Seven: ‘Shit happens’ Abbott interview was not an ambush
Seven has defended its handling of opposition leader Tony Abbott “shit happens” comment while in Afghanistan – and stressed that it did not ambush the politician before he gave last night’s bizarre interview to the network.
Seven News obtained footage of Abbott’s comment to an army commander through a freedom or information request.
But when political editor Mark Riley questioned Abbott about his “shit happens” comment – apparently in relation to the death of soldier Jared MacKinney – the politician suddenly refused to speak.
A spokesman for Seven said this morning: “We fought through FOI laws for three months to get access to the vision of Mr Abbott’s visit, shot by the Defence Department. Mr Abbott’s office did not want it released.
“Channel 7 briefed Mr Abbott’s office on the detail of the story, including reading a transcript of his exchange with the American operations commander, two and a half hours before interviewing him. Channel 7 asked to question Mr Abbott on what he meant by his comment and he agreed to the interview.
“At no stage did Channel 7 accuse Mr Abbott of making light of Corporal McKinney’s death.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Channel 7 should be ashamed of last night’s fiasco. That reporter disrespects those who are currently serving in the Defence Forces, those who have retired and those who have given their lives for the freedom of others.
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Seemed to me like Tony Abbott just froze. He just couldn’t come with the ‘right words’. Not a good sign for a future Prime Minister! Perhaps the Libs need rethink the leadership.
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I thought Mark Riley’s interview of Tony Abbott was about as low as you can get in “so called” news reporting. For the channel to allow this to take place shows a lack of judgement of any kind. Unless Riley apologises or resigns, I will certainly shift my news watching to another channel.
This reaction would apply even if the “target” had been Julia Gillard or any other politician.
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Riley is clutching at straws – I heard him on radio today he seriously sounded like he was making his own story up. Abbot did not handle himself well with the 45 second break in answer. Although shame on Riley for poor reporting
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The interview – indeed the whole story – is a disgrace. If you watch the footage or read the transcript, Abbott is talking to the two US military guys about the allegation that had been raised at the time: that the death of the solider was due to a lack of military support and equipment (from the herald sun):
Colonel Creighton says of the digger’s death: “Was it tragic? Absolutely. But we’re all in the knowledge that all the stuff (firepower support) you see here and more was available on the day.”
In response, Mr Abbott says: “It’s pretty obvious that, well, sometimes shit happens, doesn’t it.”
Immediately, Major General Cantwell replies: “It certainly does, yeah.”
Bad choice of words? Perhaps. But that’s not what Seven were accusing Abbott of. They were suggesting that he was making light of the digger’s death, when he was essentially concurring with the American commanders that, even with the best equipment in the world, terrible things happen in war.
Tony Abbott has made plenty of gaffes over the years (including as leader), but to vilify the guy for making light of a digger’s death in this instance is grossly unfair and really cheap journalism.
If anyone is disrespecting the digger’s death it’s Channel 7, using it to ambush Abbott and score some ratings points.
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um peter (1.08pm), isn’t that a bit of an over-reaction? if your decision is based purely on this “incident” (and imho the wrong choice of words from phoney tony) – then be prepared to change channels on a weekly basis, and settling on none! 😉
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This is not Channel 7’s fault. They are reporting our alternative leader’s reaction to the under-resourced troops telling them how it is. It is news. What we should be reacting to is Abbott’s inability to control what he says. When he became leader he said the old Tony was dead and buried. Clearly that is not the case. The silence when he has clearly been shown by Mark Riley he was wrong was stunning.
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if they weren’t accusing him of making light of the soldier’s death, then what exactly was the point of the story?
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Don’t like Tony Abbott. But using a dead soldier to blind side him in order to manufacture outraged news like this is dispicable from 7.
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Riley was also responsible for the bizarre Mike Rann ‘affair’ story. Maybe he should go back to doing the Newcastle Herald’s social column where he started.
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Clearly Tony Abbott wasn’t referring specifically to the digger who died but to the chain of events that led to it. What a poor interview from Riley that has been sensationalized by Channel Seven
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Yeh, really disagree with Channel 7 on this one. Used to be a big fan of Riley’s, but not now. Journalism at it’s worst that does nothing to inform the public on an important issue. Just upsets the family of the young soldier who lost his life. Really disappointed.
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Surely an easy response “Look mate, perhaps the words I chose weren’t the best, but I think we all agree what happened was shit. We need to do what we can to make sure that we have as few brave Australians die again” etc etc
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ABC news gary. ABC
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I agree. The real tragedy here is not Abbott’s choice of words, or even his bad ‘interview’, but Channel 7’s decision to run such a stupid (non)story, and all the other wowser media outlets for giving it even more oxygen.
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That head wobble was brillaint tv, definitely his Latham moment.
Irrespective of the issue, if freezing with rage everytime someone catches him off guard is his natural reaction, Tony’s not the bloke to lead the country.
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I agree that channel 7 are the ones that are being greedy and disrespectful! It seems that they clearly are focusing on ratings and nothing else.
Abbot may be full of S#*t and very unlikable as a politician as most are, but I have to say that Mark Riley is trying to make a name for himself by manipulating something that is straightforward. He knew that what he was was wrong if you watch his body language, particularly his right hand. He is a sell out and a fool. Hey Mark, how about trying some real journalism, you know one that involves our reporting on facts and not taking advantage of your platform at channel 7 and conjuring up manipulations, or is it possible that you are a mere ‘yes’ man.
Having watched the footage and subsequent interview with Riley I would say that Abbot who has never been in a wartime situation was trying to be understanding by communicating on a colloquial level his response of ‘Shit Happens’ one we can all understand being that life can’t be planned and it’ll always surprise you with the good and bad. That’s what that comment means. We all know that. Abbots response to Riley was a great call in judgement by not giving him a much deserved slap him in the head. What a waste of time Mark Riley has created for a lot of people.
The profession of ‘Journalism’ needs to reassess it’s principles because the majority in this country can’t be taken seriously because they have sold out!
Here’s a tip, how about trying to have some ‘integrity’ when undertaking the role?
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Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes in Tony Abbott’s presence knows that he’s a cavalier cowboy, and a bit of a bully really, so it should be no surprise that the footage the 7 reporter was asking him to respond to exposes the man for what many know him to be from personal experience.
The crime is that a reporter is being criticised for showing the people of Australia who Tony really is simply by questioning him about his own words. Aren’t news reporters responsible for speaking truth to power, and for shining whatever light they have available on the realities in our society that are so often, too often masked by the few to manipulate the many?
Despite the fact that the media in Australia is owned by a cabal of powerful families who are of the same political stripe as Mr. Abbott and the Liberal Party, a news reporter was able to confront the Leader of the Opposition about an issue of fact, and to do so in a manner that revealed the man who would be king, or pope for whom he truly is. Maybe the real question, considering the media ownership, is who is trying to undermine Tony from inside his own party, and who will most benefit from his demise? Do we see Malcolm standing in the wings, ready to take on our female PM in a manner that does not make the Eastern Suburbs Liberals cringe for its misogyny and ham-fisted approach, as the current Shadow PM and former Howard attack dog does so often on his own steam?
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Absolutely shocking form from Riley. What an absolute hack.
I’m both surprised & pleased to see that the story has been turned back on him this morning – he deserves it. Ray Hadley absolutely carved him up earlier today – it’s worth tracking down to listen to.
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Clearly Abbot was mustering all the self control he could so he wouldn’t end up flooring that journo. That’s why he couldn’t say anything!
I for one wish he did grab him by the scruff of the neck and tell him that sort of irresponsible, gutter, cheap journalism has no place in Australia.
7 better watch themselves – they are fast becoming the Fox News/News of the World half breed of Australian media.
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I have to agree with inq (2:06) Not only do I dislike Tony Abbott but I do like Mark Riley. However, on this occasion, Riley you are out of order with you intent to disgrace a man who, given time, will self implode anyway. Not on this occasion though Tony, you’re OK. Get OFF his back on this one 7!!!
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Bang on dk. Abbott might not be the most articulate man in the world but he’s certainly not unpatriotic, and in no way trivialisng the death of a digger. So pleased to see everyone else is more disgusted with the quality of reporting from Seven here.
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Good to see so many of the faithful using the the material supplied the Menzies House talking points email in support of the “dear leader”.
Abbott is a serial offender when it comes to this sort of thing. Remember Bernie Banton?
Until this story broke the Tories were out on interwebs slagging off JG”s tears.
The fact is “sh!t happens” is a throwaway cliche in the 21st century mostly used by teenagers and Gen X facetiously. It ill becomes a public figure when discussing a military action with a senior military commander who is only too well aware of the consequences of sh!t happening.
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One wonders where Riley would be now if he wasn’t a journo, Abbott wasn’t a politician and there was no camera. Can you imagine what the more eloquent Hawke, Keating, Fraser, Menzies, even Howard would have done at the mere suggestion of trivializing the death of an Australian soldier?! Abbott was obviously disgusted, furious and incredulous and I have no problem with his human response (and I didn’t vote for him). Few would have shown such restraint in the non-journo/politician televised world, for those involved you should be embarrassed.
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I generally can’t stand Tony Abbott. But I really did feel sorry for him in this interview. It was poor journalism and disrespectful to the solider and his family and fellow soldiers, to beat up the incident in that way. What was Abbott supposed to say the top military guy in the province? ‘You really f*cked that up mate!”?
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I’m no fan of Tony Abbott, but Riley’s interview was a disgraceful beat up.
Abbott should have head butted him.
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I feel sorry for the grieving family in all this. Quoting the father and referencing the wife. They just want to be left alone. The whole debacle needs to go away very quickly.
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Why feel sorry for him though? Seeing his performance on the insiders where he didn’t answer any questions left me wondering why he didn’t pull the same trick with Riley. The head shaking and silence for so long was astounding from someone who never answers a question. It was his Latham moment. There’s no way that guy could be PM.
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I have to agree – I am not a supporter of Tony Abbott but I do think this is very unfair of channel 9. I don’t think Abbot was trying to be insensitive at all and this is actually quite embarrassing. If anything, I think he was trying to be supportive of the soldiers by supporting their defence in battle and trying to show that he understood sometimes in battle things go wrong. If there was not enough firepower for those soldiers that is another issue, but this is definitely a beat up.
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Great Freudian Slip Tony! No doubt trivialising the tragedy because he and Howard and the other unconscionable Liberals hesitated not one second in sending other people’s children into a crazy, unwinnable war.
In sending Australian soldiers to an American war and demanding we keep the flag British, I just wish this person would show one iota of patriotism for Australia.
The Liberals are a total disgrace.
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Why is everybody so surprised that C7 saw an opportunity and went for the jugular? Why why why. Since when do journos in this arena respect anyone? Abbott should have had Riley for breakfast then shat him out. Instead he let him get to him. A future PM? No way.
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Where ever shit happens channel 7 covers it better.
Please…Please be sensitive and stop spreading it…
Soldiers / Martyrs & their families… they need time & peace to heal from the ultimate sacrifice.
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To think or state that Abbott was trivialising such a tragedy is a merely a narrow, out of context interpretation. Clearly “understatement” can be deployed in order to demonstrate one’s frank understanding of reality, tragedy and absurdity.
In my book it beats crocodile tears.
As far as the interview goes there is nothing wrong with silence as answer to demonstrate one’s contempt for the question and the interviewer.
Tony Abbott for PM
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This is the first time I have ever written to a newspaper or television station but your gutter journalism from mark riley leaves me seething and for channel 7 to run with this story is reprehensible. does anyone at channel 7 seriously believe that the minister or the opposition leader would say something so completely insensitive. you all were very well aware that Tony abbot’s comments were not related to the tragic death of that soldier. all channel 7 achieved was more grief for his widow and family. The trust I held for channel 7 is shattered. The only way I can show my total disgust is to switch channels. Kotchi and Mel you should hang your heads because you ran with it, the trust is gone
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All journalists are pure vultures. Why do you think they have 24 hour coverage of the flood disasters and hurricane Yasi? So they can be informative? So they can help in some way? NO. So they are first on the scene with their cameras when something tragic happens that just shouldn’t be filmed in the first place. These vultures lick their lips when they get woken up in the middle of the night because there might be a hurricane and 100s of people might die, they are the scum of the earth. I for one wish Tony Abbott had of given Riley a good hard smack in the face, I would definitely vote for him knowing he would not only stand up for what is right but fight (literally) for it as well.
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The celebrity journalist.
Mark Riley is the Kim Kardashian of Australian political journalism.
He probably thought this was his Laurie Oakes moment.
Back to the regional newspapers for you, dear Hack.
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Tony Abbott should sack his press secretary for organizing the questions with that nasty reporter who has sh#t for brains.
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Abbott should have snotted the bloke.
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so what all you idiots are suggesting is that the reporter should not hold tony abbott accountable for his remarks…… come on he is a reporter this is what he does, this is what we want him to do to report in incidents like this so that we know what kind of people are in line raising their hands to govern this country……
channel 7 keep up the good work……
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a non event by 7 to think they had something and peoples responses show how dumb they were.
these guys see so much horror, hear things that we don’t know about and tony abbott was being one of the boys and it is australian to say shit happens.
shit happens for 7 and mark riley.
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So 7 says it didn’t ambush Tony Abbott. 7 claims his office was informed 2 hours prior of what they proposed to do. Well, I have been waiting all day for just one commentator to ask this question: Did 7/Riley, at any time, inform Mr Abbotts’ office that they were going to play the footage from his visit to the troops in an edited version of what was said rather than advising that they had conveniently cut the vital 10 seconds of his words immediately following their sensationalisation of the event? I would wager a years salary that they did not!
7 and Mark Riley have stooped to the lowest form of gutter media I have ever witnessed and everyone, including the Sunrise presenters, 7 management and Mr Riley have shown that particular television station to be the most unscrupulous and immoral media outlet in the country.
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err.. (shake) (tremble) (shake) err.. (wobble) err.. (wobble) (shake) (tremble) etc…
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On Tuesday both Abbott and Gillard made me proud with their parliamentary performances. We are lucky to have a Prime Minister and Opposition Leader of World Class quality, while the media are dragging the chain amongst these “World Class Performances”.
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I am appalled by Seven. I abominate this type of news-making. I’ll boycott Seven for the foreseeable future.
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Very unfair of 7, they really are scraping the barrel. I’m with you on that Hadley, boycott time. Whilst I’m no fan of Tony, that sort of this is in very poor taste.
Made me wonder if Tony has early onset Parkinsons disease tho. The way that head was nodding. Quite alarming. Anyone else think that?
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Hell yes. That Katherine Hepburn twitch really did make him look insane.
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In the original interview when Tony Abbott said ‘shit happens’ if it had been offensive the soldieurs that he was chatting with would have reacted. The soldieurs did not bat an eyelid.
If Tony had been out of line I am sure those soldieurs would have let him know, there are then. They didn’t – case closed. Move on and 7 sht the fck up you sensationalist morons. (Or is this an insider Liberal influence at 7 trying to oust Abbott?)
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Mark Riley is a Goose..
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Channel Sevemn and so many others think Tony Abbott should apologise to the dead soldier’s family for this comment he made. But they would never have known or even heard about the comment if Seven had any respect for the family and the soldier. What has this really achieved? Besides, look at the soldier over Tony Abbott’s right shoulder who nodded in agreement and (I think) said something to the effect, you are right. This is a shitty war like any other, and shit does happen. Go ask any soldier who has more understanding than you repoters will ever have. Hang your heads in shame for bringing this to the familie’s and the nation’s attention
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This viral hit deserves a mention on it’s own…
Here is a Tony version…
http://gobarbra.com/hit/new-e0.....bd3d11a3ee
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Riley is a graduate of the Today Tonight School of Journolism. In fact he graduated with honours!
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Tony didn’t handle the situation correctly. We expect our leaders to face up to whatever is thrown in their path. What he said to the soldiers maybe lacked decorum in but I don’t think he meant disrespect.
I do however believe his silent, quivering rage when interviewed showed us all that he is not leadership material. He had an opportunity to put the journalist in his place and just blew it. Could you have seen John Howard behaving like this? And what would some like Hawke or Keating done?
Tony you might be an okay bloke but a leader you are not!
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Riley has done some amazing work for channel 7 over the last couple of years, and that should not be forgotten. The recent Abbott story has attracted criticism, but you can not fault the man on his other amazing pieces of political work. A great professional!
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should tony just advanced on riley and said shit is about to happen you left wing dick head
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