Month: January 2019
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The Weekly Notebook – On Dr Martin Luther King
Once reviled Dr Martin Luther King is rebirthed as all-American hero If you thought we had problems choosing how and when to celebrate Australia Day, spare a thought for Americans who have just been marking Rev Martin Luther King Day. About 15% took part – mainly Democrat politicians, black civil rightists and leftists – while…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: the political assassination of Prime Minister John Gorton – Part 3
Chequers scandal threatens to end John Gorton’s prime ministership SYDNEY, Tuesday, 2 July 1968 – When Prime Minister John Gorton arrived at Chequers nightclub he had been drinking – on and off – for most of his day in Sydney. After the formal Cabinet meeting which he chaired, Gorton joined Liberal Party grandees from the NSW…
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The Weekly Notebook – on national symbols
National symbols – why they matter and how they change Australia Day used to be called Empire Day and then Independence Day. Adding to the confusion the date has changed as well. Some people think it celebrates James Cook’s landing in Botany Bay in 1770 while, in more recent years, it is meant to mark…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: the political assassination of PM John Gorton – Part 2
The Prime Minister and the Showgirl – A Night on the Town SYDNEY, Tuesday, July 2, 1967 – At 21, nightclub entertainer Liza Minnelli was well on the way to become a famous celebrity. Not in her own right, however, but because her mother was Judy Garland, the most popular female celebrity of the 20th century.…
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The Weekly Notebook – Bye bye SMH, hello dumb-ass TV
Bye bye Sydney Morning Herald – Hello dumb-ass television The front pages of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Melbourne told the story: the plundering of Australia’s two most venerable newspapers by Channel Nine and Rupert Murdoch media is done and dusted. The newspapers, with a collective history of news reporting of more…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: the political assassination of PM John Gorton – Part 1
Part 1: Gorton steps onto the world stage London, Monday, 6 January 1969 It was a typically freezing winter’s day. In the outer London suburbs misty rain was falling steadily. People rushing to work were forced to open their umbrellas and wear raincoats to stay dry. In the city, the rain was more like sleet. It…
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The Weekly Notebook – Murdoch poised to raid ABC
Rupert Murdoch poised to raid the ABC Media oligarch Rupert Murdoch believes that the ABC is the best training ground for reporters and technicians. It is a lesson he learned from his fellow tycoon, the late Kerry Packer. When the ABC created “stars”, Packer would swoop with his chequebook. Packer preferred the national broadcaster to…