Ray Hadley: If Michael Daley deliberately took on Jones, it was a ‘stupid’ decision

If Michael Daley deliberately took on Alan Jones this week during that now infamous interview about the SCG trust’s future, it was a stupid thing do and smacks of a man getting a bit desperate two weeks out from the NSW election, writes Ray Hadley.

1. Those still questioning the jury verdict in the George Pell trial need to have a look at Four Corners this week, then follow it up with a look at a 60 Minutes podcast from 2015. You’ll be much better informed if you do.

Cardinal George Pell arrives at the County Court in Melbourne. Picture: AP Photo/Andy Brownbill

2 . There’s a school of thought Opposition Leader Michael Daley deliberately took on my colleague Alan Jones this week in the now infamous interview. If he did, it was a stupid thing to do and he should have been better equipped with the facts. He’s now doubling down thinking the punters will love his attack on the “big end of town”. It smacks of man getting a bit desperate two weeks out from an election.

Michael Daley threatened to sack Alan Jones on his 2GB breakfast program.

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3. Among a sea of election promises the government says it will duplicate the full 31km roadway from Katoomba to Lithgow by 2028. Contemplate this: William Cox started work on the “road” to cross the Blue Mountains to Bathurst in July 1814. With about 50 men Cox completed the 163km “road” by January 1815. We haven’t come far in the past 205 years when it comes to road building considering in 1814-15 it was all done by hand.

4. While PM Scott Morrison is battling with Queensland Nationals about their demands for a coal-fired power station, he’s got his Environment Minister, Melissa Price, saying Victorian bushfires were caused because of climate change. Talk about mixed messages.

2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley. Picture: Tim Hunter.

5. Hopefully there’ll be an appeal by the DPP over the findings of Acting District Court Judge Geoffrey Graham. His honour not only upheld an appeal by notorious Supermax inmate Bassam Hamzy after he belted a corrections officer, he also praised Hamzy for the way he conducted himself in representing himself. This is one of the most violent men in any jail in Australia. A murderer, a very dangerous man. Mr Graham said Hamzy’s oppressive conditions inside Supermax were tough enough without imposing a further sentence. For the sake of every corrections officer in NSW I hope the decision is appealed.

Bassam Hamzy mugshot from 2011.

6. I applaud the Geyer family for taking action against the social media site NRL Memes for their attack on Marks Geyer’s daughter Montanna. These low life trolls need to be held to account.

7. It’s impossible to know how the family of a 12-year-old boy killed last weekend at Baulkham Hills is feeling. A family innocently sitting in their car at a set of traffic lights hit by a vehicle driven by a 34-year-old which became airborne coming off the M2. The 34-year-old remains in custody as this family farewell their precious boy.

Mark Geyer with daughter Montanna Geyer in 2017. Picture: Instagram

8. A wonderful tribute to Nancy Bird Walton this week with the Western Sydney airport being named in her honour.

9. This week marked the 20th anniversary for the opening of Stadium Australia. There was a rugby league double header with more than 104,000 people at the stadium. Just over one year later, Catherine Freeman recorded her wonderful victory in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics — I think the greatest moment in Australian sport.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison poses with family members of Nancy Bird-Walton at the naming of the Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek. Picture: Mark Kolbe

10. Rugby league lost a really decent man this week with the resignation of Barry Russell at Cronulla. Anything achieved by Barry on the football field was over shadowed by his brave decision to self-report his club when he discovered problems with the salary cap. The game needs more people like Russell.