|
|
Post by Banjo on Dec 12, 2014 10:18:44 GMT 7
Daily Telegraph rapped by Press Council over disability allowance front pageThe Daily Telegraph has been rapped by the Press Council over a front page story which unfavourably compared those claiming disability allowance with Australia’s war heroes. The watchdog said the implication that people receiving the Disability Support Pension (DSP) were bludgers, compared with the bravery of injured soldiers, was offensive, unfair and inaccurate. Above the headline, ‘Slackers and Slouch Hats’, which appeared in May this year, the newspaper carried two photographs, one showing a queue of people with the strap ‘NSW DSP recipients: 270,415′, and another showing a wounded soldier with the words ‘Nation’s war wounded: 226,016′. A secondary headline read: “NSW Disability Support Pensioners now outnumber Australia’s total war wounded by more than 44,000″. The story sparked a wave of complaints, including to the Press Council, with then Disability Commissioner Graham Innes branding it a “low” in Australian journalism. Media Watch also revealed the photo of the queue was not DSP claimants or even Australians, but Swedish students at the University of Orebro. The Telegraph defended its front page, saying it did not suggest all DSP recipients are “slackers” or undeserving of assistance, and argued that its editorial made it clear that not all recipients were undeserving. It said the comparison between DSP recipients and the numbers of war-wounded was valid and fair and a way of stimulating public debate. The publication also said the photograph of a queue was intended merely to show a large number of people and it had not suggested they had disabilities or were DSP recipients. But the Press Council ruled the front page material collectively implied that a high proportion of DSP recipients are “slackers” and should not be receiving DSP. It said the prominently displayed words on the photographs and the stark contrast between the apparently able-bodied people in the queue and the severely wounded soldier led to the implication. The Council added that the implications of the front page were not adequately dispelled by any of the material that appeared on inside pages and concluded that the Telegraph breached the Standards of Practice. The Council also said the implication that a high proportion of DSP recipients are “slackers” and should not be receiving DSP was offensive to an extent not justified by the public interest.
Steve Jones mumbrella.com.au/daily-telegraph-rapped-press-council-disability-allowance-slur-267530
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2014 11:15:43 GMT 7
l wish we could all get together and sue them in a class action for defamation.
|
|
|
|
Post by archlight on Dec 12, 2014 13:06:15 GMT 7
might be worth looking at actually.. seriously. how great would it be to stick one back at those pack of bastards because i found that highly offensive how about you?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2014 13:11:11 GMT 7
might be worth looking at actually.. seriously. how great would it be to stick one back at those pack of bastards because i found that highly offensive how about you? Defamation is publishing something hurtful about someone that is untrue, if the Daily telegraph is saying Disabiilty pensioners are all rorters faking their disabilities then the vast majority of us that are genuine and have medical evidence that proves we are genuine could have a case to sue the newspaper and sue Murdoch for defamation. Maybe we could find a human rights lawyer to take it on. |
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Dec 12, 2014 13:58:31 GMT 7
Any lawyer would do it if he thought it would work.
Keep in mind though that successful class actions don't pay much to the people involved on an individual basis, only their lawyer.
|
|
|
|
Post by struggling on Dec 12, 2014 22:52:32 GMT 7
Right ! I spoke to a QC in Brisbane today by phone ( a personal friend ) his advice .... seek a law firm who will litigate class action against the paper , and have any offended DSP'rs sign the affidavit complaint .
Demand a public apology ( he says if there were enough signatures ) the paper would settle out of court ( too much bad publicity )and make a lump sum payment to the legal firm representing the DSP'r less their fee ( a percentage based on no win no fee) usually around 50% but even if the final payment to the pensioners was trivial it makes a point to the public.
That would stop any further demonizing by the paper and would cause the Lib government major embarrassment , shame and more unpopularity.
Might be the beginning of the end for Abbott and his mates in power.
Perhaps we behind Banjo should launch something ?
|
|
|
|
Post by struggling on Dec 12, 2014 22:54:25 GMT 7
They have caused us so much unnecessary grief and anxiety ..... Why don't we make them all pay ??
|
|
|
|
Post by archlight on Dec 13, 2014 7:24:04 GMT 7
i say we at least find out, maybe use this forum (locked thread) to find out how many people feel the same way. put the word out, even advertise. its absolutely shameful what that poor excuse for a newspaper and that horrible government is doing not only to us but the whole country. they need to be brought to heel and punished for what they have done. and if this can bring about the beginnings of justice then i say we fight them and launch everything we have at them. they have taken nearly everything from us some of us have already lost all hope they have broken up families, families! demonised us to the public, made us the scape goat in their twisted psychological warfare. well, if its war they want its war they'll get. forcing an public apology would discredit them somewhat, it would definitely get picked up by their competition. perhaps some people would begin to see the lies and the viscous attack dog for conservative rightwing whack jobs that 'newspaper' is, especially now that the liberal approval rates are at an all time low, the lowest for any prime minister or government i've been told.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2014 8:34:07 GMT 7
i say we at least find out, maybe use this forum (locked thread) to find out how many people feel the same way. put the word out, even advertise. its absolutely shameful what that poor excuse for a newspaper and that horrible government is doing not only to us but the whole country. they need to be brought to heel and punished for what they have done. and if this can bring about the beginnings of justice then i say we fight them and launch everything we have at them. they have taken nearly everything from us some of us have already lost all hope they have broken up families, families! demonised us to the public, made us the scape goat in their twisted psychological warfare. well, if its war they want its war they'll get. forcing an public apology would discredit them somewhat, it would definitely get picked up by their competition. perhaps some people would begin to see the lies and the viscous attack dog for conservative rightwing whack jobs that 'newspaper' is, especially now that the liberal approval rates are at an all time low, the lowest for any prime minister or government i've been told. l bet the ABbott government is working with the Daily telegraph, l wouldn't be surprise if some Abbott government adviser is over at the newspaper office all the time working with them |
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Dec 13, 2014 8:50:23 GMT 7
I'll agree with struggling that the principal is at stake here rather than money.
I know from experience here that you're not going to raise more than a few willing participants from this forum, you would need to commence a massive campaign on social and in traditional media outlets to get the required numbers together.
I'm 66 and I live overseas, the logistics of me running such a campaign just don't add up.
This will be a public event, there will be no more contributing behind the anonymity of a forum name.
People will have to testify in court and say how humiliated and distressed by this travesty of responsible journalism.
I'll certainly help put it together and do plenty of advising from a safe distance but once you have lawyers involved they will take over anyway.
I'm willing to do a poll/newsletter to see who's interested from all forum members if you get enough people onside here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Denis-NFA on Dec 14, 2014 6:42:32 GMT 7
I'll agree with struggling that the principal is at stake here rather than money. I know from experience here that you're not going to raise more than a few willing participants from this forum, you would need to commence a massive campaign on social and in traditional media outlets to get the required numbers together. I'm 66 and I live overseas, the logistics of me running such a campaign just don't add up. This will be a public event, there will be no more contributing behind the anonymity of a forum name. People will have to testify in court and say how humiliated and distressed by this travesty of responsible journalism. I'll certainly help put it together and do plenty of advising from a safe distance but once you have lawyers involved they will take over anyway. I'm willing to do a poll/newsletter to see who's interested from all forum members if you get enough people onside here. G'day Banjo and strugglingFor what it is worth! Considering any class action may I suggest consideration be given to contact the person who helped defend and/or obtain UP for the original recipients of UP. I cannot remember if there was a post somewhere on the forum Banjo but I seem to recall (IIRC) that they had to go through a similar defense and they may be interested in joining/promoting such an action because this current media diatribe will reflect on their legacy. I will try to track it down but if someone else finds the article it would be worthwhile having a read again to see what they did. Cheers |
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Dec 14, 2014 7:54:29 GMT 7
Was this a journalist?
|
|
|
|
Post by ferdieguba on Dec 15, 2014 2:32:01 GMT 7
This article was bordering on a hate crime, I might point out that there has been many illnesses not recognised by the DVA from Maralinga to Gulf War Illness, I suffer from the latter, if you didn't take the multivalent vaccine injection you could kiss your ADF career goodbye and some who took the injection became extremely ill. DVA usually recognises these illnesses when there are 5 survivors. The Daily Telegraph made a poor comparison as there are many 'slouch hats' in the 'lazy DSP group' because their injuries are not recognised by DVA
|
|
|
|
Post by Banjo on Dec 15, 2014 7:52:36 GMT 7
Welcome to the forum Ferdieguba, I'm aware that many veterans struggle getting adequate support from the DVA.
|
|
|
|
Post by disgruntledaussie on Dec 15, 2014 15:06:27 GMT 7
This is "EFFING REPREHENSIBLE and MORALLY CORRUPT!"
There is NO place for making any comparison of DSP Pensioners and Military Veterans!
Moreover, many DSP recipients are ex Defense Members such as myself, who have suffered long term injuries that has contributed to requiring DSP, in many cases, where Military Compensation has failed to support those members at all!
Bludgers?? How many DSP members did they survey and ask if they could get their health back would they run like hell from the DSP? No they didnt.. and i expect we ALL would in the blink of an eye!
Did they offer to pay to provide worlds best medical service to any DSP recicipients in order to see if they would actually take it up and run like hell from the DSP if it actually worked? No they didnt!
I wore a Slouch Hat (and still do every ANZAC Day), and i am utterly gutted by such trash talk.
Seems like the only 'bludgers' are the ones who are hiding behind a desk, not doing any real work, plucking a defenseless group out of thin air to belittle WITHOUT ANY ACTUAL RESEARCH, ADHERENCE TO ETHICAL STANDARDS, EFFORT TO QUALIFY THE ISSUES FACING DSP RECIPIENTS/APPLICANTS - thats just SHAMEFUL LAZY!
|
|
