The Australian editor Mitchell fires back at Minister Turnbull after News Corp jibes
Editor-in-chief of The Australian Chris Mitchell has fired back at Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull accusing him of courting the “enemies” of the Liberal Party by launching Morry Schwartz’s The Saturday Paper.
On Friday night Turnbull gave a speech in which made several jokes at the expense of the national broadsheet The Australian, including mocking them by saying there was “nothing too small its terms of the deficiencies of the nation for them to focus on”.
Mitchell told Mumbrella this morning: “Malcolm can not resist seeking approval from his party’s enemies at events such as Friday night’s.”
Turnbull’s decision speak at the function has drawn commentary from the right with conservative columnists such as Andrew Bolt and Gerard Henderson also criticising the Communications Minister’s decision to launch what they describe as “a left wing newspaper”. Today’s edition of The Australian also compares The Saturday Paper with The Green Left Weekly.
I don’t recall Turnbull naming Murdoch?! Unless Mitchell thinks that he knows someone who fits Malcolm’s description of a “… demented plutocrat pouring more and more money into a loss making venture that is just going to peddle your opinions.”
Mitchell proves Turnbull’s jibe.
Man, Mitchell really needs to get a grip, and soon. Malcolm’s just dropping truth bombs.
Chris Mitchell seems to think a free press, capable of criticism of current govt policy, unlike his own biased publication, is representative of the Liberal party’s enemies. No wonder his publication loses so much money. Any credibility The Australian once had is fast disappearing.
Good man:
“Our democracy flourishes with a vibrant and diverse media and there has been a lot of concern in recent years that the declining business model of traditional newspapers and the consequent diminution in their journalistic resources will in turn diminish our democracy. Those concerns are real as I noted in my speech.”
Turnbull’s reasoned balanced view is now under threat from the liberal ultra right wing. No doubt he will be getting a text from Tony today advising no more Q&A probably a tweat from the ageing plutocrat also thanking him for the headlines
The comment from the editor indicates that ideologically his paper is aligned with Abbott. The mention of ‘enemies’ infer that there is a war going on somewhere. Let me be more specific…– There is a war and it has started right outside his office…The people will win as shown by the fact that his paper has already lost $30 million with their compliments and their Media group will lose much more. Hopefully it will be then topped of b y Murdoch and his cronies being thrown in jail…
If The Saturday Paper is the “enemy” of the Coalition, that must make The Australian the cheer squad. We all know it’s true. Say it, Chris, just say it!
Malcolm understands that he is the minister for all Australians and as such agreed to launch a paper which may not necessarily adhere to his party’s political persuasion. This is one of the reasons why the left likes Malcolm more than almost any other liberal politician. He seems reasonable and doesn’t act like a child. Mitchell has completely proven his point.
Will be fascinating how long the Saturday Paper lasts in at least print form.
Why or why isn’t Malcoml Prime Minister?