I was disturbed at the reaction to the recent ABC's Q & A programme in relation to Zaky Mallah.
I heard the comments of various government officals including Prime Minister Abbott. I thought I had better look on Iview to see what all the fuss was about. Well I don't think Abbott and I were watching the same programme.
Mallah clearly stated he had stuffed up (ten years ago) and it is also fairly obvious he was not an international terrorist. I didn't sound to me that he was recruiting terrorists nor was he advocating such. That doesn't mean that all those years ago he wasn't a deluded and misguided person.
Should the ABC have researched Mallah's recent profile a little more? Arguably so, but it is certainly not the place of the government to demand that heads roll. This is just the Liberal Party's phobia.
I heard a number of comments relating to this episode including the response from the CEO, of the ABC, Mark Scott, who pointed out that although they may be a government funded organisation, they were not the PR arm of the Liberal party or indeed any other political body.
However, the issue that alarms me most is that the government seems to want to censor news (and it may be distasteful to some elements of the community). It is quite likely that much of the news is not to their liking , but that is not a reason to quell discussion. I don't much like the rise of religious fervor, but if we censor this discussion we become like other states where the freedom of speech is non-existent. Are we to become a China? Or a Burma? Or any other country ruled by a police state and unable to speak freely?
It seems like there could be an Australian election imminent and the government is happy to promote a culture of fear. Traditionally the populace is reluctant to change government if they are afraid. Is the government manipulating this issue to suit their own agenda or am I being unduly cynical?
Regards
Paul
I heard the comments of various government officals including Prime Minister Abbott. I thought I had better look on Iview to see what all the fuss was about. Well I don't think Abbott and I were watching the same programme.
Mallah clearly stated he had stuffed up (ten years ago) and it is also fairly obvious he was not an international terrorist. I didn't sound to me that he was recruiting terrorists nor was he advocating such. That doesn't mean that all those years ago he wasn't a deluded and misguided person.
Should the ABC have researched Mallah's recent profile a little more? Arguably so, but it is certainly not the place of the government to demand that heads roll. This is just the Liberal Party's phobia.
I heard a number of comments relating to this episode including the response from the CEO, of the ABC, Mark Scott, who pointed out that although they may be a government funded organisation, they were not the PR arm of the Liberal party or indeed any other political body.
However, the issue that alarms me most is that the government seems to want to censor news (and it may be distasteful to some elements of the community). It is quite likely that much of the news is not to their liking , but that is not a reason to quell discussion. I don't much like the rise of religious fervor, but if we censor this discussion we become like other states where the freedom of speech is non-existent. Are we to become a China? Or a Burma? Or any other country ruled by a police state and unable to speak freely?
It seems like there could be an Australian election imminent and the government is happy to promote a culture of fear. Traditionally the populace is reluctant to change government if they are afraid. Is the government manipulating this issue to suit their own agenda or am I being unduly cynical?
Regards
Paul
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