CRIKEY:
9. Bill Clinton’s sadly idealistic view of honesty
By Glenn Dyer
Was there anyone from News Ltd, PBL or the Howard government in the audience at the Sydney talkfest yesterday when former US president Bill Clinton was interviewed by one-time journalist Bob Carr? If so, what did they think of Clinton’s comments about “yes men” (here’s an AAP report and a few quotes):
The former US president has urged Australian business and government heavyweights to select advisers who are allowed to argue the toss with the boss.
“Surround yourself with a team of people who have strengths you don’t have,” Mr Clinton told a Sydney leadership conference by video link from the US.
“The greater the pressure of the job, the greater the temptation to be surrounded by people you feel completely comfortable with, people who think like you do.”
“You have to learn to look in the mirror and say, ‘What am I honestly good at, and what am I not so good at?’ and go and get people who are good at what you are not so good at. You have to encourage people who disagree with you.”
“You have to let people feel they can fully speak their mind and never be hurt by that, never be delegated to some outer chamber.”
Let people “feel they can fully speak their mind and never be hurt by that”? That could be a very dangerous career tactic inside the Australian Government or at Australia’s biggest media companies. Can you imagine these kind of speaking-your-mind comments inside those organisations:
At the Howard government: “Er, um, PM, I think Amanda Vanstone should resign because she failed in Immigration. And so should Phil Ruddock because of even greater failings. Ministerial responsibility, PM.”
At the Federal Opposition: “Kim, you’re doing a brilliant job!”
At News Ltd: What would happen to the career of a journalist who accurately reported the News Corp annual meeting last Friday?
At PBL: “Excuse me Mr Packer, what are we doing about the fact that gambling damages the community and hurts people?”
At John Fairfax: “Why should Fred Hilmer be paid $4.5 million when the company is slowly going out the door backwards, and why should David Kirk be paid a golden hello of more than a million dollars, chairman?”
Fully speaking your mind is a fine theory, Mr President, but it isn’t one designed to succeed in the upper echelons of Australian politics and business.
RENE HIDDING:
Media Release
RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Wednesday October 26, 2005DPAC report shows another massive increase in Ministerial support
The annual report of the Department of Premier and Cabinet tabled in State Parliament today says it all about the arrogance and warped priorities of Premier Paul Lennon – with yet another blow-out in the cost of Ministerial support.
Opposition Leader Rene Hidding said it demonstrated beyond a doubt just how out of touch with reality, and the needs of ordinary Tasmanians, Premier Paul Lennon has become.
Mr Hidding said the Premier must explain why the cost of Ministerial support had not only blown out from the previous year, but had blown its own Budget.
“DPAC was allocated $10.479 million in 2004/05 for Ministerial support, a slight reduction on the $11 million cost of the previous year – yet it ended up spending $12.157 million.
“This cost is associated with the army of minders appointed to look after Ministers, and the figures show these costs are increasing.
“What is even more perplexing is the fact that during this period when the costs blew out, the Lennon Labor Government finally bowed to community pressure and adopted the State Liberals policy of having a maximum number of eight Cabinet Ministers.
“Taxpayers have every right to demand the Premier explain why DPAC blew its budget, why the costs of Ministerial support are so high, and exactly what this massive amount of taxpayers money has actually been spent on.
“Battling Tasmanians will be extremely distressed to know that while the Premier makes up excuses for ever-increasing waiting lists for housing, health and dentistry, he is happy to splurge ever increasing amounts on support for his incompetent rabble of Ministers.”
Mr Hidding said the report also showed a dramatic increase in costs associated with travel and entertainment, which the Premier was obliged to explain.
RENE HIDDING:
Media Release
RENE HIDDING, MHA
Leader of the State Opposition
Wednesday October 26, 2005Tasmania’s largest PR firm now the Lennon Labor Government
The Lennon Labor Government has become by far and away Tasmania’s largest public relations and spin doctoring firm, with revelations from the State Liberals today that the number of communications, public relations and media, advisers employed by the State Government has blown out to 70.
And this staggering figure does not take into account the various consultants employed by Labor from time to time to produce such shameful party political promotional campaigns as the $250,000 Tasmanian Brand campaign that will promote the State Government to Tasmanians in the lead up to an election year.
Opposition Leader Rene Hidding said a tally of the number of people employed by the Labor Government as media advisers, communications consultants and public relations advisers, as detailed on the State Government directory, revealed the number had eclipsed the 70 mark.
The directory itself is likely to be incomplete, as it may not take into account spin doctors and media advisers employed in some parts of the government that do not list their staff on the government directory.
Mr Hidding said it was likely that the Lennon Labor Government was splurging more than $5 million a year in salaries alone on manipulating public opinion about the Lennon Labor Government’s performance.
“The spin doctors are embedded in all corners of the bureaucracy – from the Royal Hobart Hospital, to the LGH, education, development, other parts of the health department, and DPAC and the Government Media Office.
“The Lennon Labor Government has taken public relations to an offensive new level, so desperate is it to try to attempt to secure its re-election next year.
“Tasmanians will be disgusted that the biggest public relations firm in Tasmania is now the Lennon Labor Government.
“And they will be appalled that Labor has seen fit to appoint so many spin doctors, to spend so much money on marketing itself, when battling Tasmanians still cannot get a roof over their heads, a hospital bed, or access to public dental services.”
Mr Hidding said the revelations today about the offensive number of spin doctors employed by the Lennon Labor Government would further fuel public disdain about the Lennon Labor Government’s arrogance and warped priorities when it comes to the spending of taxpayers money.
