Cricket conspiracies crop up on ABC radio as Aunty’s Jon Faine hints at a shady deal
Jon Faine unveils a crazy cricket theory. ABC Radio Melbourne, yesterday:
Jon Faine:(Communications Minister) Mitch Fifield used to work for Peter Costello when Peter Costello was the federal treasurer. Mitch Fifield is now a minister in the government. Peter Costello is now the chair of which television company?
ABC Grandstand’s Jim Maxwell: Oh. I don’t know. Which one is it?
Faine: The one that just got the rights to cricket.
Maxwell: Seven! Channel 7! … (it) bears a Four Corners investigation …
Just one little hole in Faine’s theory. A statement from Peter Costello, February 25, 2016:
I am delighted to take over the role of chairman … This is an exciting time of change in the media sector and Nine Entertainment Co is now strongly positioned to take advantage of these developments.
Costello probably didn’t love the Seven Network’s cricket coverage coup. The Australian, April 13:
… the Nine Network has lost the rights to cricket for the first time in four decades … Nine’s shares fell 8.5c, or 3.8 per cent, to $2.165 in the first half an hour of trade (after the Seven Network announcement) …
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima cricket culpa? Faine on ABC Radio Melbourne, yesterday:
May I just correct myself … I’m told I’ve got my wires crossed and Peter Costello chairs Nine, not Seven. I have several texts correcting me on that and if I got that wire crossed, then I apologise, and I’m glad to be able to make the correction.
Another day, another conspiracy dies on Aussie morning radio. Comic book legend Alan Moore, 2003:
The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting … The truth is more frightening …
From apologies to sorry states, here’s how educators used to write. The School Paper, a publication for students from the Victorian Education Department, 1911:
The 21st of April is known as Eight Hours Day. The Eight Hours League was formed in the year 1856. On the 21st of April that year, the tradesmen of Melbourne gave notice that they would work only eight hours a day.
Why can’t they be that clear any more? The Gonski report’s 23rd recommendation, Monday:
Establish an independent institution to co-ordinate the strategic development of a national research and evidence base through the sourcing and generating of research, and the synthesising and promotion of educational evidence that can be easily accessed and implemented to improve student outcomes.
And Labor wants to give these people more money? Tanya Plibersek on Sky News, yesterday:
… we have got right now $17 billion more on the table for our schools, right across Australia.
More money for more nonsense? The Gonski report’s seventh recommendation, Monday:
Prioritise the acquisition of general capabilities by using learning progressions …
Maybe it’s time to update that old Pink Floyd song. Another Brick in The Wall, November 30, 1979:
We don’t need no education (review) / we don’t need no thought control / no dark sarcasm in the (co-operative learning space) / (Bureaucrats), leave those kids alone / Hey, (bureaucrats), leave those kids alone / All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall