denying the obvious

[anthonybaxter]

Prime Minister John Howard says people worried about News Corporation buying a stake in the media group Fairfax need to calm down.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has paid $364 million for a 7.5 per cent share in Fairfax.

Mr Howard says the Government's new media laws are not behind the acquisition.

Uh huh. Sure. Right. It's just a GIANT COINCIDENCE that Packer sold off a chunk of PBL (while maintaining control, nice effort), Stokes is moving on the WA newspapers, and now Murdoch is moving on Fairfax.

I mean, there's assuming everyone is stupid, and there's assuming everyone is really, really, really stupid.

From the same article:

Communications Minister Helen Coonan says she is not surprised by the string of media deals being struck this week.

Last week Senator Coonan said she did not expect to see a wave of takeovers as a result of the Federal Government's new media ownership laws.

Oh my god - look! ABC bias in action! Pointing out that a federal minister is spinning absolute shite!

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oh my god - look! ABC bias in action! Pointing out that a federal minister is spinning absolute shite!

That's right, we need balance. Like something that Helen Coonan said that was sensible.

Whoops, there goes the research budget.

[anthonybaxter.livejournal.com]

It's sensible in that it makes sense to her. She doesn't have a problem with increased concentration of media ownership, because the new owners will own her party lots of favours.

[aeduna.livejournal.com]

the new owners will own her party

Freudian slip?

[anthonybaxter.livejournal.com]

Ha.

Well, of course, Packer and Murdoch already own the Liberal party.

Mind you, the ALP's no better - there's a quote I'm searching for, along the lines of "the most terrible thing in the world is when you try to sell out, but no-one's even interested in buying".