Nine has responded to former prime minister Paul Keating’s comments made at the National Press Club directed at the Sydney Morning Herald’s Red Alert series and its reporters.
In a note from the editor, Bevan Shields, the editor of Sydney Morning Herald, which is published by Nine, called out Keating for making “two unfair and uninformed attacks” at international political editor Peter Hartcher and foreign affairs and national security correspondent Matthew Knott following their series Red Alert.
Shields said that while Herald is not above criticism and that, as a publication, they occupy a privileged place with obligations and responsibilities.
Red Alert was a three-part examination of the most pressing national security challenges facing Australia, and Shields admitted that the series received mixed feedback.
“Some of you didn’t like the series and others viewed it a brave assessment of the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and of Australia’s lack of preparedness to prevent these threats from spilling over into war,” he said.
But it was Keating’s “unfair” comments that National Press Club on Wednesday that caused issue with Shields.
Keating with asked by Knott whether he would criticise China’s treatment of Uyghurs and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and not just Labor and journalists, Keating replied to Knott that he should hang his head in shame given he co-authored Red Alert with Hartcher.
Keating said: “You ought to do the right thing and drum yourself out of Australian journalism” and called the Herald a “newspaper without integrity”.
In response, Knott told Keating the Herald was very proud of its journalism and said: “If I were you mate, I’d hide my face and never appear again.”
Keating also described Hartcher – who recently marked 40 years with the Herald – as a “psychopath” and “maniac”.
Shields said that for years, the public has laughed along with Keating as he hurled his trademark barbs
“But it’s not funny any more. His attack on Wong, defence of the CCP and the Donald Trump-like abuse of journalists doing their jobs shows just how far removed from the political mainstream Keating’s views and behaviour has become.”
“It’s disappointing that a man who has had such a profound impact on public life for more than 50 years now has nothing of substance to add on such a huge issue for our country,” Shields added.
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Top image: Bevan Shields