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Post by Banker on Aug 26, 2012 14:06:42 GMT 7
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 26, 2012 14:57:08 GMT 7
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Post by Banjo on Aug 26, 2012 15:46:11 GMT 7
I'll post that link NFA, a warning to any one who thinks they will get a fair interview from the corporate media.
Imagine turning up for one with your recently arrived Asian partner and being asked how much she cost the taxpayer?
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Post by Banjo on Aug 26, 2012 15:46:29 GMT 7
ANDREW Byrne, A Current Affair's supervising producer, was charming when he spoke to his target, Rod Whyte, on the telephone and in several emails over a period of almost three weeks.
He first called on June 20 to say the Nine Network's prime-time show wanted to do a story on his book, an expose on Centrelink that Whyte had written after working there for 13 years. Byrne also told Whyte he wanted to interview him for a "story we are shooting about government crackdowns on welfare cheats and now the new IR laws".
But the story he had in mind was more about deadbeat dads.
What followed left two men in hospital, one after a suicide attempt, and raises questions about the ethics of ambush journalism.
Whyte had become something of a welfare watchdog and had been interviewed many times by rival Today Tonight for stories about Centrelink bungles. He was used to working with the media and was often called on by the public to help people when they ran into trouble with the government agency. He was quoted as a whistleblower in newspapers, including The Australian.
A follow-up email from Byrne on June 21 was marked by a misplaced desperation: "I have been trying all morning but can't get through on the phone -- I hope it means business is booming today! I have managed to find a crew and a location but [it's] killing me not being able to contact you or David!"
"David" was David Volke, Whyte's gay partner. Whyte's business was a consultancy he set up at home that offered advice to disaffected Centrelink clients. But most clients were disadvantaged and unable to pay. The business was far from booming. Whyte and his partner of three years were broke. Both had worked for Centrelink and both had left for reasons related to Whyte's crusade against Centrelink bungles. They had a lot riding on the success of Whyte's Australia's Artful Dodger: Centrelink Exposed and Whyte, who self-published, was keen for publicity for the book.
Despite the desperate tone in Byrne's emails, the interview took almost three weeks to set up. Twice Byrne pulled the plug. On both occasions Volke was absent.
The first time, Byrne had arranged for Whyte to come to a Sydney hotel for an interview and had repeatedly asked him to bring Volke. Early on in the correspondence it became clear Byrne wanted to film Volke, although he was not connected to the book. He used all the reporter's tricks to get him there, including suggesting an appearance on the show might help the unemployed man find a job.
Wrote Byrne: "I hope we can do this and David feels up for it. I promise it won't be stressful or anything ... really it would just be good to show that you have supporters behind you ... ie, [it's] not just a one-man band. You said yesterday David will soon be looking for another job, maybe this could help. You are the focus of this, but it will make much more interesting vision to have the pair of you stacking books, discussing cases, etc etc."
Not once did he say he was investigating Volke's personal and financial situation.
Whyte told Byrne his partner would not be coming to take part in the story. He explained to Byrne in a long, personal email that his partner was suffering from depression and was at risk of suicide. He revealed they were involved in defamation action against Volke's ex-wife, who was the mother of four of his five children. Since the marriage broke down almost four years ago, the relationship had been difficult, he said. Volke's ex-wife had written to everyone from the Prime Minister down about her ex-husband. She had contacted Today Tonight and A Current Affair and asked them to do stories about Volke, he claimed. Labor MP Tanya Plibersek was to have launched Whyte's book on July 1 at South Sydney Leagues Club but cancelled after a call from Volke's ex. Whyte said he and Volke were launching defamation proceedings against Volke's ex-wife.
Whyte tried to convince A Current Affair that Volke was not relevant to a story about his book. "David is certainly a major part of my life but he's not up to speed on much in regard to Centrelink," Whyte wrote. But Byrne wasn't going to give up. He suggested they wait until the book launch and asked if Volke would be attending.
A couple of days later Whyte again wrote to Byrne asking for reassurance. "I wrote to you the other day and disclosed those things because David was concerned that the ACA story was somehow going to involve his ex-wife and so, in an effort to make him feel more assured and less depressed about the situation, disclosed what had been happening to us. Even me saying to him that no one takes credence in what she is doing (in fact it's the opposite) and that defamation action is occurring isn't making him feel better about the whole thing. Anyway, at the risk of making this email another lengthy life story, can you let me know if you've received a copy of the book and can you also confirm that the story you want to do does not involve David and his problems with his ex-wife and that it is indeed about the book?
"While I know this is not the case, David, in the state that he is in, needs that reassurance -- I hope you can understand."
Byrne understood all too well but ignored the warnings. He did not reply but turned up at the book launch in Sydney with a young man (pictured) he introduced as being on work experience. The man sat alone in the front row with a knapsack placed on the seat next to him, with which he constantly fiddled. A friend of Whyte who attended the launch, Michelle Hayward, said she believed he was secretly filming them.
The next day Byrne resumed his urgent tone, requesting they meet for an interview. Byrne on July 6: "I have tried both numbers I have for you but they are ringing out. I need to get hold of you because I want to use you in a story we are shooting about government crackdowns on welfare cheats and now the new IR laws, etc. I have told the executive producer [David Hurley] that you are the perfect person to comment on Centrelink's actions in this area because of your book etc."
They arranged to come to Whyte's home last Thursday, but the interview was curtailed suddenly when it became clear Volke was not at home. But Whyte was feeling reassured the interview was not about his personal life because reporter Amanda Paterson had asked him only about Centrelink. Paterson arranged to come back at 10am on Friday but arrived at 9am. Whyte claims the crew was parked outside from 8am.
After a final request for Volke to be included in the interview was denied, Paterson launched her ambush. She turned on the lights and the cameras and confronted Volke as he walked into the house. She shoved a photograph of his four children under his nose. Paterson had photographs of both men's children. It quickly became clear to the two men that, to use tabloid television vernacular, "Welfare Watchdog and his boyfriend are Deadbeat (Gay) Dads" was the story A Current Affair was after.
For the next hour or so, Volke and Whyte tried to defend themselves by showing emails, letters and assorted documents to refute the various allegations ACA made. Whyte said he became so distressed he was banging his head with his hands but they continued to film.
Media has not seen the footage of the interview but neither side denies it was focused on the breakdown of Whyte's and Volke's marriages, whether they were gay, whether they saw their children and whether they paid child support. Paterson also alleged Volke was fraudulently claiming a Centrelink payment, a claim he denies. But by the time Paterson and her five-person crew left their Wollongong home on Friday, Whyte was close to a nervous breakdown. He was taken to hospital by ambulance and admitted to the mental health unit.
Later that night Volke took an overdose and was also taken to hospital by ambulance and admitted to the special care unit. When Media phoned their home on Tuesday they were both there, under the care of hospital's mental health team.
Whyte has been too shattered to speak but his friends, who contacted The Australian, say he feels betrayed and ashamed he couldn't see through Byrne's deception. What they thought was going to be a story about Whyte's book turned into a classic ambush.
When contacted by Media, Byrne confirmed ACA had been working with the ex-wives and a former friend, Bryan Wiseman. Wiseman, an actor who was exposed last year as a paid caller to 2UE talkback host Stan Zemanek's radio show, had approached Whyte for help with a Centrelink debt. Whyte says Wiseman was so pleased he had helped him reduce the debt he offered to finance his book. But a disagreement over the marketing of the book led to a falling out and Whyte found another backer.
Byrne told Media he believed Whyte's position as an author and his declaration of an intention to stand for the Senate - as an independent in 2007 - meant he was fair game.
A Current Affair had just one allegation: both men owe money in child support. Whyte and Volke agree and say they each owe about $3000, a debt that has accrued while they have been not earning any income. Volke, who says he is denied access to his children by his ex-wife, paid child support until he resigned from Centrelink in June last year.
Whyte's situation is different. In the photograph Paterson brandished when questioning Whyte about his relationship with his two children, they were were eight and nine. The photo was 10 years old. Whyte's children, who regularly stay with the couple in Wollongong, are now 18 and 19 and no longer eligible for child support.
Hurley says he is still unsure whether he will air the segment, but stands by his reporters. He would certainly be mindful of the risks of showing the story. He was the executive producer eight years ago when a Sydney video repair man, Benny Mendoza, killed himself after a critical story about his business was broadcast on A Current Affair.
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Post by Banker on Aug 26, 2012 16:04:50 GMT 7
Thanks for that Banjo, I was about to do it.
DO NOT TRUST JOURNALIST, My experience with Andrew Drummond and Lindsey Murdock taught me that, but that story does not belong here.
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Post by Banker on Aug 26, 2012 16:08:25 GMT 7
That story was seven years ago wonder what happened to Mr Whyte.
Did his book ever sell?
Did he get his job back at Centrelink?
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 26, 2012 19:09:41 GMT 7
Banker Are you LOL? you think the poor  beat the 'mob'? Do you want to have a serious go at the system? If you do then we will set up a Disability Support Service |
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Post by Banjo on Aug 27, 2012 5:18:19 GMT 7
I genuinely believe that a full frontal attack on Centrelink, or any other Government department, by an individual would lead to this type of response.
The guy who started the "name and shame" Centreflunk website ended up in jail.
The only way to get anything done is by using the options that they make available to us, anything else creates martyrs and Saint Banjo I ain't.
I realise that there are people here that consider me soft on Centrelink... too bad, the administration of the forum is immediately available to anyone who thinks a more direct approach is desirable.
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