Senior Liberals in Turnbull government are furious over ABC's TripleJ decision not to play the Hottest 100 tunes on Australia Day. --- News item, run with the usual confected outrage by ABC bashing Murdoch spin machine DJs.
The true blue Liberal / Spirit of Australia was plain for all to see in this pamphlet for the 1988 Bicentennial Festival in Sydney , which ran from January to February , including Australia Day . On the front was this arty farty kangaroo surrounded by typical Oz symbols , possibly even an Aborigine .
But , best of all , was the two page advertisement for the adoration of Benson and Hedges 25s , the packet in an art gallery setting, portraying the sensitive spirit of a proud , gasping nation in those days .
On the back was a plug for the opening of Sydney's Darling Harbour in January where you could walk on the bottom of the sea, ride through the air , shop in style , climb aboard a clipper, step back 200 years , cross paths with a Chinese dragon ( could be considered subversive today ) and take off for outer space.
Outraged Communications Minister Mitch Fifield , backed to the hilt by Murdoch cigar and cheroot smokers , branded TripleJ subversive , unpatriotic , political for deciding not to run its Hot 100 on Australia Day . It was pointed out that when the ABC first ran the Hot 100 there were complaints that this was inappropriate for Australia Day celebrations .
Nevertheless , Fifield insists he hit his forehead with his palm upon hearing of the decision to move the play to another day . Mosquitoes or reaction to the latest clear indication of disintegration and brawling in the Coalition ?
Rest assured there will be a wholesome cricket match going on somewhere on Australia Day , the players indulging in sledging , head butting , glaring and sixers replayed over and over with an advert for grog . Australia has advanced a long way since l988.
