In The Age, this Saturday, July 11th, 2015 -
the comments both from political
commentators and readers is quite revealing.
And also quite depressing.
One cartoon shows Mr Abbott telling the ABC -
"If you do as I say, I'll give you back your independence."

The simple fact remains that Mr Abbott has said that
"heads should roll" at the broadcaster for allowing
former terror suspect Zaky Mallah to ask a question live on air
and Mr Abbott called Q&A a "left lynch mob." (nice).

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday complied
with Mr Abbott's boycott by withdrawing from Monday's
Q&A. Mr Turnbull who had previously stressed the ABC's
editorial independence from government will instead appear on the
ABC's 7.30 program.

I agree with one reader who pointed out
that Mr Abbott opposed the boycott of a
radio show whose host called for the killing
of the former PM but now demands that his ministers
boycott a TV show because of the selection of a misguided
young man.

By dictating his wishes to an independent body with its
charter - Mr Abbott is displaying
the behaviour of a PM who equates the Prime Ministership
to a totalitarian dictator of some sort.

Mr Turnbull got it right when he stated:

"I have no right, no power, nor should I have, to direct
the editorial content of the ABC. The responsibility for
ensuring that the ABC's news and information services are
balanced and objective and impartial and accurate is in
section eight of the act, and that responsibility lies
with the board of directors."

The Prime Minister has clearly stated that he would be
happy to life a ban on his frontbenchers appearing on Q&A
IF the ABC transferred the program from its television department
to news and current affairs.

Whichever you twist this - the linking of the move to the
lifting of the ban, and to suggest that it happen before the
ABC Board meets on August 6th amounts to over-reach.
The certain rejection of the ultimatum clearly means the ban
will stay in force until the meeting.

The ABc has already admitted fault you say. So where is the problem then do you think. If the ABC had a problem, it is now fixed.
You don't kind of think Abbott has a problem. The only way Abbott can lawfully change the ABC programming is by legislation.

So what does he really want, bearing in mind that he had it in for the ABC 2+ years ago. We need to be clear without any bribery. Not that i see as boycotting being bribery. Who cares if they do not want to be a part of discussion or not. The audience will make their own conclusions.

Foxy,

It looks like Abbott has got what he wanted. Tony Jones will now be supervised by the news dept who have a modicum of integrity and should prevent TJ's more FW maneuvers.

I also wonder why the left whingers on this site think that freedom of speech should extend to promoters of ISIS, but not to climate sceptics?

SM,

"Not a chance. The first two examples were from the same thread, saying exactly the same thing...."

So?

You are saying what I said you were saying.

You intimated that I was telling fibbers - as in:

"While we often disagree, I never before thought that you were an outright liar.'

".....The third was repeat after your porkie."

nice try, SM...

You posted this:

"From your view point 90% of people are far right wing."

In response to my post:

"Considering that only the far right whingers think that the ABC is biased, I think that pretty much settles it."

Which was a play on your post directly before it:

"Considering that only the far left whingers think that the ABC is unbiased, I think that pretty much settles it."

So it wasn't in response to any "porkie" - it was you deploying your fairytale "90%" show stopper....once again

Poirot,

Again an epic fail. Once again a repeat of the same topic from the same thread just after you claimed that everyone that thought Labor and the greens cocked up border control were rednecks.

Still a far cry from your claims.

SM,

Here's what you complained about:

"You're the fellow who keeps on telling me that 90% of the people think this - and 90% of the people think that....and by chance they all seem to hold exactly the same views as Shadow Minister! (whodathunkit?)"

You added...

"Is false and you know it. Shame on you."

I have demonstrated by reposting your posts that it was not "false".

Now you're trying to squirm out of it by saying that the two posts (although posted at different times and in different ways) don't count.

And you're further trying to muddy the waters by waffling about " ....Labor and the greens cocked up border control were rednecks."

Just for the record, I couldn't give a toss about your stupid and vacuous 90% posts, but you intimated I lied - and even after having your posts rubbed in your face, you're still dancing around in a giddy whirl.