23 Comments
User's avatar
šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

Hi. Gee substack is hard to get my head around :)

Lucy Hamilton's avatar

Welcome to the weird new world. Thanks for attending and the notes. Very unnerving. Particularly since she's overlapping with Advance: the undercover attendees at that conference were disturbed at how professional that messaging operation is. They did a number on us over the Voice. We're vulnerable.

Paul Costin's avatar

Seems to me Margot that you are on top of this. It’s a great read. Pauline can’t be the answer. The political system is certainly letting Australians down. The country has become divided by wealthy media.and big money

šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

Hiya Paul. There’s something scary AND exciting about an engaged public on politics, and it means, I reckon, that political leaders need to do public meetings again. Howard went to the heart of One Nation Queensland after its 1998 election. He took raucously heavy heat questions & discussed the issues - pork dereg was big. He also earned respect for being there there.

Paul Costin's avatar

Yes and if they don’t want to do it, then we seek out people who do understand and will represent our collective values. Clarifying what our common and key values are seems very necessary. I still hold a strong belief that a big majority of us want issues addressed such as inequality, public school funding, quality universal public healthcare, improving democracy etc. A room full of anger at politics leads to someone ā€˜who will trash the joint’. How’s that working America?

šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

Like, why is Gina and Co financing One Nation? The big winners of neoliberalism want to help the losers? And to do a fundraiser on The World ocean liner, the residence of ultra rich globetrotters, what? On the latest SMH pod Hanson says Gina’s views align with her own.

šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

yes, But no detail. is there a piece refresher on that scandal i can read?

šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

Oh Webdiary. Being childless, Webdiary was my baby and I loved how she developed. Such a shame the smh didn’t go with the concept to create their own community before Facebook and Twitter did the job.

Kate's avatar

Perhaps David Marr will institute a weekly spot on LNL too?

šŸ”„Margo KingstonšŸ’§'s avatar

Just one interview would be nice :) Phillip Adams convinced me to write the book and our weekly chats during Pauline’s campaign were off the charts wild. David was on the ground for a day, in shock.

Frances Wilmore's avatar

Thank you yet again Margo - surreal that she has re-emerged - will follow you with interest as a cashed up organised Porleen is a scary prospect

Shadia Rahman's avatar

I was a regular reader of your Webdiary and am thrilled to see you back (though very much less thrilled about the circumstances that have caused you to return). Thank you for doing this.

Simon's avatar

Good peice Margo. Like the old days. Just an observation on ON policy:

One Nation's Firearms Ownership Policy runs to 24 paragraphs.

639 words.

Its Health Policy is just one paragraph. 67 words.

Remember when they sought funds from the NRA?

Max Gross's avatar

You did good, Margo. I'm old enough to remember. And whatever you write, I'll read.

John Salmond's avatar

Good to hear from a voice of experience and expertise. There's strength in numbers: some sort of cross-link to John Menadue and Michael West (& no doubt others) seems obvious to me.

Readers can help by "liking" and linking to other platforms!!!

John Salmond's avatar

True North is where I came across your piece - thanks to them!

Noel WAuchope's avatar

Goodonyer Margo!

We need you. Glad you are back.

I have this idea - perhaps just my comforting fantasy, that the so-called "mainstream media" is playing so safe, and the so-called "social media" is playing so stupid, that they reach the masses, who are pretty much unaware of the real issues, and protect those masses from the harsh realities of this world..

But some of the "alternative media", like Substack, are reaching a minority who are more aware, and perhaps have more time, and more inclination, to explore the issues of the day, and to look for the facts, and for intelligent and genuine honest interpretation of those facts.

So please, keep on with your manageable hobby, which will be greatly valued. You might even consider branching into other valued bits of the non-corporate media - especially Australian Independent Media.

John Hill's avatar

A most concerning piece -well done

This is not the ON we know from history but an organisation taken over by those with far more ulterior motives than those at that this described meeting .These poor souls are going to be exploited and manipulated to a place they neither understand or want-both immensely disappointing and massively fraudulent !

Marcia Sikimeti's avatar

Please keep writing Margo..we really need this clarity..ethical journalism at its best..