Page 1197 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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fearless press. There was nothing fair about what Patrick McLoughlin did to me and my family in those two broadcasts. And there was nothing fearless about it. It was an unmitigated, cowardly, sensational attack on me.
Public accountability and good government are the first victims of a timid and biased media industry. I have been discussing these matters with my Law Office and at the moment I am seeking advice as to whether we will refer a transcript of the report on these matters by Mr Patrick McLoughlin to the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal.
Finally, Mr Moore may now wish to tell this Assembly that he did not tell Mr McLoughlin about his private thoughts; and we would, of course, welcome any statement by Mr Moore to the effect that he did not bare his soul to the reporter. In effect, Mr Moore is saying that he believes that his allegations will be vindicated by the NCA. We know that there is practically nothing on the record capable of investigation, so he is not providing any facts. But Mr McLoughlin sees fit to purvey these allegations, unlike the rest of the media.
MR BERRY: I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to this matter, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker.
Leave granted.
MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. I have to say: Does this man ever give up? What surprises me about this outrageous attack on an individual in the community is that the Attorney-General has not had the courage to do it in the form of a motion so that it can be debated. Of course, if that were the case, everybody would be entitled to speak on the issue. But what is most outrageous about it is that the Assembly has already dealt with this matter. It seems that the members of the Government have short memories. Mr Moore was censured by this Assembly over this very matter. The irony of it all is that it is the same sort of dirt as that thrown by Mr Moore, which the Labor Party does not approve of, and that which was thrown by Mr Collaery some time earlier. He is at it again. Throw enough dirt and some of it will stick. That is what this Minister is about. He is now whingeing because he is getting a little bit of his own back.
There is no justification for inaccurate reporting of issues, but what Mr Collaery has to accept is that it is his credibility that probably gets in the way of reports being written the way that he would want them written. He cannot write the reports himself; he has to rely on the fourth estate to do that. He has to improve his own credibility. I have to say, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, that he has a long way to go before he would be convincing to anybody.
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