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Wednesday February 8, 2012

What we're talking about

  • Durkim on New Zealand Gangs Mm, yeah... Real funny, Randhil... more
  • Kayli on The Boats God help me, I put aside a whole afteroonn to figure this out. more
  • Raynes on Tax and Pollution Until I found this I thoguht I'd have to spend the day inside. more
  • James Brown on Mark Latham Mark, you must fell as if you are pushing it uphill, but you are the hope of the side. Keep it up! more
  • Michael on Halal certification The Halal Choices website is http://www.halalchoices.com.au/product_lists.htmlIt lists all the products that have been ... more
  • a barker on A few facts on illegal boat people We are the Lucky Country, or are we?.15 years ago maybe.How many Indonesian Officials are taking a a bribe from the people ... more
  • Robin on The Boats Hey,Thanks! Great post you have written on "The Boats ".Really I can say that your post is very informative, I'll come ... more
  • dan on A few facts on illegal boat people From what i can see if we dont do something about this flood gate issue,we will have the same nonsense thats happening over ... more
  • Randhil on New Zealand Gangs This info is the cat's pajmaas! more
  • Keshawn on CMC Complaint into Queensland Health That's rlelay shrewd! Good to see the logic set out so well. more
  • howard on Learning from one another? We are such a politically correct and multiculturally sensitive country Islamists are flourishing here. Just as they ... more
  • PP on Halal certification Thank you for the Halal Choices and the info about Coles - I will not be purchasing meat from Coles henceforth. In the UK it ... more
  • PP on Halal certification Thank you for the Halal Choices and the info about Coles - I will not be purchasing meat from Coles henceforth. In the UK it ... more
  • anne white on Halal certification A website that lists all Australian food products that are halal is, HALAL CHOICES.Also I phoned COLES (1800 061 562) and ... more
  • john on The Taxi Industry No one have the right to do anything they dont want.. you want to drive cabs do it you are not force to do something you do ... more
  • Diana on Halal certification I just found out about this today! Does anyone know how to get a list of products bearing this logo so we can boycott them? more
  • lol on New Zealand Gangs lol... this isnt good at all more
  • Ann on Support our Diggers Is it possible to buy this sticker? I'm sure any number of people would be proud to support our diggers by displaying the ... more
  • Mimosa on Smith with PM Gillard You mean I don't have to pay for expert adcvie like this anymore?! more
  • figsen/hypolgirl on Anna Bligh as President Hope you're checking this out Wobblyone. Your comment is one of the cleverist/funniest I have read. Couldn't stop laughing. ... more

Media Watch

Posted by: Michael Smith | 27 October, 2009 - 7:05 PM
media

Last night Media Watch made some comments about a Channel Nine News segment that explained how much refugees cost us in Centrelink payments.

I spoke with Channel Nine before referring to their Freedom of Information requests from the Federal Government in my blog and I promoted Nine’s story on my program.

I am satisfied that Channel Nine’s research was authoritative.

I’ve attached a letter from Nine’s director of news to Media Watch. I am also satisfied that the taxpayer funded refugee lobby is taking issue with Nine’s report - good on them. I agree with Channel Nine and not with the refugee lobby or their contacts at Media Watch.

NINE NEWS strongly stands by its report.

Here are the facts:

NINE NEWS lodged a Freedom of Information request with Centrelink on 4 June, 2009, to identify the total numbers and total costs of refugee visa holders receiving various types of Centrelink benefits. What followed was a lengthy process of consultation with Centrelink's Freedom of Information Unit. As part of this consultation process, NINE NEWS ageed to an offer to fund a special statistics programme, through Centrelink's Privacy and Information Access section. The result of this agreement was that Centrelink would provide us with the raw numbers of beneficiaries, in respect of our original request.

It's critical to your enquiry to understand that Centrelink advised NINE NEWS on how to achieve accurate calculations from this data. The entire consultation process occurred over a four-month period, where data was constantly checked and cross-checked. The final data that you're enquiring about, was eventually made available to NINE NEWS in September, this year.

Further to this lengthy consultation period, NINE NEWS offered all its information to the Federal Immigration and Citizenship Minister, FOUR weeks before our report was broadcast. Our only condition was that the Minister agree to an on-camera interview. I believe this was an entirely reasonable request, considering that clarification of the issues we raised was in the public's interest. We were also in contact with the Immigration Department's media office for comment on our data.

We came through the front door with CENTRELINK and the IMMIGRATION Department. Centrelink supplied us with the data and the Immigration Department was aware of all documents held by NINE NEWS, several weeks before our broadcast.

We stand by the story.

I strongly urge Media Watch to properly research the information it has received. I would hope you conduct the appropriate standard of investigation that you claim to expect from all other media.

And, while on the topic of ethics, could you advise me why you refused to identify yourself or the purpose of your business to NINE NEWS staff, when attempting to contact our reporter? That - as we both know - is a breach of the MEAA's Code of Ethics for Journalists - ".....Identify yourself and your employer before obtaining any interview for publication or broadcast."

Yours Sincerely,

Blog comments Your Say

  • its about time you lilly livered bastards that we have running this country had some guts and stopped other countrys telling us what to do.get them bastards off our boat force or not stop pussy footing around with them. what have we got to do to get some leaders with some balls, i suppose what we need is pauline back again, can you see them telling her we have just takin over your boat,just like anna bligh got a big kick in ass kevin rudd now needs one.

    ken Thursday 12 November, 2009 - 9:14 PM

  • Media Watch claims they dont know if the statistics exist.

    Just like Anna Bligh and the QLD police make ridiculous comments about the low rate of Sudanese crime when nationality is not recorded in Qld.

    crime req Thursday 12 November, 2009 - 3:50 PM

  • Lovely letter from Channel 9 and usual spin from journos trying to cover their own 'scoop'. Fact that you fell for it is not surprising considering your biased views on the subject.

    Holmes raised valid questions which Centrelink clearly provided to them. Refugee status does not mean asylum seekers on boats. Centrelink themselves said they have no way of knowing who was on a boat or a plane before they got their visas. Once a visa is issued they are a refugee much the same as any other flying in with a visa. The fact is the data included visas that were issued before entry into Australia. Includes data of original refugees who worked and then maybe wnet on a pension...there are many that have been here for decades and paid taxes too.
    Clearly CH9 needs some help with their FOI applications and specifics. Cross-checking based on incorrect data does not give you any indication the data is correct. Just goes to show the level of intelligence in the Ch9 newsroom.
    As for the snide comment regarding identifying themselves....so they didn't identify themselves attempting to contact reporters, probably spoke to the reception staff?....if they hadn't identified themselves when actually speaking to the reporter that would be a fair comment. Otherwise it is just being childish on Ch9's part really and again shows the level of intelligence in that newsroom.

    AM Friday 30 October, 2009 - 10:35 AM

  • the channel nine story left me stunned why? Because when are australian journalist going to stop hiding hate mongering stories behind the banner of "public interest". We were all decendents from immigration (unless your of aboriginal decent) so why not report how many benefits over all are paid? Media to create fear or anger. BAD BAD BAD

    penny Friday 30 October, 2009 - 7:50 AM

  • The Media Watch segment Jonathan Holmes presented on Welfare and Refugees left me stunned, the channel 9 segment had I seen it would probably have had the same effect.
    THE REASON!
    How many times have recipients of Centrelink benefits produced all the paperwork required, answered
    all the questions honestly, declared all their income accurately only to be told twelve months later that they have been overpaid and have to pay the money back.
    If this happens on a regular basis and it appears it does how on earth are we to take seriously any figures or facts produced by Centrelink no matter what the credentials of the journalist reporting on Centrelinks past performance the figures are flawed.

    Gayle Wednesday 28 October, 2009 - 12:01 PM

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