[LINK] ABC/Telstra deal

[Bill D'Arcy]

Stewart wrote:

>I think there's a lot more to the ABC/Telstra deal than meets the eye.
>
And so does Kirtsen Garrett, of Radio National, who's a staff elected
commissioner. Kirtsen was interviewed on the 7.30 Report last night
(Monday) but was prevented from revealing all because of confidentiality
over the deal. According to Garrett, the devil is in the detail, that it's
in the confidential documents that the real threat to the ABC's
independence lies. I'm really surprised that MD Brian Johns (ex Sydney
Morning Herald, ex Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and ex
Penguin) is preventing full disclosure of this agreement, although, I
suppose, he'd claim that he's only carrying out the Board's wishes.
And I'm flabbergasted that he didn't have the decency to get out the 12
guage and shoot Media Watch, rather than bashing its teeth out with a
cricket bat. Mr Barry's premier last night must have thrilled those,
including Ray Martin, who hate the program, who want trivia, not substance.

Bill D'Arcy