Armed with conspiracy theories, rats’ posteriors and sour grapes, Uhlmann goes to war
Exclusive. The Australian’s Simon Benson and Joe Kelly, August 15:
Malcolm Turnbull’s authority has been directly challenged by 10 Coalition MPs reserving the right to cross the floor of parliament … (having) consequences for Mr Turnbull’s leadership.
Scoop. The Daily Telegraph’s Sharri Markson tweets, August 17:
Exclusive: Conservative MPs are urging Peter Dutton to seize the leadership from Malcolm Turnbull within weeks on a policy platform of lower immigration and cheaper energy bills.
Catch-up? Ex-ABC journo and Nine Network political editor Chris Uhlmann, 9news.com.au, August 19:
There is now a real chance the Prime Minister will face a leadership challenge before the year is out …
"News corporations...are waging a war against the Prime Minister of Australia" - @CUhlmann #9Today pic.twitter.com/UaQBLTv0bQ
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 22, 2018
Getting his knickers in a twist? Uhlmann, Nine’s Today, August 23:
Everyone from the Prime Minister on down has pointed out to me that they believe there is a campaign being waged against them … that News Corporation … The Australian, Daily Telegraph and all of those tabloid newspapers … 2GB in Sydney (owned by Fairfax), led by Alan Jones and Ray Hadley, and Sky News, in particular … its evening line-up, are waging a war against the (PM) … Apparently, if you say that to them now, they get their knickers in a huge twist …
Host Karl Stefanovic: … How do you think they’ll respond?
Uhlmann: I couldn’t give a rat’s arse, Karl. Quite frankly, I’m tired of the bullying that comes out of that organisation … the other thing too is that if you’re going to dish it out, you have to be prepared to take it.
.@CUhlmann and @SharriMarkson go head to head on how Australian media impacts politics. #9Today pic.twitter.com/dQ15lHrgfh
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) August 23, 2018
The truth if he can take it? Markson on Nine, August 23:
I broke the … straight news story … that conservative MPs were urging (Peter) Dutton to seize the leadership and … (he) was torn about what to do … your political editor should be able to tell the difference between a straight news story … and advocacy. At not one point has The Daily Telegraph or The Australian … advocated for any change whatsoever. We have just brought everyone the news of what was going on behind the scenes first … In terms of Sky News, … you’ve got David Speers, Kieran Gilbert, Laura Jayes all day doing straight news reporting … at night-time there are a series of opinion shows where … hosts express their opinion. This is a … a free country, people are allowed to express their view about the politics of the day.
Labor connection. Rachel Clun, The Sydney Morning Herald, August 23:
(Ray) Hadley responded on 2GB, which is owned by Fairfax Media, by playing a mash-up of Ronan Keating’s When You Say Nothing At All/Labor’s the best when they say nothing at all — a dig at Uhlmann and his wife, Labor MP Gai Brodtmann.
The Labor line. Rod McGuirk reporting for Associated Press, August 22:
Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek told parliament whoever emerged as prime minister should immediately call an election …
The Labor connection? Uhlmann tweets, August 23:
It is time for the Australian people to be given a say on who should be PM.
The Labor line. Angelo Risso, The Daily Telegraph, August 23:
“I don’t even think on Tuesday we could’ve seen the cannibalistic behaviour of a government who is eating itself alive …” Mr Shorten said.
The Labor connection? Uhlmann, Nine’s Today, August 23:
(The Liberal Party) needs to stop and think that it’s eating itself.