Malcolm’s media mates get final call but missed the big stories
Malcolm Turnbull says goodbye to the press gallery. The former prime minister’s final press conference in Canberra, Friday:
I’m happy to take some questions … I’m going to ask Laura Tingle to ask me a question.
Turnbull’s first pick is a reporter known for her political foresight. Tingle on the ABC News website, August 21:
… despite all the noise, what Monday proved was that for now there is little appetite in the Coalition for a leadership change …
Little appetite? Those Liberals must have become hungry pretty quickly. Tingle on the ABC News website, Wednesday:
Now Mr Dutton is making a (second) tilt … running in the contender’s favour is that horrible sense that comes upon people under pressure that they just want the whole thing to stop …
Turnbull continues calling on his favourite media courtiers in the Prime Minister’s Courtyard,
Friday:
Murpharoo? (Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy).
“Murpharoo” kept the Guardianistas up to date on all the number-crunching and ally-making. Murphy on the Guardian Australia website, August 23:
People are canvassing for Julie Bishop … Some moderates are sceptical that she is, because she agreed (according to a couple of sources) to be Morrison’s deputy in a meeting this morning.
Get better sources, Murpharoo. After running for the leadership herself, ex-foreign minister Julie Bishop, yesterday:
I advised the Prime Minister that I will be resigning from my cabinet position …
And be more subtle about whose side you’re on? Murphy writes for Guardian Australia, Friday:
The country has dodged a bullet. I’d like to say that more diplomatically, but I have no energy to say it more diplomatically …
What voters need now is good reporting. Which they were not getting from Malcolm’s next favourite. The final press conference in Canberra continued:
Chris Uhlmann?
You may have heard the Nine political editor’s wee spray. Uhlmann on the Today Show, Thursday:
Everyone from the Prime Minister down has pointed out to me that they believe there is a campaign being waged against them by … News Corp, so we are talking about The Australian, The Daily Telegraph … 2GB … and Sky News …
Uhlmann’s rant clearly inspired Malcolm Turnbull. The then-prime minister on Thursday:
The reality is that a minority in the party room supported by others outside the parliament have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they’re seeking.
Uhlmann claims there’s no agenda. The Nine reporter speaks to The Weekend Australian, Saturday: I have never urged ministers to not appear on Sky News or 2GB … I have no agenda …
So why did Nine’s Airlie Walsh ask Simon Birmingham this question? Parliament, Monday:
Minister, you’ve just appeared on Sky News. Why would you agree to appear on such a program when some of your colleagues have been blaming the conservative media for stoking the fire?
Kieran Gilbert was also on the then-PM’s shortlist. The Sky News reporter’s tweet on Wednesday:
I’ve been told suggestions Cormann has quit is “100% bullshit”.
Cormann in Canberra, Thursday:
It is with great sadness … we went to see the PM yesterday afternoon to advise him … he no longer enjoyed the majority of support of Liberal members.
And the last question goes to? Malcolm Turnbull on Friday:
David (Crowe)?
Fairfax’s political correspondent had our favourite tweet. Crowe on Twitter, August 22:
Well that was a short-lived rumour. Scott Morrison is not running and is talking to colleagues to prevent a spill. He’s not running, he’s not a candidate.”
Turnbull didn’t call on News Corp papers. We wonder why? The Daily Telegraph’s Sharri Markson on Twitter, Friday:
Well we just saw the PM’s list of favourite journos — not too many tough questions in that mix.
Elsewhere, Patricia Karvelas tweeted Morrison was allegedly doing Dutton’s numbers … not that we can show you her tweet. The ABC radio host on Twitter, August 22:
This tweet is unavailable.
Luckily, she left her other tweets up. Markson and Karvelas converse on Twitter, August 22:
Markson: This (claim about Morrison) is 100% not true ...
Karvelas: Dutton supporters think he has (moved to Dutton’s camp). So that’s politics 2018 style.
“Politics 2018 style” is not double-checking before you tweet? Karvelas on Twitter, August 22:
Scott Morrison’s Office says he is still backing the PM … I trusted a source today and the source was clearly wrong.