Actually, if the miners had any scense they would shut-up until after the Coronial investigation looks into allegations that the rock-fall was man made or created through negligence.

Paying these people for their story says an awful lot more about us than it does them.

At one level, it is interesting to compare their fate with that of the dozens of miners killed in mine accidents every month in other places around the globe. They are indeed a fortunate pair to live in a country that has so much spare cash it can afford to recognize their ordeal by buying the magazines, watching the shows and reading the papers that have, and will continue to, exploit it.

No such luck for their peers in China.

But in their situation, where they have effectively joined the circuit of celebrities that we as a society, for some unfathomable reason, seem to need, no-one is going to begrudge them their moment of fame and their sudden access to wads of cash.

May they, and their families and colleagues, greatly enjoy it.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT





The Howard IR laws has gone to the high court. The most important legal case in 50-100yrs and a growing number of legal experts are worried if the laws are not stopped it will be the beginning of the States demise.



This government is destroying Australia on so many fronts. The most damaging and badly written IR legislation that was rushed through parliament by a puppet coalition senate. Save us High Court!



How can a so called legal expert like Kevin Andrews put his name on such a bill. At least one senator admitted to not reading the bill and I suspect most

senators didn't bother.



A government that illegally sells Telstra who turns a blind eye to corrupt payments by AWB not to mention the compulsory ID card. That is if you are not rich.



Then there lies on Iraq, GST and children overboard and what about forcing disabled to work.



Howard and Liberal voters, you made a bad choice with your last vote. This time don't fall for the interest rate rubbish (which they don't control) and baby bonus bribes or small tax cuts.



One day we will have a PM who doesn’t stab us in the back. Mr Howard, go and live in America. Oh that’s right your on holidays there right now. Good on Beaconsfeild {labor voters)

Sly,the begining of the States demise? Never heard more pleasing news.Get rid of the States and empower local Govt.Make Local Govt more profesional and get rid of the developers and do gooders who push individual agendas.Let's rid ourselves of a layer of Govt.We are one of the most over Governed and regulated country in the world.

As for the miners,good luck to them.

I thought the subject was the miners and their possible future. Is this to turn into an electioneering vote-for-me site?

"Chequebook journalism" is wrong in principle.
It is an attempt to obtain some kind of exclusivity on material which is rightly in the PUBLIC domain.
The purpose of journalism is report news faithfully, but a trend has evolved in which the specific medium, not the message, is flaunted as paramount.

My hope is that the miners will tell their story freely to an independent news organisation, such as the ABC.
If they choose not to, then I hope that Channel Nine does NOT get it, so that their arrogant belief in their right to win does not succeed in this instance.

Any payment made should go equally to every member of the mining community whose total joint effort saw the two trapped men rescued.

What discerning followers of news do not need is Eddie Everywhere's ability to have his gullible sport-yob viewers set the terms for what should be quality national reportage.