Author: Alex Mitchell
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of Prime Minister John Gorton – Part 10
The Prime Minister and I both become ASIO targets MURWILLUMBAH, 4 December 2007 Postal workers in the Tweed Valley, a sugar cane and banana-growing shire just south of the Queensland border, deliver mail to outlying rural properties on a motorbike. The intrepid couriers are mainly retirees earning a few extra bob on contracts with Australia…
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The Weekly Notebook – Labor’s Vatican faction
Why exodus of Labor senator doesn’t make the news A ridiculous amount of media space is being given to the spate of Liberal Party resignations, both male and female, on the eve of forthcoming Federal Election. An eve-of-poll exodus by Federal MPs is not new. It has been going on for decades and it is a…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of PM John Gorton – Part 9
John Gorton’s Road to Bali SAIGON, Sunday 9 June 1968 When John Gorton became Prime Minister in January 1968 the major item on his domestic and foreign policy agenda was the Vietnam war. Against the strenuous advice of his own military, political and intelligence advisers, Gorton decided to visit Australian troops in Vietnam at the…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of PM John Gorton – Part 8
Mrs Gorton stands by her man Canberra, Wednesday, 19 March 1969 – In popular mythology the Ides of March is associated with hellish forebodings. It is dated from March, 44BC, when Julius Caesar was assassinated by fellow senators marking a turning point in Roman history. Shakespeare cemented irrational fears about the calendar month by writing…
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Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of Prime Minister John Gorton – Part 7
Midnight dancing at the US Embassy Canberra, Thursday, 1 November 1968 – Prime Minister John Gorton was just emerging from the tabloid scandal involving cabaret artist Liza Minnelli at Chequers nightclub in Sydney when he was hit by fresh claims about his misbehaviour with a teenage female from Canberra’s National Press Gallery. The story unfolded…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of PM John Gorton – Part 6
My part in John Gorton’s downfall London, Saturday, 22 March 1969. The sheer excitement of having a story on the front page is the dream of all reporters, and don’t let them tell you otherwise. I hung around after I had finished my shift on London’s Sunday Times to grab a copy of the first…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: The political assassination of Prime Minister John Gorton – Part 5
Rupert Murdoch storms Fleet Street with help of old schoolmate John Gorton London, Monday, 4 December 1968 – Rupert Murdoch was the enfant terrible of media owners when he arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport three weeks before Christmas. Cashed up and burning with ambition, Murdoch was on the acquisition trail. He wanted to achieve what…
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The Weekly Notebook – Townsville floods
Townsville floods – a bleak history of political neglect For the first time in my lifetime, Townsville is in the news. Not just the local or national news, but internationally as well. A biblical level of flooding has ruined thousands of homes, farms and businesses – and brought forth a deluge of politicians seeking votes.…
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Untold story of Canberra’s first coup: the political assassination of Prime Minister John Gorton – Part 4
John Gorton goes dancing again at Sydney Town Hall SYDNEY, Saturday, 13 July 1968 – Four days after his perilous escapade at Sydney Chequers restaurant with cabaret star Liza Minnelli, Prime Minister John Gorton was on the dance floor for a very different event at Sydney Town Hall. He was a surprise attendee at the…
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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…