Bill Shorten hits out at ‘new low’ from The Daily Telegraph
The federal opposition leader Bill Shorten has continued his pointed opposition to News Corp, this time voicing his disdain for a “gotcha” article about the life and career of his now-deceased mother.
The article in question was in relation to Shorten’s appearance on ABC’s Q&A program, in which he lamented his mother’s missed opportunities and praised her persistence.
Shorten spoke on the panel program about his mother’s desire to become a lawyer early on in her life, but said family structures and lack of opportunities held her back.
The News Corp publication, however, accused Shorten of skipping over key details, with the front-page headline ‘Mother of invention’, noting his mother had in fact become a lawyer later in life.
A clipping from the front page of today’s edition of The Daily Telegraph
“Far from being thwarted, she achieved her Australian dream,” said the report in The Daily Telegraph, which also included an editorial about the matter.
The paper said this “inconvenient truth” about his mother’s later successes didn’t “necessarily square with Bill Shorten’s vision of an Australia where beleaguered workers are held down by malevolent corporate masters”.
The Telegraph said Shorten wasn’t letting the facts get in the way of a good story – an accusation Shorten essentially hurled back at the paper.
The double-page spread dedicated to Shorten’s story in The Daily Telegraph
Taking to Facebook, Shorten said the political attack, and dragging in the woman who was his “biggest inspiration”, was unjustified.
“In a new low, The Daily Telegraph has decided to use my mum’s life as a political attack on me, and on her memory. They think they know more about my mum than I do,” he posted.
In a press conference, Shorten further slammed The Daily Telegraph’s “gotcha shit”, and said the whole episode was “pretty bloody lazy editorial”.
Even Andrew Bolt, himself a News Corp columnist and a vocal Shorten critic, said he understood Shorten’s anger, and was pleased The Daily Telegraph’s sister publication in Melbourne, The Herald Sun, had chosen to leave the story alone.
“I note that the Herald Sun, my employer, chose not to run this story. I support that decision,” Bolt wrote.
“I point that out not least because there is an unfortunate tendency of critics to assume that what one paper does is part of a wider “Murdoch media” campaign. It is not. What one paper does (or this case two, including the Courier Mail) is what one paper does.”
Last month, Shorten escalated his war against News Corp, taking aim at what he saw as its “scare campaigns” and biased coverage.
Shorten also used the opportunity the latest disagreement presented to pitch himself for the top job.
“Mum was never bitter. She had a remarkable life and she felt very fortunate. But because of financial circumstances, she didn’t get all of the opportunities she deserved,” he said on Facebook.
“I can’t change what happened to my mum. But I can change things for other people. And that’s why I’m in politics. That’s why I’m asking to be your Prime Minister.”
your reporters item regarding bill shortens mother was a pathetic piece of journalism his mother was a very clever and educated woman more than I can say about Anna.
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It doesn’t matter what side of politics you are on, this was poor form from News Corp. The vitriol from all Murdoch channels, globally, is getting blatant and obvious. How can it wear out? What sort of legacy do the Murdoch’s want to be remembered for? When Thatcher died a song went to #1 in the UK (wicked with is dead). What will be Ruperts? Will Lachlan change to create a positive legacy?
Surely I am not alone in recognising the agenda of the Murdoch press? (Stokes too here locally.) Do the masses need to start naming the individuals peddling the propaganda?
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The only surprise is no surprise.
Only how low New Corp. will go to spruik Lib/Nats & the IPA’s agenda.
Sky News have already had Anna Caldwell on defending the indefensible. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust/status/1125988438031757314
News Corp’s mastheads, websites, columnists & Sky News esp. after dark are hyper-partisan. This has always been the case but is now being increasingly pushed back on by the public on Social Media.
https://theconversation.com/how-the-right-wing-media-have-given-a-megaphone-to-reactionary-forces-in-the-liberal-party-101982
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Shorten is at least partially to blame. To an audience that most likely knew very little about his mother, he proceeded to paint a picture of hardship, thwarted dreams, and her being ‘not bitter’, and that ‘I couldn’t fix it for mum’.
The bit that she gained a scholarship to a good university probably slipped out. This was an incredible achievement for a woman in the early 50s, and that should be lauded.
However the angle he pressed made it sound like she struggled, not mentioning that she eventually became a lecturer at Monash, and later a barrister. He also failed to mention during Q&A that she liked teaching, which is most likely the reason she continued doing so for 30+ years. By the time Bill was born in 1967, she would have had 10+ years in the profession, not to mention having a well paid engineer husband. The Shorten twins were offered scholarships to De La Salle college, but were instead sent to Xavier. Clearly the parents could afford it.
So, why bring it up at all? I think he was trying to paint himself from struggle street, a little more than he really is. And if you are going to bring it up in a public arena in front of Australia, then expect to get questioned on the missing bits.
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Wow… a newspaper ragging on your dead mum for the entire nation to see while you’re in the middle of something real important. That’s cruel bro.
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It’s proved to be a spectacular own goal too. It’s shown people a side to Bill Shorten they had been wanting to see. It’s actually made him more electable.
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What’s the noise about.
On one side is Bill Shorten, his evil idia is (According to the Murdoch press)
make life easier and faire for the working class in Australia.
On the other side stands
Morrison, defender of corporate and capitalists interests.
For me and millions of citicens there is no contest.
I wasn’t born with a silverspoon in my mouth. Not poor but always had to sell my skill to the highest bidder.
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Several points:
1) Family is generally off limits. Public figures expect scrutiny, a relative does not, nor should they expect to. If you are thinking of crossing that line – think again. You’d better have a good reason.
2) Accusing someone of a lie of omission is risky anyway. Its even more risky when its occurred in a broadcast situation (where there is incentive to be succinct). You should also check before that they haven’t previously told the whole story on record – as Mr Shorten has several times.
3) Mr Shorten’s question “Who do you think you are?” Is worth asking yourself everytime your considering invading the privacy of a non-public figure. If this doesn’t concern you at least a little – switch to a new career.
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100%
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The Daily Telegraph has proven it is nothing but a newsletter for the Liberal Party throughout this election. Its election coverage is the worst, most biased I have seen in my years in journalism – and yet they are the first to shriek about ABC ‘bias’. Pot, meet the colour of the kettle. Nothing even comes close to the vile bias of the Tele.
The journos working on that rag need to think a little more about the work they’re doing, as it is pure garbage. Nothing more.
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You know you’ve made a mistake when Andrew Bolt condemns your journalistic integrity
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Trevor
Shorten isn’t to blame
Its a perfectly honest answer on what motivates him.
What motivates you?
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1. If a politician decides to use his personal life as some sort of pedestal or hole in the ground, then he has opened himself up for scrutiny. It is his or her decision entirely.
2. Shorten told his story in front of presumably a very large live audience, in a non time limited summary. It is not the responsibility of his listeners to study up on his personal life. It is up to him to make the point and be completely transparent, when he is trying to convince people to vote for him. The full story didn’t sell his point, so he adjusted it knowingly.
3. He invaded his own non public figure by referring to his dead mother. He could have easily used another example, but he wanted to leverage a working class childhood from a not so poor a start. Very misleading and poor form.
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Agree. If you actually read the full Daily Tele piece there is no criticism of his mum.
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As has The Australian and every 8ther masthead owned by Murdoch. #biasnews #notnews #fodder
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ZINGER!
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Chris if you read the whole article there is indeed no criticism of Shorten’s mother. The headline and opening pars give a very different impression though. Most Tele readers don’t read whole articles. If they could they would read the SMH. And the so called jounos at Rupert’s rag know this.
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Tony Koch has belled this cat. But readers need to understand that what’s been happening for some time is a relentless slide towards yellow journalism (“transactional” in polite company) and narcissistic pursuit of celebrity. There are pissant versions like Joe Aston, big money versions like Bolt, highbrow versions like Hartcher and desperados like Sheridan. Not mention the many clowns, such as Rowan Dean (who I suspects moonlights as Clementine Ford).
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The Chaser are having a field day: https://junkee.com/chaser-cancel-news-corp/204645
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The Daily Telegraph comments were delivered as the wrong projectile at the right target. a more appropriately shaped arrow and a smoother and softer delivery would have had a greater effect.
Shorten is a political showman, he would say almost anything that would place him in the limelight and/or grab him a few votes; he has been seen wearing a “pinny” and serving meals to the homeless, he has visited the workers, and tirelessly stated the obvious about well known social ills.
His hokey story about his dear old mum is of no real import or interest to the general public, but he obviously saw a couple of PC grandstanding opportunities in recounting the edited version of it.
We all know the joke about politicians kissing babies, I wouldn’t be surprised if Shorten took to kissing Koalas or even Brown Snakes if he thought there was a vote in it.
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Now who (and which political party) was it that suggested that Australia move their embassy in Israel during which local election?
Mate – all the pollies do this, but none are so blatant as the failed actor Morrison.
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Perhaps not, but this article is about Shorten.
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