The media, not Abbott, have now damaged our relationship with Indonesia by revealing news against the national interest about activities that were in the national interest.
The media is failing to underscore that this alleged spying occurred in Labor’s watch, in 2009, when Kevin Rudd was prime minister. Indeed, Laurie Oakes on Channel 9 tonight quoted Bob Carr, Julia Gillard’s Foreign Minister, calling on Abbott to apologise to Indonesia with neither man pointing out that if any politician should apologise it is Rudd. Most reports seem keen to make Abbott the fall guy.
The reaction of the Indonesian English-speaking elite will be conditioned in part by the offence that the Australian “elite” - especially our “elite” media suggest they should take. If they catch ABC or Age reports that even we are as appalled as the Greens suggest we should be, they will feel even more strongly we have done them an evil.
Much of the media seems to be deliberately working against the national interest.
