with Julia’s new risky strategy!

      Reply

    • MDMConnell says:

      12:47pm | 08/08/10

      Dragging out the whole “poor defenceless woman picked on by nasty sexist men” argument is pretty pathetic really.

      Oakes: senior minister determined to undermine his own leader with damaging leaks during an election campaign. Gillard allegedly has said things in private at odds with what she’s done in public. Is this not “news”? Was Oakes supposed to sit on the story and go easy on Gillard because she’s a woman?

      Rudd: Well Gillard wasn’t so meek and defenceless when she knifed him. And her mismanagement of the issue by turning the “patch up” into a public circus was entirely her own fault.

      Latham: Well yeah he is a nutter and a bully, so perhaps you can call it one out of three. But as with Rudd, he supposed to be on Gillard’s side!

      So apart from Latham, all of these issues are mostly Gillard’s own fault. How is it “sexist” when she’s the one who’s making the mistakes….

      Reply

    • Chris says:

      12:54pm | 08/08/10

      If this was carefuly analysed, properly reported and those involved told the truth (and pigs will fly first) then we would find that Julia Gillard and Mark Latham had this worked out beforehand. It was a publicity event designed to garner sympathy for Gillard because Labor wants to win more seats. Let us be quite clear. Winning is not enough for Labor. They have to win with more seats AND control of the Senate. Without that they cannot put unpopular or economically irresponsible policies in place.
      Don’t feel too sorry for Gillard, indeed don’t feel sorry for her at all. She has avoided answering any hard questions to date - and will probably continue to do so with the media firmly on her side.

      Reply

    • Appalled says:

      12:56pm | 08/08/10

      Chanel 9 has crossed the line they have employed a STALKER!

      Reply

    • Davo says:

      01:08pm | 08/08/10

      For all you Latham and Ch9 bashers out there. You will be the first to watch what he has to say when the production comes out. You will be the first to comment on forums like this how Latham’s views are biased against Labor.

      It may be true he’s a nut, but he adds some spice, vigor, and maybe accountability to the election campaign.

      Joolia should be grilled for her hypocritical ways. She looks so out of her depth it’s not laughable it’s sad. Seeking Rudd’s help to get her over the line made her realize she is going to make history. History that she will be shortest serving PM in Australian political history (and not elected for that matter)

      Reply

    • Hermoine says:

      12:13pm | 09/08/10

      Actually, no - she will not make history as Australia’s shortest serving (and not elected for that matter) PM if the Labor Party lose government.

      Frank Forde is the shortest serving PM - and he was only a caretaker. in between the death of Curtin and the party room election of Chifley.  He was Deputy Prime Minister and sworn in without a party room vote.

      Then there’s Black Jack McEwen - also a caretaker - between the disappearance of Holt and the election by the Liberal Party of John Gorton.  Also, he was Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Country Party at the time. 

      In both cases, convention was followed.  Also, Prime Ministers have been ousted from office and technically Billy McMahon was only elected because (depending on your source) the PM either gave his casting vote to the other guy or withdrew from the ballot after an initial tied vote for leadership.

      If you knew your history, you would also realise that the actual Government, not just Prime Minister, of Australia changed hands a number of times without going to an election.  In 1904 - 1905, Government changed hands twice (Protectionist to Labor, Labor to Free Trade) on the floor of the House of Representatives and then again in 1941 from United Australia/Country Party to Labor Party, based on two independents saying that they would withdraw their support from Artie McFadden’s government and give it to John Curtin.

      Julia’s already made history and will make history regardless of the outcome of this election.  But don’t make claims about history that you can’t back up.

    • MarK says:

      01:10pm | 08/08/10

      “The only unfair dismissal anyone has talked to me about during the course of this campaign has been Kevin Rudd’s”

      T Abbott.

      Classic quote. Sort of puts the workchoice scare campaign back in its’ box.

      Love it.

      Reply

    • Bobsie says:

      01:17pm | 08/08/10

      I think Laurie Oakes behaviour has been shocking - he is turning into a bully.  The rest of the media are not covering themselves in glory either.  IMO - George Megalogenis is the only journalist who seems to have the analytical mind to go underneath the media group-think to see what is really going on.

      Reply

    • Harriet says:

      01:18pm | 08/08/10

      Saturday morning at a press conference Tony Abbott said he was waiting to see how the soap opera for that day would unfold. Today in the Telegraph they report that Barnaby Joyce was on hand at the Ecca to watch the Circus unfold. Was there pre knowledge to the Liberal party by Channel 9 of the Latham attack?

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      03:44pm | 08/08/10

      Barnaby is a Queensland country lad Harriet and as with all country folk having a great interest in Royal Agricultural Shows with all manner of country interest things on display, he is a regular visitor.
      If anyone was out of place it may have been Julia and what was she doing there?
      Just seeking exposure and trying to be the latest new version.
      Latham is working for a media organisation and as a former collegaue it is no wonder he asked what to him were pertinent questions.
      Tony’s comment was in relation to the expected meet-up between Julia and Kevin.

    • MarK says:

      05:26pm | 08/08/10

      Hahahahaha.

      Yeh. Latham and the Libs got into bed together ages ago. they are actively working together for the downfall of Labor coast to coast.

      But shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone. It will be our secret.


      Hahahahahahahahahaha

    • Ben in Canberra says:

      01:20pm | 08/08/10

      Gillard said today on Insiders that “I am not a human interest story” in response to questions about Latham. Wrong. She is the incumbent (albeit there by dubious means) and as such is entitled to be scrutinsed by the Australian people so as to inform them as to the way they will cast their vote on 21 August (and for those who argue you vote for your local member and not the head of the party - wake up.)

      For too long this campaign has been hijacked by those who argue that gender is the reason that Gillard is being scrutinised by the media and pilloried by the public. For God’s sake, she’s trying to be elected as the leader of our nation! She’s not running for hall monitor! Apply the same scrutiny that was applied to Abbott, Howard, Latham, Hewson during their respective campaigns. Those who argue, as has been done today, that misogyny is the driver behind Labor’s recent slump in the polls are missing the clear point that the Australian people are waking up to this divisive political entity that would sooner protect it’s carefully scripted move to the conservative side of politics than provide real solutions to the issues that present themselves each and every day.

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      01:35pm | 08/08/10

      I just realised how stupid this whole thing is. Has Labor crossed the line in hiring Latham? Yes but it actually should be an issue for the liberal side. The fact he is attacking labor is a different matter and has nothing to do with channel 9 or the media. Its Labors own problem.

      Reply

    • Adam Diver says:

      02:51pm | 08/08/10

      Has labor crossed should read has 9 crossed, so eager to point out the crazyness of this attack on the media. Its officially bizarro world.

    • Public Speaker says:

      02:29pm | 08/08/10

      I didn’t realize so many Liberal members atually knew how to read, oh thats right free education bought in by Labor, and most of them use Medicare, thats right bought in by Labor, and I suppose they want a pension when they finish and to use their superannuation, oh yes bought in by Labor. God guys you all forget Labor did more for where we are as a country than the Liberals ever did, and between 1945 to 1972 they controlled the country, and did what, NOTHING, even John Howard did NOTHING, oh yes he did, he introduced a new tax promising the end of state taxes which never did disappear he called it GST. Oh and he stopped poor people who are being killed and persecuted in their own country from coming to the country of the free, woohoo. Wonder if he would like it, if we took his pension and benefits away and he had just a normal pension, bet he wouldn’t. But it could be used to pay the national debt off, which stands at 5% of GDP, and what does the rest of the worlds economies debt avaerges at including chinas, oh thats right 80% of GDP, the Libs on this page should go back to school, seems they didn’t learn to read that well anyway.

      Reply

    • Ben in Canberra says:

      03:24pm | 08/08/10

      Yep, no worries there Public Speaker. Just awaiting the riveting analysis to back up your claim that the average debt as a percentage of GDP of the rest of the world is 80%. What’s that? There is none…. Awww, should have paid a bit more attention in that free school you refer to maybe. What absolute BS you cretinous excuse for a voter.

    • Darren says:

      06:08pm | 08/08/10

      I didn’t realise that the word realise was spelt with a ‘z’, Public Speaker.
      The ALP ‘bought’ in free education as well Public Speaker? Perhaps instead they ‘brought’ to us, the failed school halls policy, a totally wasteful BER scheme that has been picked apart by a policy review report, and an online school rankings system that disadvantages schools that have a higher percentage of underperforming students.
      And it’s Liberal members that need to learn how to read? You’re of the very mistaken opinion that John Howard did ‘nothing’ for our country, yet he remained Prime Minister for 13 years. He must’ve been doing something right, yes? And guess what else Public Speaker? John Howard was ELECTED and then RE-ELECTED and then RE-ELECTED again. Your union puppet hero Julia Gillard simply had her puppet strings lengthened by a bunch of disgraceful factional thugs, who are more interested in obtaining self power and glory, rather than doing what’s right for this country. Let’s hope Public Speaker, that you don’t actually go into public speaking.

    • Theresa says:

      06:15pm | 08/08/10

      Um, Public Speaker.  They were STATE taxes.  Only the STATES could revoke them.  Which bit of that did you fail to grasp?

    • DrAsia says:

      07:25pm | 08/08/10

      Free education? Even my bankruptcy wont eliminate my $178,000.00 HECS Fee. Tell me where is this free education you speak of?

    • watchingwithinterest says:

      09:52pm | 08/08/10

      You totally undermined your argument by taking about public debt.  If other countries have 80% and we have almost none, who paid our debt off.  Oh that’s right, the Liberal government restrained spending to pay back debt so that we could increase public spending when we needed too.  I think in fairness to John Howard you should at least acknowledge that reducing debt is doing something.  As my mum always told me, its easy to spend a dollar (education, medicare) its not so easy to save a dollar.

      In opposition the ALP was totally ununited, Beasley, crean, Latham, beasley.  They managed the facade for a short period but you can’t pretend forever.  The ALP should go away and build their party from the ground up if they want to be considered a crediable alternative in the future, because the public can now see the spin.  ‘Its time’ time to change the way their party machine functions.

    • thatmosis says:

      02:35pm | 08/08/10

      I realy have to laugh when I read that people want Joolia to answer the hard questions, just answering a question would be good enough. The media has given her a ride on gossomer wings and although I think Mark Latham is a pig he did ask the right questions. This carefully scripted campaign will not allow for question without notice as this flusters our Joolia no end and she retreats into the time worn repetition of evasive answers in that whining nasal drone as he rnose grows bigger by the day.

      Reply

    • Shelley says:

      02:53pm | 08/08/10

      Gillard and her government are playing in the big league now. No sooky la-laing. If she can’t handle even a poxy couple of weeks electioneering she has no business being in the running for the job of PM.
      She said herself,
      GAME ON!
      If she can’t hack it after that taunt, she needs to shoof off.

      Reply

    • gigifischer says:

      03:05pm | 08/08/10

      Yeah - all the blokes can’t stand that their job is now been given to a girl. Seriously, it reminds me of the aussie rules game I was involved in when I was ten - in the experimental seventies when girls competed against boys in team sports for the first time and the boys all had a hissy fit when the girl became best on ground.

      Reply

    • The Redman says:

      04:24pm | 08/08/10

      Channel Nine has merely confirmed that the myth of left leaning media is just that. Everyone from Laurie Oakes to downwards have made it quite clear who they are supporting. Of course, we may well see the usual spectacle of the masses being lead by the nose. There is no doubt in my mind that Abbott would be a disaster for this country.

      Reply

    • Bilbo says:

      05:38pm | 08/08/10

      Judging from what Mark Latham has already written he will fit right in to employment with channel 9. When asked if Latham’s employment has crossed the line one has to consider where and when an ethical line has been drawn by Australian media?

      Reply

    • Get Real says:

      05:48pm | 08/08/10

      I agree with the comments of Bobsie, Sam, Erin ,Agnes Mack, glengyron to name a few ,this campain seems to be about anything other than the election, Laurie Oakes lost my respect very early on in this election joke!! & as for the points on Julia being elected PM it is no different to when Keating removed Hawke & he was the most popular PM ever if you believed the media of the time. So please stop this back stab rubbish Rudd no longer had enough support from his own party to remain leader & this is why he is no longer PM. Rudd was the one going behind Julia’s back trying to see if he still had numbers when the party was unhappy with him & there was no offical vote because Rudd pulled out knowing he didn’t have enough support to stay PM. So enough of the bullshit lets stop the media running the show . If you like what Labor stands for vote Labor & if you like what the Libs stand for vote Liberal. Laurie Oakes, Kevin Rudd & Mark Latham will not be on your voting paper !!

      Reply

    • KD says:

      05:51pm | 08/08/10

      This is more reflective of the judgement of the Chaneel 9 executives (or lack of it) and the state of the MSM.  They prefer a show, not the facts…  Mind you it could explain why Channel 9 is doing so poorly in its own finances.  If anyone is interested in some facts, try this offering…you know, just to add a second side to a one-sided debate.  P.s. The facts are backed by sources, apparantly thats supposed to happen all the time with reporting… http://www.factsondebt.com/Scare-Campaign.aspx

      Reply

    • Real life says:

      06:36pm | 08/08/10

      I have a great tip for everyone, how about you all check out your local member & see what sort of a job they’re doing for your area because these are the only people you will ever be voting for. You will never vote for Rudd unless you lIve in his electorate or Julia or Abbott. I am always amazed when people think they have to like the leader of a party to vote for it & wiil ignore a hard working local member for their area to give their vote to a local member who may get nothing done. They would rather their area go without because they need to like the leader of the Labor or Liberal party. What a joke!!

      Reply

    • Kev sullivan says:

      07:17pm | 08/08/10

      I think his Latham ‘s approach was threatening and certaainly NOT what you would expect somebody to do with a PM and get away with .
      If I was a Police Officer I would be looking for something to Charge the grub with . We have Dutton the defector and now we look like getting Abbott the Actor > I bet Kevin 11 will be back.
      Channel nine has a lot of Bad eggs on TV though doesn’t it .

      Reply

    • Say what? says:

      10:06pm | 08/08/10

      Year right Kev…whatever you think…Latham was doing a job…what are you trying to make a point about and cannot substantiate anything that makes sense. 

      In fact Kev Julia put her hands all over Latham, he didn’t touch her at all.  Seems as though you are barking up the wrong tree.  Latham asked a simple question to which Julia denied knowing anything about.  So typical isn’t it when we have a PM that cannot be trusted…

      Your name sake can vouch for that…look where poor old Kev 07 is today?

    • Daniel says:

      07:48am | 09/08/10

      You mean the denial that was substantiated by the boss of Channel 9? Seriously, you people need to wake up to yourselves. The fact that you might get to vote is disturbing.

      You can stop harping about the Kevin Rudd ‘discontent’ too, the Libs have had how many bosses in the last 3 years?

    • Timmuh says:

      07:22pm | 08/08/10

      I find it interesting that the media is question Nine over Latham’s abuse of a Prime Minister, but never says anything about the same treatment (and far worse) dished out to less media-savvy types the A Current Affair and Today Tonight - and virtual all mainstream media, but those two are the worst - on an almost daily basis against anyone unfortunate enough to be unemployed, a single parent, or a witness at a criminal trial.

      Reply

    • Max Power says:

      07:30pm | 08/08/10

      I just love how Gillard said “I am the Prime Minister of Australia, not a human interest story.”
      Firstly: She might have the title of Prime Minister, but she is not the Prime Minister, despite that fact she thinks she is after stabbing Rudd in the back. If Labor win this election, then she will be PM, but only until the Union power brokers decide otherwise.
      Secondly: If she isn’t a human interest story, like she claims, then why did she do a Human Interest spread in the Women’s Day or Weekly, whichever it was. Oh hang on, that was the old Julia wasn’t it, my mistake.

      Reply

    • Real life says:

      08:18pm | 08/08/10

      Disagree Max!!  Rudd lost the support of his party it had nothing to do with Julia backstabbing. Rudd didn’t have the numbers or the support of his party for him to stay PM & once you lose that as a PM whoever is deputy PM & has party support will be the PM. It is the same as when Keating became PM, the party voted PM Bob Hawke out Keating then went on to win the next election. Julia doesn’t have to answer a question if it has nothing to do with the election & if she did everyone would bag her out for getting off topic or personal.

    • fehowarth says:

      08:06pm | 08/08/10

      The problem with Latham is that channel nine is paying him for being there.

      Reply

    • Rosie says:

      08:23pm | 08/08/10

      We shouldn’t forget that Mark Latham was the Labor opposition leader trying to win office against John Howard in 2004. Mr Latham had a long standing work relationship with Julia Gillard and it was up to Gillard to fend him off if she wasn’t prepared for the spectacle. It was a matter of our PM saying to those responsible for her safety that she was not prepared to talk to him and would like to be escorted away. It was that simple but Gillard chose to shake his hands and responded to what he said to her. She even went as far as patting his arms a couple of times as if they were long time buddies. I am sorry but our PM cannot have it all her way and must use common sense to avoid getting herself into these kinds of situation.

      Julia Gillard could have avoided having to now deal with Kevin Rudd if she had left him on the back bench and slowly killed him off politically. Instead she has given Rudd the chance to come back and campaign for himself, hoping that one day he will get his dream job back.

      As for Laurie Oakes, he is tough and asks the hard questions. I remember the last time he interviewed Tony Abbott, I thought Tony Abbott was the one to benefit if he wants to be PM of this country. Laurie Oakes grilled Tony Abbott with the questions that we the public wanted answered.

      Reply

    • Rob G says:

      08:54pm | 08/08/10

      Will at least one journalist start asking the hard questions of the government! Seeing they wont ask Gillard any hard questions, let Latham loose!

      Reply

    • John Doe says:

      09:39pm | 08/08/10

      Quite surprising to see Latham behind the camera as opposed to smashing it…

      Reply

    • Davido says:

      09:54pm | 08/08/10

      The fact is labor have struck a deal with channel 7 and the libs have a deal with channel 9.

      About time the people started using the tort of deceit.

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      10:05pm | 08/08/10

      Mark Latham apparently knows all about lying snakes in his old party but has it been confirmed that the ALP actually lodged a complaint with Channel Nine over his employment for 60 minutes?

      It does seem very odd that if he was employed it would be so far into the campaign.
      But that aside, is it at all possible that there was a diversionary incident required?, something to take any heat out of Well Julia, what’s going down now with you and Kev and you’ll not get together out on the trail at all!
      One way or another, the timing does seem kind of too good to be true and you know what they say about something that seems too good to be true!

      There’s another photo about of Julia and Mark in profile and she kind of even has a smile on her lips - look at the photograph in the top banner or aricles summary on side panel for this story - more than half pleased to make the encounter it would seem!.
      Mark did not even bulldoze his way in but was just there in the media scrum and if he was at all menacing, her minders would have had her bypass him.

      Double Agent Latham by any chance?

      Reply

    • Bruce says:

      11:52pm | 08/08/10

      So why was the ALP contacting channel 9 to complain about Mark Latham in the first place ?  What was the ALP trying achieve by making this approach ?

      Reply

    • Daniel says:

      07:49am | 09/08/10

      Bruce: They didn’t contact Channel 9 and complain. Confirmed by Channel 9. Stop only reading the headlines and your opinion might matter when you vote.

    • Gregg says:

      08:17am | 09/08/10

      Did they Bruce?

    • Pete Falk says:

      09:28am | 09/08/10

      Mark Latham is following his nose regarding the smell emanating from the actions of his own party and leaders with the back-room Union knee jerkers.  Good for him, i.e. if he is doing that.  If his actions spring from revenge or self-advancement, then not so good.  After all, Fraser has come out with his ridiculous comments about Tony Abbott.  What is good for the gander is good for the goose.  Slights on Tony and rebuttal of the Gillard/Rudd team in power - all go to show that some politicians have outdated their usefulness and that others have sense and intelligence.

      Reply

    • Barney says:

      09:45am | 09/08/10

      This is just more trash from Ch9 nothing new here

      Reply

    • armanda says:

      09:52am | 09/08/10

      I do get fed up with all the protestations from the ABC and similar news outlets that protest about what is accepatable media/journalist role. I am not sure who annointed them as the judge/jury of what is Its about time we started to see a media outlet that is prepared to deal with the issues and not just feed the lines that are fed to them and or repeat what others are saying.

      Reply

    • Dodgy Dave says:

      10:47am | 09/08/10

      It’s about time the spotlight was turned on the self-obsessed media. It’s done nothing but cover itself by running stories about supposedly tough questions it’s asked. No substance whatsoever, just self promotion and self-congratulation. Worthless effort and hopefully a watershed moment in our history.
      Down with the lot of ‘em.

      Reply

    • James says:

      11:01am | 09/08/10

      Yes, yes it was.  Latham is a crazy man.

      Reply

    • Peter says:

      12:14pm | 09/08/10

      When Latham was around, i thought a least politics won’t be boring. After see this exchange with Gillard, im glad the Australian people made the right choice in not electing him and Labour eventually booting him out..

      K Rudd, might have had his faults, but at least Labour is holding on to his talents. Latham must not have had any (talents) to hold on to..

      Reply

    • Belle says:

      09:58pm | 09/08/10

      The ALP served up Latham to the Australian public as the future Prime Minister. What a nightmare that would have been. Now here he is, lurching about the place making Julia Gillard very uncomfortable. It’s a bugger when the skeletons won’t stay in the cupboard! Everything I’ve seen in the since the Kevin07 circus convinces me that the ALP continue to demonstrate impaired judgement when choosing leaders.

 
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