Google And Facebook’s Loud Appeal To Users Over The News Media Bargaining Code Shows A Lack Of Political Power By James Meese
02/02/21 AT 6:41 AM
Over the past few weeks, Google and Facebook have engaged in desperate attempts to avoid regulation under the Australian government’s proposed mandatory news media bargaining code.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg even appealed to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher personally last week, hoping to shift the government’s hard stance.
Both platforms’ strategies have involved a mixture of user-focused advertising, political lobbying, and even threats to pull services from Australia.
But what may initially seem like a confident stance reveals itself, upon closer inspection, as a panicked approach one spurred by a lack of earlier action.
Cowardly History: Australia Day and Invasion
Cowardly History: Australia Day and Invasion
It’s the sort of stuff that should have been sorted years ago in Australia: a murderous, frontier society ill disposed to the indigenous populace; the creation of a convict colony that was itself an act of invasion rather than settlement; the theft of land and its rapacious plunder.
Even some of the rough colonists were not oblivious to such a crude record. Henry Parkes, in planning the Centenary celebrations as New South Wales premier in 1888, was asked by a fellow politician what he would be doing for the poor and needy for the occasion. Wealthy landed citizens had been promised a banquet of much quaffing and gorging. As a gesture, Parkes considered the distribution of food parcels. “Then we ought to do something for the Aborigines,” came the response. The answer from the premier was coldly revealing: “And remind them that we have robbed them?”
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SAMANTHA ARMYTAGE: The ABC has been accused of encouraging national disunity and promoting its own political agenda after publishing a story on its website using the terms ‘Invasion Day’ and ‘Australia Day’ interchangeably.
- Sunrise, Seven Network, 25 January 2021
Hello, I’m Paul Barry, welcome to Media Watch.
And it’s only a month into the new year but the ABC is already under fire, this time for dividing the nation over this headline and tweet about Australia’s national day.
What to do on Australia Day/Invasion Day in 2021
One of Australia’s most contentious dates is here again.