The Barnaby Joyce scandal is not going away just because he announced he will resign on Monday (26-2-18). The sexual harassment complaint will make sure it is front page news for weeks if not months to come. The real danger for Barnaby is that other women might come forward if other rumours are true as well.
While the old media and all the politicians who helped cover-up the Barnaby Joyce scandal get a big failure score anyone and everyone who uses social media and posted demanding action regarding Barnaby Joyce can take some credit for his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister. Some in the old media are still trying to make out they broke the story and that their stories forced Barnaby to resign but that’s not the truth as it was driven by social media.
Barnaby Joyce gave the green light for the News Corp story
It’s my understanding that Barnaby Joyce gave News Corp’s Sharri Markson the green light to run the story a couple of weeks ago that he and his new partner were expecting a child. It was up to Joyce to give the green light because of the so-called deal that old media journalists have with Canberra politicians not to report on their private lives.
The reason for Joyce to give the green light now is obvious. He was past his December re-election and it was all over social media he was expecting a baby with his former staffer and he couldn’t afford to wait until after the baby was born as that would have been even more scandalous.
Could you imagine the scandal if pictures of Barnaby’s new baby started showing up on social media and the old media wouldn’t report it and none of the politicians in Canberra wouldn’t confirm Joyce had a baby.
So when Joyce jumps up and down about the media intruding in his “private life” he is the one who green lighted it because he had no choice as the situation was getting more desperate by the day with social media and bloggers exposing him.
Social media on the rise
If you want true expert opinions on what’s happening in the media without the old media’s bias you will get it on social media such as Alt-Rupert on Twitter at @TheMurdochTimes.
Right on cue it is on Fairfax’s website at the time of writing this article that “Nationals MP George Christensen has called for the end of the Coalition, after the scandal engulfing former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to tear the partnership apart.“
The maverick MP, who has a habit of making provocative comments and threatening to leave the government, said he wanted to see a National Party in coalition with regional Australia “rather than wedded to a Liberal Party lurching further away from the values we still hold”. That is the type of “controversial comment” referred to in the above Tweet by Alt-Rupert. (Click here to read more)
And another of Alt-Rupert’s recent Tweets:
“If you’re wondering what’s going on…. All those people who used to decide ‘Nope, we’re not covering that story’ no longer matter. They don’t decide what is News and what isn’t anymore. Or when it’s “time to move on.” You decide that now. It’s not perfect, but it’s better.“ (Click here to see the Tweet)
Sexual relationships at Parliament House
A lot has been made over the last few days that the Barnaby Joyce scandal will change the reporting in Canberra and politician’s private lives will no longer be off-limits. Which I think the Barnaby Joyce scandal shows that is the way it needs to be and should have been for a long time because there are numerous dodgy politicians who are abusing the system.
It wouldn’t be wise to think that the old media will start reporting what is really happening as a recent SMH article shows with the reporter basically saying that there is nothing to see here. Although the journalist does quote Samantha Armytage saying: “They’re all screwing everybody down there!” exclaimed Sydney-based Sunrise host Samantha Armytage this week. “It’s a naughty spot, there’s a lot of rooting around.”
Well I have no doubt that Samantha Armytage would know as she previously worked in Canberra. I wonder what the politicians and journalists in Canberra think of Armytage trashing them all?
The SMH article went on to say:
“In dozens of phone calls to MPs, staffers and other denizens of the hill, this reporter heard plenty of conjecture – including scuttlebutt about no less than four Turnbull government ministers (other than Barnaby Joyce) and a bunch of Labor frontbenchers.” (Click here to read more)
Sexual harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce
On Friday (23-2-18) it was revealed that Barnaby Joyce was facing a sexual harassment complaint. The exact details of the complaint have not been revealed but the name of the complainant and some basic details have.
THE woman who accused Barnaby Joyce of sexual harassment has been named as a former recipient of the West Australian Rural Woman of the year award.
The Weekend Australian has named the woman as Catherine Marriott, after her lawyer, Emma Salerno, told the newspaper she wants the complaint followed through to its conclusion. (Click here to read more)
She was the former Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association chief executive and is Co-operative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia’s Western Australia project manager.
Catherine Marriott
Her lawyer, Emma Salerno, said Ms Marriott hoped her complaint would see the party develop clear processes for handling such complaints. (Click here to read more)
The complaint, which related to an event in 2011, led the WA Nationals to withdraw their support for Mr Joyce and were “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” according to the outgoing deputy prime minister, who has denied the allegations and asked they be referred to police.
“Over the last half a month, there has been a litany of allegations. I don’t believe any of them have been sustained,” Mr Joyce said.
“I requested that a formal investigation into this incident be undertaken by the National Party to ensure there is accountability in relation to the incident I raise, and to prevent this type of inappropriate behaviour towards women in the future,” she said.
“This complaint was not made solely to address the incident against me – it is about speaking up against inappropriate behaviour by people in powerful positions.”
The woman’s lawyer, Emma Salerno, confirmed the complaint had yet to be passed to police – with her client preferring to wait for the outcome of the Nationals investigation before going any further. (Click here to read more)
Old Media’s total failure
We can all sit around complaining about the failure of the old media, but we shouldn’t as it is a waste of time although we should acknowledge their failures. As the Barnaby Joyce story shows the old media is well and truly following social media and we are the ones driving the issues more and more.
Admin: I have been preparing for upcoming legal matters which has been time consuming and that is why I haven’t published as much recently. I’ll let you know more about the legal matters soon but it’s looking positive.
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