They call themselves "Free TV Australia," but the organisation representing commercial television networks yesterday demonstrated a peculiar approach to free speech. The TV cartel has rejected the latest round of ads in businessman Ian Melrose's campaign to raise awareness of the Timor Sea dispute. The ads feature World War II veterans who fought in East Timor attacking John Howard over his government's tough-guy stance on negotiating the future of the Timor Sea gas and oil fields with our northern neighbour.
Marvin "Doc" Wheetly, who served in the 2/2 Independent Company tells viewers he owed his life to the East Timorese people: "John Howard you are making me ashamed", is his message. The veterans say East Timorese children are dying due to a lack of health care, while the Australian government seizes over $2 billion in contested gas and oil royalties from East Timor.
Free TV's "commercial advice division" yesterday expressed concerns that the ads may be defamatory and refused to issue them with a CAD number that would allow commercial networks to air them. Last night, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told ABC TV that he had not seen the ads, but took the time to declare them "abusive and misleading." Attacking the diggers, Downer said: "They make the most amazingly dishonest claims about the government."
Downer added: "We haven't rung the TV stations and told them not to run these ads." But that's hardly the point. The government hands out the TV licences, and the networks aren't stupid: they know which way the wind's blowing on this issue.
