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“My job is NOT to be an echo chamber for the LNP Governments – it is to provide a ‘fair and accurate’ commentary on issues as they play out. That is how a ‘democracy’ is supposed to work – and where ‘free speech’ must play a vital part.”
It's quite a poignant statement that Marcus' job was "...not to be an echo chamber for the LNP Governments......" or may I apply that to any other lobby group.
I reminds me of Ben Fordham's comments on the 09-02-2022 at 0800. His treatment of the omicron version of the covid virus as mild and the bagging of preeminent authorities on the virus.
First, the news of South Africa's Dr Angelique Coetzee who discovered the omicron strain and stated that it was mild https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-12-13-watch-schooled-dr-angelique-coetzee-tells-uk-to-trust-sa-doctors-over-omicron/ was pressured by others that the omicron strain was harsh, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-omicron-south-african-gp-who-raised-alarm-about-omicron-says-she-was-pressured-not-to-call-it-mild/XJ5H7I6E2LKVM5S655ET5HLIWI/ .
Whatever narrative is being pushed by the media, there is always an exception to that narrative. Many broadcasters seem to ignore and not delve into exceptions to the narrative.
I guy that I went to school became Dux of the College. He studied medicine to eventually becoming a preeminent ophthalmic surgeon in the specialty of laser correction vision and cataracts. He treated a loved one's eyes for cataracts while head of the Ophthalmology Department at Concord Hospital. He had a reputation for his great bedside manner and many google reviews attest to that.
A fully-vaccinated person, he succumbed to covid after being on life support on the 30-01-2022. The funeral was a four-hour livestreamed YouTube service.
We all know the message to be vaccinated and minimize risk. BUT there are exceptions to the narrative being pushed whether the current covid strain was mild or harsh. This is one of them.
Another exception are the frequent deaths of patients in aged care facilities even under omicron. This is despite staff and patients having been double and tripled vaccinated and yet we seem to have learned nothing from the passing of patients in aged facilities in Sydney two years ago and in Melbourne almost one year ago.
Where is the media in investigating why history is repeating itself.
Or put it another way, why are presenters taking a certain line when there are exceptions to the "rule".
Secondly, Ben criticised medicos the ABC's Dr Norman Swan, and the Kirby Institute at UNSW's Prof. Raina McIntyre for being alarmist in order to support his view that omicron is mild supporting the view that South Affrica's Dr. Coetzee saying it was mild while the former two supported a more harsher view.
Ben incorrectly described Dr. Swan as not having practised medicine since 1980. A check of the AHPRA site shows that he is currently registered. This means he may well be seeing patients as well as taking part in continuing professional education, a requirement for keeping medical registration. Then Prof. Raina McIntyre who is an eminent scientist in the field of epidemics and epidemic control. She is also the NHMRC Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Global Biosecurity.
Refs:
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/ - you'll find both Dr. Norman Swan's and Prof. McIntyre registration details which are current.
https://research.unsw.edu.au/people/professor-raina-macintyre
While a commentator like any other person can have an opinion. why he is taking the view that omicron is mild when my vaccinated school friend passed away and not take other sides of the argument.
By the way, as I have said before, reinstate Marcus Paul who has built up goodwill through his radio program and an accompanying social media presence.
Thank you,
Anthony of the narrative has exceptions and think of the other perspectives, Belfield in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation