Packer Schmooze.

[Matilda]

I find it disturbing and rather revolting that even in death Kerry Packer is able to attract the
fawning attention of media and political sycophants. A tax-payer funded send-off at the Opera
House for what - a media mogul who went from rich to extraordinarily rich by manipulating the
laws of this country to avoid paying tax, and who never hesitated to use his media reach to bend
politicians to do his bidding.

So he gave money to charity - a tiny percentage no doubt of what he saved in tax. But in television
he played always to the lowest common denominator - forget about using the medium to elevate
people's thinking, or to provide culture that was in any way above the bottom line. Kerry Packer
existed for the benefit of Kerry Packer, first last and always. He, with pal Murdoch, is the
reason why in Australia we have pathetic local-content rules in television and an industry that
is fast going down the drain, and a virtual monopoly on media by two major players. My fervent
prayer is that Jamie will bring the whole edifice tumbling down.

End of rant.

[gemini_liberal]

1. Hear hear!

I've wanted to post a rant just like this, but I am too lazy. Packer was a villain in the same books as Murdoch. He was a tax cheat and a bastard. His darling little TV network is almost our version of Fox - cheap, pathetic and biased to the right.

Rot in hell you fat, selfish bastard!

[AX10]

2. What network is that?

[foreigncorrespondent]

4. The nine network!

They generally spin it in the way of the right wing constanty.

[gemini_liberal]

6. Yep

Remember the wonderful "Fair and Balanced" coverage they offered in 2004?

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. Why did the tax payer...

...have to pay for the bullshit? Aren't the Packer's wealthy enough to do a formal send off for the old man?

Good rant, mate. My mum and I talked about this last night. We are both as disgusted by it as you.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Coz we all lurv him sooo much!!

At least that's what some moron on Channel 9 was carrying on about when I quickly glimpsed at the news one night and then even more quickly turned the telly off...

If anyone saw The Chaser's War on Everything last night, the segment where they were walking round a shopping centre with a bucket trying to get people to donate to the Kerry Packer memorial service was pretty hilarious...


Violet...

[Matilda]

7. Yes - to help the family pay Kerry's tax bill!

But it will earn the ABC a bit more hatred from Howard.