Never a good relationship

Regarding the Government's proposed media laws, it is relevant to return to our past.

Before the days of the Hawke-Keating Labor Governments, the Australian Labor Party never had a good relationship with the press.

In NSW in the 30s and 40s, there was the Labor Daily which, ironically, was later sold to Sir Frank Packer.

This publisher was anti-Labor and was once sued for calling Bob Hawke a "puffed up Napoleon".

In spite of the hospitality of the press, the ALP was successful in gaining government nationally and in all states.

NSW was Labor's crown.

The press can be vindictive and invasive, but it can also expose corruption and incompetence.

The classic example that the people are the final decider was when US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt ran for his historic third term of office.

Every major newspaper in the country campaigned against him, but despite all their efforts, Roosevelt won convincingly.

Letter, 24 Mr 2013

Keith Whitfield, Woy Woy