http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/lyall-mercer/ Lyall grew up in Brisbane and left high school with plans to become a radio star. Unfortunately radio stations didn’t share those plans so he undertook further study in journalism after which he regularly contributed to many newspapers and magazines across Australia in the subject areas of current affairs, politics, opinion pieces, food and travel. In 2002, Lyall moved to the USA where he conducted seminars across America and Canada, training corporate and church leaders in the areas of media and publicity. Lyall returned to Brisbane in 2008 where he works as a freelance journalist and PR consultant. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-row-in-defence-of-wendy-francis/ Few have succeeded in defending the seemingly indefensible; O.J Simpson’s attorney being a notable exception. Yet I will attempt to make a defence for Wendy Francis, Queensland’s much maligned Senate candidate for Family First. At the outset – a disclosure. Francis has used my PR company in the past for strategic advice (don’t laugh – I already know what you are thinking) and I assisted her from a media perspective in her campaign to “make the outdoors G-rated” a few months back. That said, this article is not being written for her, nor does she have any knowledge of it. I am merely adding my perspective to bring some sense of balance and understanding to what has been an extremely one-sided, and in some ways unfair, reaction. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Lyall Mercer) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-row-in-defence-of-wendy-francis/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-row-in-defence-of-wendy-francis/#item3800 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:40:55 +0000 Lyall Mercer | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Queensland-Beautiful-one-day-a-disaster-the-next/ My name’s Lyall, I’m from Queensland and we are sunk! Kevin can’t help us, Anna is making it worse and the other guy who wants to be Premier…..thingamajig whatshisname – what the hell is he about? We are officially doomed. Despite years of GST revenue, Queensland has no money and we’ll soon have no assets, yet we’ll still get huge loans (I want the name of that bank) to go into further debt which – according to politicians from both parties during the next election campaign – will be someone else’s fault and will at the same time be fully maintainable, as long as we vote for them. Now Tony can call Kevin a fake Queenslander (we know he’s not because he says port and togs) but he had better not accuse me of same. I’m the real deal, growing up in the very Queensland suburb of Murarrie, home to the local dump, saleyards and abattoirs which created a beautiful aroma every afternoon at around 3. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Lyall Mercer) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Queensland-Beautiful-one-day-a-disaster-the-next/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Queensland-Beautiful-one-day-a-disaster-the-next/#item2902 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:45:19 +0000 Lyall Mercer | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/treating-aussie-internet-users-like-a-bunch-of-dodos/ Attention Senator Conroy: Forget about filtering the internet. Instead please pour your energy, time and (our) money into providing Australia with an internet – and a phone system for that matter – that works, is accessible and affordable. Many Australians are likely oblivious to the communications dark ages in which we live. In the USA I can connect my home or office to a variety of internet providers, all offering great, low-priced deals. In Australia I am given a choice of a couple of providers with a few extra resellers offering outrageous prices and slow service. In the USA almost all internet plans provide unlimited downloads and usage. In Australia I am offered plans limiting the hours I can spend on the internet; if I exceed this I am hit with exorbitant hourly rates or a slower internet. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Lyall Mercer) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/treating-aussie-internet-users-like-a-bunch-of-dodos/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/treating-aussie-internet-users-like-a-bunch-of-dodos/#item2830 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:55:39 +0000 Lyall Mercer | Author bios | The Punch