After a month in Australia, Rupert Murdoch has decreed: the country has big problems and may need an early election – but should re-elect Tony Abbott anyway.
In a series of nine tweets, the 84-year-old Australian-turned-American media mogul’s verdict is that Australia is a “beautiful country” with “great people” and “large problems”.
Great month in Oz - beautiful country, gtreAt people but with large problems.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
He identifies a hamstrung Senate as the major problem, where “extreme greenies” who are “against growth and subsequent jobs” hold the balance of power. That view turns out to have been a preoccupation during his visit.
Meanwhile federal Labor, he says, has been captured “by corrupt violent unions”.
For that reason the government “must push on with reforms for sake of all sides or hold snap poll”. The “only hope is new poll with govt of all the talents ready to work together with clear mandate for reform, bringing in new, young able people”.
His final tweet of a series concludes: “In spite of some blind spots, Abbott [is by] far the best alternative. Principled and a fighter.”
A week before that Murdoch had declared, also on Twitter, that Abbott “was always the happy warrior. Win or lose, usually win, and clever fighter.”
Country almost ungovernable with any Senate majority impossible for either side to execute. Bilateral agreement to change urgent if unlikely
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
Seems capture of federal Labor leadership by corrupt violent unions. Govt must push on with reforms for sake of all sides or hold snap poll.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
Extreme greenies, increasing in support hold balance. Against growth and subsequent jobs. Seem beyond reason.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
Meanwhile world commodity prices in long term collapse as outrageous construction costs kill infrastructure projects.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
Only hope is new poll with govt of all the talents ready to work together with clear mandate for reform, bringing in new, young able people
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
In spite of some blind spots, Abbott far the best alternative. Principled and a fighter.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 3, 2015
His verdict may not come as a wild surprise to the staff at his News Corp newspapers, including the Australian, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun in Victoria and the Courier-Mail in Brisbane.
But the polls suggest an early election would not bring the outcome Murdoch wants. Abbott has been behind in the polls for 17 months, and the latest polls show the Coalition trailing Labor by eight points. An election has to be held by January 2017 at the latest.
In other tweets Murdoch says: “One over riding social issue dominating conversation everywhere is alarm at spread of new deadly drugs, especially in rural communities.”
He notes: “Great progress made with Asia trade agreements by [trade] minister [Andrew] Robb. Now need close China FTA. Big chance for food, healthcare, jobs.”
But he protests: “Meanwhile world commodity prices in long term collapse as outrageous construction costs kill infrastructure projects.”
During his month-long visit, Murdoch has also swum on the Great Barriet Reef – “never more beautiful than today”. That too was an opportunity to complain on Twitter about environmentalists: “Of course we should do everything to preserve the reef, but first lets get all the scientific facts in a row if greens can agree anything.”
Later he wondered: “Shark population and attacks increase as greenies stop culling, claim sharks are also ‘human’. What next?”
Murdoch also sealed a joint $2.5bn deal for Foxtel and Seven for AFL coverage, declared that he had “always preferred Aussie rules” after rivals Nine signed a $925m free-to-air deal for rugby league, and held a lunch at Sydney’s Catalina restaurant for dignitaries including New South Wales premier Mike Baird, assorted News Corp executives and Qantas boss Alan Joyce, among others.
Not everyone on Twitter welcomed his contribution:
@SarahDingleABC @rupertmurdoch pic.twitter.com/DCYcJVWzzN
— Fenrir (@semibogan) September 3, 2015
Labor leader Bill Shorten said: “I don’t spend much time listening to the east coast twitterati ... of America.”
