So much is said about spin doctors in Darwin but few juicy ,in- depth articles have been written about them. The present political dogfight, however, has focused attention on this cluster of exceptionally well remunerated image makers who are paid more than that of a minister, with assorted other tasty fringe benefits which would enable them to live in a "mansion" like that of Nicolas Rothwell,although not located near poor people.
Insiders are- dare we say- leaking about the spinners , and the fascinating picture emerging is one of back to l984 with Big Brother and Sister watching your every move. On the fifth floor of the Wedding Cake , fast turning into a possible Upside Down Cake, is spin central. From there every word uttered and the parliamentary performance of government members , even their dress, is monitored on a large screen . Allowed inside propaganda headquarters, Orwell would undoubtedly update his book and Goebbels would be gobsmacked .
Ministerial staff are given strict instructions to produce media releases with which to shower the local media , even if it is only about “ a frog being found at Howard Springs “. Failure to produce this snowstorm of paper leads to a reprimand . Comment is made about the “army of spin doctors”, many of them said to be self important youngsters with little obvious worldy experience .
Ministerial staff are given strict instructions to produce media releases with which to shower the local media , even if it is only about “ a frog being found at Howard Springs “. Failure to produce this snowstorm of paper leads to a reprimand . Comment is made about the “army of spin doctors”, many of them said to be self important youngsters with little obvious worldy experience .
There is talk of an odd coffee and chicory blend of Tasmanian and Queensland ALP political spin doctoring in the Territory which does not really gel here. Despite all their supposed skills , the lavish expenditure on them and the pillow talk connection of some with various arms of the media , the big question is how did the spin doctors not see and avert the major train wreck that was obviously coming.
Having only survived the last election by less than 100 votes , not a mandate in anybody’s language, surely there was a clear indication that the line of spin had tanked and the voices and real concern of the voters should be listened to and acted upon. But no. As a result, a situation has developed where any place south of the Berrimah line is now hostile Injun territory. Even walking in the CBD requires a minister to wear a helmet and carry a baseball bat .
As mentioned earlier, there has been more recent discussion about Territory spin doctors than ever before, but more down south , in The Australian , in Crikey, on the ABC . A certain connection between the NT Government and the NT News was strangely not mentioned in the News although it was in The Australian. At least the Lord Mayor , Graeme Sawyer , had the guts to say on air that much of Territory life is dominated by spin rather than reality. Because everything had to go through spin doctors, he continued , there were delays and distortions of the process .
Having only survived the last election by less than 100 votes , not a mandate in anybody’s language, surely there was a clear indication that the line of spin had tanked and the voices and real concern of the voters should be listened to and acted upon. But no. As a result, a situation has developed where any place south of the Berrimah line is now hostile Injun territory. Even walking in the CBD requires a minister to wear a helmet and carry a baseball bat .
As mentioned earlier, there has been more recent discussion about Territory spin doctors than ever before, but more down south , in The Australian , in Crikey, on the ABC . A certain connection between the NT Government and the NT News was strangely not mentioned in the News although it was in The Australian. At least the Lord Mayor , Graeme Sawyer , had the guts to say on air that much of Territory life is dominated by spin rather than reality. Because everything had to go through spin doctors, he continued , there were delays and distortions of the process .
On Radio National this morning, Territory ALP senator Warren Snowdon ,applying his own spin to the political situation in the Territory, was asked by Fran Kelly about the "chaos " in NT politics. People he had spoken to said they did not want an election and that the Legislative Assembly should get its act together . There was mention of the fustration level in the hothouse atmosphere and the call for a new Aboriginal party , all adding up to a clear indication of a total failure of the massive government spin machine which must wear a large part of the blame for this snafu . If the Henderson government retains office, the tumbrels should be busier than a Darwin taxi on Saturday night.
