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After the police / media raid on Craig Thomson this morning, Peter Wicks asks ― what the f#$% is going on with the media in this country?
A police raid is a pretty traumatic thing, I can imagine, no matter who you are.
Some have described it as being the mental equivalent of root canal surgery, or a colonoscopy, or an enema. Either way, it cannot a pleasant experience, and not something you would like made into a public spectacle. You cannot get changed, you can’t even go to the bathroom without supervision; you can do absolutely nothing.
I will apologise now for any bad language I may use in this post, but what the fuck is going on with the media in this country?
Today’s raid on Craig Thomson’s property was about one person, Craig. It was not about his wife Zoe; she is what I would refer to as an innocent bystander. She would be under incredible stress and would be hoping for some privacy.
Well, not a chance, Zoe dear. Not while the Australian press pack is around.
Fairfax had a photo (taken, it says, by Nick Moir ― who must be so proud) which we will not be posting (because we have some fucking respect!) of Zoe, taken through one of the windows during the raid. How is this even relevant ― or legal, for that matter? Surely the photograph could be used as evidence of trespass at the very least.
This is not the first time Zoe has had to deal with this either. It does not seem that long ago when a heavily pregnant Zoe had one of Channel 7’s crew hiding under the bathroom window as she had a shower — classy stuff.
This is not Princess Diana topless on a yacht, nor is it Fergie sucking some accountant’s toes by the pool. This is just the wife of an MP, in her own house, being put under enormous pressure. The press should do all of us a favour and show a little fucking decency.
I have already spoken about Ean Higgins and his antics that seem to indicate he is a sock puppet for Kathy Jackson; I just hope Kathy washes her hands thoroughly before eating.
Aside from Independent Australia, WixxyLeaks, Vex News, and now Crikey who seem to be joining us on the front line at last with some great articles in the last couple of weeks, no other news outlet appears to be using evidence.
Some, like Ean Higgins, appear to just write whatever they’re told, as I’ve mentioned. Others use things such as a conversation someone says they’ve overheard at a crowded, drunken, HSU function, and refer to it as evidence (apparently that’s good enough for a Walkey these days).
How many stories are churned out on page one, only to have disclaimers, retractions, corrections, and disputed facts printed at the bottom corner of page 26, six days later?
Most of the press point to the FWA investigation as their bible, and the centrepiece of all that is factual. Yet, this is the investigation they took the piss out of solidly for years up to its arrival, saying how inept and useless the FWA was to take so long. Fast forward to now and we have the KPMG report that tears FWA a new one, totally discrediting its investigation and the entire process.
So, with the FWA investigation in the crapper, we then have the Temby report; alas, that is also based on that FWA investigation which is now drowning in the crapper, so best we flush and chuck Temby’s report in after it.
Using other people’s dodgy work as evidence is not how I have chosen to work; I have primarily relied on documentation, and first hand witnesses, not hearsay and certified bunkum.
The press in this country, who seem content to loiter outside bathroom windows, and write whatever crap they are told to by someone who is under police investigation, were always quick to point the finger at the UK press and say how different it is over there.
Tapped phones and dodgy photos were the way press rolled in the UK. But god forbid we have an Inquiry in Australia, our press have their own watchdog here to make sure those type of shenanigans couldn’t occur. That watchdog is run by those who are supposed to be being monitored, and every journo that has ever walked past News Ltd has been on Q&A or The Drum to say that it doesn’t happen here.
Well, today we have seen another example of photography that is a blatant breach of privacy and, in my opinion, represents unethical behaviour by our media. I hope that Thomson’s family press charges.
I can also tell readers that since this whole saga began, my phone has been tapped, and my emails hacked numerous times and, yes, I have reported all of this to police. Bear in mind, I’m not even directly involved.
I am not saying that it is the press doing this to me, but I am just saying that it does happen.
As for the raid today, we will see if anything comes of it. It is the 3rd highly publicised raid we have had in NSW on this case in just over 12 months, and what has directly come from any of them so far?
Jack Shit.
UPDATE (24/10/12, 4.55pm):
Since this post has gone up, Fairfax have removed the image from their site, below is their statement:
‘Thank you for your email. smh.com.au is a breaking news site that aims to bring readers current and reliable news from Australia and throughout the world around the clock. We try to select pictures appropriate to each story. Upon consideration we have removed the image of Craig Thomson’s wife Zoe.’
They should have never put it up….
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License
39 Comments
I must be a bit niaeve Peter, I am deeply shocked to hear that someone is tapping your phone and hacking your e-mails.That is truly frightening.Thank you so much for your courage in persevering despite the itimidation.
As for the media morons, they are behaving like a lynch mob and I can well imagine how Zoe feels, it must be a dreadfull feeling.But who precisely notified the media?If it was the coppers they are surely compromised and I reckon we are entitled to an explanation as to why the media were “invited” and on whose direction the coppers issued the invite. This whole thing stinks to high heaven .
Such injustice! Hang in there, Craig, you have a lot of supporters.
bundysmum, I was tapped and had one visit from the AFP while I was trying to get information about the Bakhtiytari family to stop their deportation, I have been smeared and abused up hill and down dale for years because I don’t think we should lock up kids.
Julian Burnside, Jeremy Moore, Paul Boylan and other lawyers have been bullied and threatened, tapped and followed with bogus claims made against them.
It happens every day and now Rocksoff wants to make it even easier.
Why the hell would the NSW police send 15 people to collect some documents, why go to his office that has nothing at all to do with any union work, why do it at all in fact after their disgusting torture of Roberto Curti was exposed for us all to see.
They are rogue cops up there in NSW, and McCardle was brilliant.
Fancy evoking things like democracy, something our media have never heard of.
I share bundysmum’s curiosity about who tipped off the press. Who could possibly benefit from this very public raid? I also noted the police carried garbage bags of apparent documents out with them. No boxes this time.
Peter, we independent thinkers and your readers support you completely.
I’m shocked but then not surprised that you have been hacked and tapped.
It’s a slimy world we inhabit. Keep up the good work at exposing the truth.
‘I can also tell readers that since this whole saga began, my phone has been tapped, and my emails hacked numerous times and…’
Dear PETER WICKS, I am becoming increasingly concerned at how often this happens to we investigative journalists, to the extent that it is almost par for the course.
I join BUNDEYSMUM in thanking you ‘for your courage in persevering despite the intimidation ‘ – and INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA for publishing your ground-breaking investigations.
And as the police presumably issue millions of warrants on various things every year why do the media get into such a frenzy over this trifling matter.
They spent less time caring about the theft of $300 million by AWB to feed to Saddam Hussein for which no-one has ever been charged because the statute of limitations ran out.
AS for Abbott claiming there was some crime, what would that be.
I bet Brandis is doing all this still along with Abetz, we saw what a great win Brandis had with the demonising and continual picking at the scab of David Hicks.
Gosh. Some strange goings on for sure. Its a scary thing and maybe not just for journos. When my story (In a Mediate Danger)came out in IA both my twitter accounts fell over. Guess what – all of my posts containing any IA story links to any # topics – just disappeared – never showed up. Not once. I’ve kept all the screen shots as I couldn’t believe my eyes…..Over the years of dealing with big law big spin and big ethics I’ve come to expect the unexpected.
Oh! – as Alice would say – sometimes I’ve believed in 6 impossible things before breakfast.
George Brandis should watch his back as Kathy Jackson may replace him as the Coalition’s daft shadow Attorney General. Jackson outperformed Brandis with the following dim-witted opinions masquerading as authoritative and legal summation of the raid:
“My understanding is that Victorian police are looking at Craig Thomson, there is no other reason they raided his house today,” she said.
“For him to come out and say, he gave them a few documents, well they raided his house and they took the documents …”
And the SMH reported the following:
“Detective Superintendent Brett Guerin of Victoria Police’s serious crime operations said he was outraged that information about the joint raids with NSW Police had been leaked.
“Victoria Police is very conscious of the high-profile nature of this investigation and has been resolute in the information they have provided to the media. I would love to know how the media knew what was happening,” he said.”
It was only five months ago that the former boss of Victoria Police’s sex crimes squad Glenn Davies pleaded guilty to misconduct for leaking information to journalists.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-14/former-police-chief-admits-guilt/4011602
But that was another matter and we must not construe leaks to the media is an everyday event by the Victoria Police.
The police officer says he would love to know who leaked the info to the media. Really? I think I could hazard a pretty good guess. And then they think that any subsequent investigation and report will have any credibility at all. It is easy to see why the Liberal Party was so keen to get rid of Simon Overland.
There is mention of plastic bags being carried out they were probably taking his refuse out….this is all great Thearte for the media and the dimwits that hang on to their every word,there should be serious questions asked of the NSW and Victorian Goverments as to how the media were there and what part the LNP was involved to make this great Theatre
I hope McCardle and Thomson get a chance soon to kick some heads big time. Then after the dust has settled, those in the Liebral Party -who have everything to gain from this – get an even greater head kicking, starting with the pompous fool Brandis on down. Why else would Abbott continually make himself look to be a complete twat by spouting stupid remark after stupid remark? Answer – to divert the MSM. And now Pyne pops up after his gazellean slumber to mouth off as per usual. It doesn’t take much to see who is behind all this, stoking the fire and roasting Thomson on a stake. But justice WILL be done, and we now know about this issue not because of the pathetic excuse we have for a media, but because of IA and Wixxy. All else is just waste of bandwidth, including the ABC of late.
Anyone would think Thomson was Al Capone and Bugsy Malone.
Or perhaps the clowns have been watching Boardwalk Empire.
Ray ‘Bully Bolts’ Hadley was there participating in the front line press interrogation, he just happened to be on holidays. Sky news reported that “Ray Hadley was there in jeans and …… etc and was asking tough questions.” What is the justice system coming to when police tip offs alert buffoons like this jackass. It confirms your suspicions of the MSM that it appears to have been left ‘Bully Bolts’ to ask the ‘hard’ questions.
Absolutely appalling outcome.
Keep the bastards honest, Wixxy
HOLY Sh**t, that interview with Chris McCardle was awesome. I haven’t enjoyed a “political reporter’s” interview that much for a VERY long time. Me thinks, Craig Thomson is in good hands. Thanks so much Wixxy,for your skill and perseverance.
The cops always inform the media and remember this is the Victorian cops who made sure they did in the honest copper Simon Overland.
About 4 years ago the Kings Cross coppers in Sydney alerted the media who were duly ion hand as they raided (legal)porn shops and carted out boxes and boxes of alleged k**die porn. One shop owner was most perplexed as he said they loaded up all his old stock from a store room which eh couldn’t get rid of and he was quite pleased.
Stern looking plods faced the cameras predicting predicting massive arrests etc etc and said all porn shops would be closed immediately.
One lawyer fronted cameras and wondered if they would close the one close to magistrate courts in Liverpool Street.
Nothing was ever heard of the case again, no charges placed and all ththey are doing something.e shops are still there. Police love the theatre, males them look like they are doing something.
jumbled words..maybe computer hacked.
One small matter which indicates the quite shocking prejudice or ignorance of our media which was ‘reported’ on 2 major networks and the increasingly woeful ABC was the claim Mrs Thomson “destroyed” television equipment.
What really happened is she drove out of her house and these ghastly hacks had left a small light lying in the middle of the road- a danger to any driver and in a media seige situation, easily missed.
The mass media did very similar when Rodney Adler’s driver drove him from a court and a media scrum which had surged onto the front basically pushed one of their own so he was slightly clipped by Adler’s car.
It was the media’s fault and they had in both incidents acted disgracefully and commandered public roads as though it was their right.
But if they lie about such small petty matters, God only help us what other furphies they dish up.
Time’s due for a Leveson-style inquiry into the relationship between police and media here in Aus.There are some very unsavoury scenarios that need to be examined that indicate an unsettling notion that there is a bigger “power play” here.A big mitigating factor is the fact that there is minority Govt. and it would not surprise me that such a raid was used to maximize political “point scoring” .
In a previous raid on the Sydney HSU offices how was it that Kathy Jackson was “tipped off” on the ensuing raid before anyone else , arriving there and waiting for it to unfold?
The independence of policing, the laws surrounding privacy , appear to be open to interpretation. The MGM production that occured yesterday outside Thomson’s home warrants a full and thorough investigation , and whilst we’re on that topic let’s hope Kathy Jackson is subject to the same scrutiny she insists on others.
On its website ABC News in its report “Lawyer wants answers over Thomson media scrum” there is a link to a map of Bateau Bay where Craig Thomson lives. Why?
So thoughtless. So contemptible. But then I’m talking of the MSM.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-24/anger-over-thomson-raid-media-tip-off/4332090
And Channel 9 announcing news headlines this morning said “POLICE CLOSING IN” referring to yesterday’s police raids on Thomson. I interpret the term “closing in” as a clear message Thomson is guilty of some crime and it will only be a matter of time before he is caught.
Where is the evidence?
The MSM is acting reprehensibly in this Thomson case and should be censured.
wixxy
you’re at your very best when you’re angry
stay angry but keep your eye on the prize
history will show how websites like your’s and IA were the reason
the MSM collapsed
because of their politically motivated alligences and lazy fact finding abilities– it seems –they are just not capable of truthful reporting– when it comes to matters of public interest
i believe we are entering a new media era and you personnally will be put forward as a trailblazer
Chris McArdle and Kathy Jackson were on air together this morning (can’t remember whether it was 7 or 9), and KJ was mouthing off, basically saying the raid was about collecting incriminating evidence. McArdle tried to shut her up, saying she was defaming his client, but KJ replied that she wasn’t defaming Thomson. McArdle had to tell her that she definitely was, and to stop, which she did.
I hope McArdle is true to his word and he sues her for defamation.
Hello Federal MP’s are you listening?
I think it is high time that the media in this country are reigned in. If it is not in the commonwealth privacy act, then it is time that it is and the act should be amended to read that permission from the person the media is attempting to interview, photograph or film should be sought. If it is not forthcoming, then it doesnt get printed or aired if it is, charges under the act should follow. All of this is occuring under the guise of “public interest” and it’s not. I dont think that the public interest is served when the media go into a frenzy and jeopardise trials or the carriage of justice as they normally do. People are entitled to privacy. just because you hold a position or are involved in a situation there is no automatic relinquishment of your rights.
The Telegraph also has a report on the
Thomson raid with the phrase “closing in”:
“Police closing on criminal charges against Craig Thomson”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/police-closing-on-criminal-charges-against-craig-thomson/story-e6freuy9-1226502715849
written by two journalists, Steve lewis and Andrew Clennell. We are all familiar with Steve Lewis is is none other than the one named by Julian Burnside as the journalist who received “interesting texts” from James Ashby and Karen Doane in the Slipper affair.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/text-trail-reveals-link-between-ashby-journo-and–slippers-rivals-court-20120615-20e55.html
Slight error. I think we can all agree that “Police closing in” and “Police closing on” are one and the same.
I think the problem is our media are bored.
Marilyn, including boring I would add alarming, nasty and ugly.
Bent to the Right I suggest. I think Jenny and Roy are spot on. Who could we trust to do the Leveson thing in Oz?
Frank Brennan and Mary Kostakidis.
Oscar Jones, your story about the porn stores doesn’t surprise me in the least.
One of my old bosses owned a variety of businesses including a number of adult stores.
He told us quite bluntly that he and every other owner of adult stores he knew of had a deal with the local vice squad where the vice squad would call them and say they were going to do an inspection of their shop the next day.
Their part of the deal was to intentionally put a couple of items that had been refused classification recently in their counter display for the Vice cops to “find” and then issue the (pretty small) fine for having displayed these items.
In exchange the cops didn’t actually search the entire store for violations so it was a win win for all of them. The police got a small regular amount of citations and so could make reports showing they were actively policing the industry to any oversight bodies they had to report to and the stores could quit stock that had been deemed RC after they purchased it without writing it off.
Your story sounds like more of the same.
@ Marilyn
I’m not a big fan of the Jesuits normally but will make an exception in this case and Mary is certainly a go. Good choice, therefor no hope of it coming to fruition.
I know, they did their travel for a human rights charter and we end up with trafficking humans to birdshit islands because they used the worst law ever written to by pass the charter.
The Daily Telegraph also had a banner headline describing Craig Thomson as “Disgraced MP.”
and today we have a tabloid (you know the one) running a tale that Thomson’s lawyer has a ‘history’ in the union movement as though it’s bloody well important.
SG Warren : I once ran an adult store in London for a short time whilst the owner, a friend was in jail for tax avoidance (the only thing they could get him on).
He told me there would be raid every three months (the time I worked there) so would expect one and gave me keys to an East End lock-up to replace stock.
He also said to watch the customers over the next 2 weeks and sure as hell, in come some coppers in civilian clothes to purchase items for themseves. What annoyed him the most is he knew all his ‘confiscated’ stock always ended up in Manchester in a series of adult shops run by the local mafia.
Thanks Peter,for being a journalist and not a reporter.
Who will Jones and Hargreaves bash IF Abbott becomes PM??
HOW WILL THEY SCORE RATINGS BY SUCKING ARSE?