Australian Press Council blunder
The Australian reports:
The head of the journalists’ union has called for the resignation of the Australian Press Council’s latest member, deputy chair of left-wing activist group GetUp! Carla McGrath, as Communications Minister Mitch Fifield labelled the appointment “bizarre”.
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance union chief executive Paul Murphy yesterday described Ms McGrath’s concurrent positions on the Press Council and GetUp! as “incompatible”, saying her appointment represented a conflict of interest that could not be ignored.
“It’s important for the Press Council to be held in great confidence, not only in the industry, but within the broader community. But there is clear perception of conflict of interest here considering the appointment is of someone who holds a position in an organisation as active and political as GetUp! is,” Mr Murphy told The Weekend Australian.
When even the journalists union is decrying the appointment as too partisan, you know it is an appalling appointment. Makes you question the wisdom of those on the Australian Press Council that made the appointment