Something very troubling is happening in our community when it comes to the local media’s scrutiny of those in power.
Since returning to Warrnambool in January, I have watched with growing disbelief at the apparent reticence of our once-proud local newspaper, The Standard, to go in hard and ask the tough questions of our leaders.
This is what journalists do. This is the role of the so-called ‘Fourth Estate’ – to be the watchdog of the powerful and give voice to the powerless.
It is an essential part of our democracy and ensures that we retain an open, transparent and accountable government – on all levels.
This past week, we saw national scrutiny of MPs’ spending, sparked by revelations that Prime Minister Abbott had claimed allowances for trips to weddings, triathlons and cycling events.
Was our local federal MP Dan Tehan asked by our paper to detail the $873,992.35 that he spent from 2010-12? No, instead this figure was not even mentioned, but rather the paper’s story (10/10) reassured us that he had claimed $321,000 in ‘legitimate government entitlements’. End of story.
There is no suggestion that Mr Tehan used his allowance improperly, but nor is it improper for a journalist to forensically examine this spending. This is exactly what independent journalist Margot Kingston did when she broke the story about Tony Abbott claiming more than $9000 in taxpayer funds to promote his book.
It is only by drilling down into the detail that all the facts can come to light.
Earlier this year, Warrnambool Mayor Michael Neoh visited China as part of a Sister City relationship with Changchun. Shortly after his return, The Standard ran a story (29/6) about Mr Neoh visiting his ancestral home in China and catching up with relatives.
Was this part of the official tour for which ratepayers paid $3500 for both Mr Neoh and Council CEO Bruce Anson?
Did Mr Neoh pay for this portion of the trip himself? Again, there is no suggestion of impropriety by Mr Neoh, but we don’t know the answer to these questions because, it appears, they weren’t asked.*
And when others do ask the prickly, difficult questions, the response is sometimes extraordinary.
Last month, Cr Peter Sycopoulis and several council colleagues questioned whether Mayor Neoh and Mr Anson needed to attend a Sister City function in Japan – expected to cost ratepayers $4000 – given they had just been to China.
For this, the councillors were chastised by the newspaper as being ‘party poopers’ (11/11). What?
And let’s not forget the infamous ‘Wilma Wright’ letters to the editor. These were published by The Standard for four years – four years – without anybody apparently checking the identity of the author, who was revealed as Mr Anson’s son and who at one point used the cover of his pseudonym to openly attack several councillors, including Cr Sycopoulis, in the lead up to a council election.
(Mr Anson, it must be noted, was cleared of any involvement in his son’s activities).
The names in this column – Mr Tehan, Mayor Neoh, Mr Anson – are irrelevant: it is the public, important positions that they hold that makes them open to scrutiny and a higher standard of accountability.
This is the hard work of journalism.
It is much harder, more time consuming and nerve-wrecking than writing story after story about courts and crime (ie. the powerless) where all of the leg work has been done, yet it is critical if we are to have faith in our media as the watchdog it is intended to be.
If it fails in this task, it is nothing less than our democracy which suffers.
* The Warrnambool City Council has since confirmed to Bluestone that Mayor Neoh did fund this portion of his travel.
Disclosures:
- I began my journalism career as a cadet at The Standard in 1989.
- I was an open supporter of ALP candidate Michael Barling during the last federal election because I thought he was the best option for Wannon. It was the first time I voted Labor in many years: I normally vote Green.
- I know Cr Sycopoulis through his family: his older sisters and I went to school together.
Well said Carol…
Well, firstly, let me say I’m flattered that I had your vote in September Carol. Seems to me good journalism is a bit good football umpiring: it keeps everything fair, it unobtrusively, accurately and objectively informs the spectators and it makes the game, in this case politics, better. Great article
I agree, very well said Carol. Let’s hope someone sits up and takes note.
I agree wholeheartedly that our elected pollies should be held to account.
So refreshing Carol, to read your balanced open and objective article. It is so easy to become complacent about questions of what is “fair and just” when other petty issues cause one to be distracted.
Thank you Carol. Your article gives me hope in the professionalism of journalism. Once again congratulations and thank you.
Well said oh how we have lived under the right wing bias of the standard for all these years (…we edited this bit to avoid defamation, but we hear you, Pat). It’s all about name and shame the ‘powerless’ in the endless court penalties. If only they could lift their heads above the banal.
It was reported in The Standard that Cr Neoh funded the part of his trip himself. I remember reading it.
Perhaps you should start using this forum you have created to ask the hard questions if you’re so disagisfied with the local paper.
The standard you walk past is the standard you set.
Thanks for your comment, Jason. No, The Standard article did not say Mayor Neoh paid for this part of the trip, hence we asked the question. The WCC confirmed this week that Mayor Neoh did pay for this portion, so we have added this to our opinion piece. And yes, we do intend to keep asking the hard questions, although our resources are somewhat more limited than The Standard, we will do the best we can. No walking past here…
Great I look forward to you asking the hard question of Councillors Hulin, Kelson and Sycopoulis about why they couldn’t be bothered to stay in the chamber during last night’s council meeting, while an issue that is clearly important to the community was being debated, Even though you state here you are friends with Cr Sycopoulis.
Just to be clear, I know Cr Sycopoulis through his family, but we are not close friends. In the interests of transparency and journalistic integrity, I think it is important to declare such connections, especially in a small city where it is almost unavoidable.
So glad to see someone out there with the same point of view as me. Transparency in government is all I ask, news that is unbiased and without motive well I guess I can dream, as the standard seems to be a platform to push theirs and local governments own agenda.
When petty crimes and exaggerated to front page news and real people’s achievements to create a better world are pushed to page six, I think it time for some real reporting and a good hard look at why.
Thanks Carol and Louise , keep up the good work.
I am a late comer to blue stone magazine. I am having the best time reading all these articles. Thank you Carol and Louise for being so honest. I was at that council meeting, Jason.
Those councillors walked out because they have a duty of care to those who elected them to speak on behalf of the citizens.
They always bring citizen issues to the table. They believed proper protocol was not followed.