“Sh*t happens”: Seven News in face-off with Tony Abbott
Did Seven's Mark Riley make fair use of footage with a Tony Abbott quote or did he just land one of politics' weirdest moments?
- Published by David Knox
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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was left silent during an interview with Seven News reporter Mark Riley. in which he was questioned about his response to a discussion surrounding the death of Australian soldier Lance Corporal MacKinney in Afghanistan.
US Colonel Jim Creighton briefed Abbott during his August tour of Afghanistan, noting concerns about the level of support and firepower that was available on the day of MacKinney’s death. Abbott said ”It’s pretty obvious that, well, sometimes shit happens, doesn’t it?”
When Riley questioned Abbott as to his response, he was accused of using the footage out of context and turning it into a ‘media circus.’
But after asking Abbott to clarify the context, the Opposition Leader stood silent.
Finally he said, ”I’ve given you the response you deserve.”
Abbott has since contacted the widow of the late McKinley, and apologised if she was upset by comments.
Seven News claims Abbott’s department had attempted to keep the Afghanistan footage from scrutiny but obtained it under Freedom of Information.
But there will now be division over whether Riley’s use of the quote was fair or whether he just snared one of politics weirdest moments this year.
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85 Responses
Just thought I’d mention that Nine News Brisbane on Tuesday airing an hour after this went to air in Sydney due to daylight savings ran this as their lead story and the footage they showed had the Seven logos cut out.
Yeah its nice to see the networks sticking it to each other and keeping the oppositions logo intact when it’s to their advantage.
I’m sure it would be very different if Nine or TEN got the footage first…
Ch 7 have done it again. No wonder I would rather watch 10,9 and/or abc news, at least I like and trust them. They have more likable presenters too both locally in Adelaide and nationally. These days 2/3 of my prime time viewing is from 9 and 10 and i watch sbs more than 7.
The ratings for 10 and 7 between 6 and 7pm should really be swapped around with 7 news under 400,000, george negus hitting 1.2 m, 10 news with 1.3m and today tonight on 300k beaten by neighbours with 350k . Haha but sadly that wont happen or at least for the time being. Nine would have a field day if 7 was so low and so would 10. Sadly Seven don’t appeal to me anymore and I only watch a few shows like Desperate Housewives and Rafters and I would still watch them even though I dislike 7with the way they carry on.
What we watch should be based on programs not networks!
I just thought it was interesting that when The 7PM Project covered this story last night (Tuesday) that they clearly acknowledged “this was from Channel 7 News” and played Seven’s footage untampered. No blurred out logos or giant logo coverups or intrusive watermarks saying “See It First!” “Look at Us!” “Yah yah yah” – nothing except for the usual 7PM watermark in the usual bottom left corner that appears on all footage they present. They did nothing to obscure Seven’s vision or try to thrust themselves onto the screen. See, it is possible to have a commercial news service respectively acknowledge that sometimes the other channel gets the scoop – something that Channels 7 and 9 could both learn from.
Nine News tonight kept the Seven News logo on their story -but then, it wasn’t exactly a complimentary story.
I wish Abbott had decked Riley on Seven News just like Latham bashed that taxi driver. That would have sped up his exit. He sure looked like he wanted to do that and had trouble resisting turning green like the Incredible Hulk.
Key Liberals have come out and said that they support Tony Abbott remaining as opposition leader. That always happens just before a leader is dumped. Will Abbott jump or will Hockey push him?
If this is Tony Abbott’s attitude towards the lives of Australian soldiers, then I think the public has a right to know about it.
Whenever I see Tony Abbott on TV I’m always taken back to Planet of the Apes by the way he struts around. It was nice to again be taken back to the past with his interview last night. I haven’t thought for a long time about the joy I got as a kid watching the toys on the car window ledge with their bobbing heads.
The story is not about what Mr Abbott said or the journalist for that matter. It is Mr Abbott’s response.
I would hate for this man to represent me or make decisions on my behalf.
I used to watch channel seven news but if it is unable to produce balanced journalism then there is no point.
Seven news is becoming an air head sensationalism news program just like their morning program with Koche.
Who wants to watch such rubbish.
It was a cheap shot and just shows that channel seven is incapable of producing good quality news.
Dave, yes, I am pretty hard-hearted. But you just need to do the math – her personal poll numbers have been looking pretty soft & the crocodile tears worked wonders for Anna Bligh. Now, suddenly everyone in Queensland has forgotten they wanted to vote her out in a couple of years.
Unfortunately, in this compulsory vote country we live in, emotion, more than rationality plays a big part in how we’re governed.