Your Say: With friends like these, does the ABC need enemies?

In today’s edition of Your Say, Crikey readers have a few choice words for ABC news director Gaven Morris and his apparent white-anting of the broadcaster, and break down what’s wrong with Agriculture Minister David Littleproud’s kowtowing to coal.

On Gaven Morris v the ABC:

Kay Huntsman writes: The constant berating of the ABC by the Coalition has already had a massive impact and the news and 7.30 shows its timidity. The last thing we need is for that kind of comment — it’s not going to result in a sudden turnaround and increase in funding for pity’s sake.

All I can say is keep up the good work Four Corners, Craig Reucassel, Paul Barry, Shaun Micallef, Sammy J and all those behind the scenes ABC legends who are, against the odds, staying the course

Debbie McCarthy writes: This was a well-executed and brilliant article by David Latham and yes, Gaven Morris’ comments are not only extremely disappointing but disgusting. I’m 62, live on the outskirts of north Brisbane and have always loved both ABC television and radio. How could you not?

Marian Arnold writes: As someone who has clocked up many thousands of kilometres travelling around Australia, let me tell Gaven Morris who the ABC audience is. It’s me and all my fellow travellers. It is the truckie driving between Ceduna and Kalgoorlie. It is the farmer on his tractor turning over a paddock. It is also the women at home between Bullamukanka and Woop Woop.

It has only just occurred to me that, if the audience of all the platforms that the ABC runs — and they all include news to a greater or lesser extent — were to be aggregated, it would possibly be the largest audience in the country. And let’s talk not about the fires, floods, cyclones and other disasters like pandemics and elections. We are all, of course, going to rush to the ever shouty, opinionated non informative Murdoch news platforms then.

To use the often used quote: who needs enemies with “friends” like that?
I despair.

On David Littleproud’s coal fixation:

Mark Hutton writes: Astounded and disappointed. The only reason that this mob is still in power is the lack of any real alternative.

Annie Kraefft writes: We are Australian farmers and have been for some considerable time and I can promise you that David Littleproud (an unfortunate name perhaps) absolutely does not speak for Australian farmers.

I recently joined the Nationals to try to effect change from within. As a farmer I am absolutely appalled at the National Party and its focus on extractive industries. They are mostly at the expense of Australian farmers. We would be delighted if ANZ, Westpac, CBA and NAB stopped financing coal projects (with a transition to an alternative export earner being worked on from this second in history).

I can only assume that the Nationals’ focus on coal and gas at present is to capture voters away from Labor. I loathe the thought of supporting a crazy outfit like Shooters, Fishers and Farmers but frankly they are winning the hearts and minds of farmers away from the ridiculous Nationals. Frankly I believe Barnaby Joyce is the only one who does make sense. He really does stick his neck out to support agriculture and I am grateful that he is our Federal member.

Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say column.