Yes, Prime Minister as Abbott’s office liaises media appearances for ministers
Cabinet ministers in the Abbott government will be required to liaise all their media appearances via the Prime Minister's office.
- Published by David Knox
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Cabinet ministers in the Abbott government will be required to liaise all their media appearances via the Prime Minister’s office.
A leaked email, from Abbott’s senior press secretary James Boyce, told ministerial staff that all requests for interviews must be vetted by the PM’s new communications chief, Kate Walshe.
The leaked email stated: “All media co-ordination and requests should go through Kate first. This covers all national media interviews on television, radio and print. This includes any ABC local radio or ABC television interviews, the Sunday program, SKY News, and metropolitan print media longer-format interviews, etc.
“With any regular appearances on shows such as Sky AM Agenda, they should first have been coordinated through Kate at least the day before.”
But Abbott says it isn’t to approve said appearances but to ensure the government speaks with a united voice.
“In opposition, before my senior colleagues did media, they normally called in with my office. It was a very good arrangement in opposition, it s a very good arrangement in government. And it’s one that my colleagues have always been happy to comply with,” Tony Abbott said.
Hopefully the reference to “the Sunday program” isn’t supposed to mean the Sunday program. It ended in 2008.
Source: The Drum
10 Responses
@ deedeedragons …Have to agree with your comment…*cringe*…*groan*
Probably just as well they are not saying much…I cannot watch it all…like a bad TV show.
I think your analogy DK, to that old TV show is somewhat appropriate….
And before anyone bites….I have no particular political leanings…I can go either way…or someone else.
The nightmare is only just beginning.
Gone from Dr. No to Dr. No-Comment. And really, can’t he open a car door by himself without standing waiting for his female official-door-opener to do it? The hand/arm/body shake he gave the Indonesian PM reminded me of the Mark Latham-John Howard shake at 2GB. He is rude. Never says “thanks” to journos at media conferences. Just turns his back when the hard questions are put. Bring on the double dissolution.
On top of this, Australia’s worst PM regularly walks out on press conferences & completely ignores some questions when walking to his car. Seems he’s got a lot to hide. That said, like Queensland before, we get the government we deserve.
Am sure the Opposition will use up all the extra airtime now that the Govt will give up to stay in secret mode. Abbott may as well slink off to England for a couple months to watch the Cricket like Menzies used to.
Since when has ministers appearing on TV to spout their own personal crazy ideas to try and boost their popularity with extremists in their base and get donations been good government or transparency?
If they continue doing that and spouting contradictory nonsense the media will destroy them within a month.
The 20 minute spincycle and reams of press releases aren’t transparency, they are obfuscation and attempts at manipulation.
Looks like they’re going to “Stop the quotes”?.
This is the government of secrecy. Hide all info & maybe we won’t notice.
Less pollies in the media cant be a bad thing for a year or three
Yes, Flat Earth Tony won’t be happy until he is controlling everything !