Labor
APPALLING: mX newspaper and Baillieu ally kick Tim Holding when he’s down
mX newspaper is one of the most enjoyable reads in Melbourne newspapers, published every weekday and distributed to City commuters. It’s so good most of the time that we go out of our way to pick it up most afternoons.
But its disgraceful, sensationalist and immoral coverage of Tim Holding today could haunt it for a long time to come.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
While Victorian Minister Tim Holding is still missing they ran a series of quotes from rent-a-quote know-alls that attacked him for going into tough conditions. We won’t repeat it at length but its timing is outrageous, insensitive and couldn’t possibly be fully informed.
The simple fact is that Tim Holding as an ex-Army reservist, a fitness fanatic and outdoorsman who could not have been better prepared for a mountain hike. He took all the necessary equipment, including food for two days, thermal gear and a tent. He had been on the mountain before, he had been on more hikes and marathon runs than most people have had hot dinners.
City slicker journalists trying to make a story sledging the politician where there simply isn’t one is very poor form. Rent-a-quote experts attacked the missing person – in no position to defend himself – as committing “not a smart move”, a “bit silly” and even “tempting fate.”
Have they no sense of decency?
Have they no sense of decency? Would they dare run any of this muck and filth and ex post facto wisdom about any non-politician?
Certainly their headline writer didn’t when they keyed in “What was he thinking?” A fair question for us to ask their editor at this point.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?
Know-all mX journalist Inga Gilchrist wrote that and more and should surely be regretting going there:
“What was he thinking? The sky’s too stormy for choppers, the ground’s too slippery for skidoos, and one of the Premier’s top-shelf ministers heads out alone to the summit of the state’s second-highest peak…”
“So it’s hard to fathom Holding’s motivation for pushing on alone when the smart money was on bunkering down and staying warm… it’s the sort of judgment call that you’d expect would be a no-brainer for someone who shares responsibility for directing the state.”
What a grub. Is no blow too low when it comes to a politician even when his life is in danger? He is currently a missing person. Loved ones are waiting to hear whether they’ll be able to give him a relieved hug or prepare for the worse. And while that goes on, we’ve got someone attacking him by means of second guessing.
How can she know at this point what happened? All we do know is what has been extensively reported: He was not an amateur fool recklessly heading out into the unfamiliar. Quite the reverse. To question his judgment while he is still missing, while loved ones, including one of Gilchrist’s colleagues, are praying for his safe return is beyond the pale.
She should do the decent thing and be ready with an apology tomorrow.
A TEDTARD GETS IN ON THE ACT
But of course Inga Gilchrist wasn’t alone.
On the Herald Sun website today, a former Liberal candidate Andrew Dwyer of Jamieson attacked the missing person as “careless and irresponsible” without having any facts that would actually inform such a judgment.
Liberal insiders tell VEXNEWS that Dwyer was the failed candidate for Benalla in 2002, a member of the Baillieu faction and a close friend of Graham Storey who is Ted Baillieu’s brother-in-law.
Making a political attack on a missing person when his loved ones are waiting for word is one of the most deeply shameful and sleazy efforts we’ve ever reported on. We hope Baillieu pulls the scumbag back into line. His response was far more gracious and decent.
Discussion
42 comments for “APPALLING: mX newspaper and Baillieu ally kick Tim Holding when he’s down”
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They’ll find him in the spring thaw…
HAHAHA @ spring thaw . . .
I read this so called journalist’s report on the train and was appalled at her lack of sensitivity, flippant remarks and total lack of compassion for either Mr Holding or his family awaiting news. Absolutely disgraceful.
As above
While I hope they find him safe and sound, what he thinking? You may not like the question but it is a valid one.
yep hope he is safe & well, but how many times do people have to be reminded not to go adventuring alone? maybe this will make them take a bit of notice
Who cares if he’s a minister? Anyone else would have been called stupid without anyone taking any notice at all…
What was he thinking? Ask Olivia Newton-John’s husband.
Dear Andrew Landeryou
Your assertion that my comments in the Herald Sun this morning were politically inspired was far from the mark, and nothing short of an appalling beat up. My comments were made in my capacity as a professional outdoor guide, for which I believe I am sufficiently qualified. For over 20 years I have operated an internationally award winning outdoor adventure tourism business. I was instrumental in authoring the adventure tourism industry’s professional accreditation scheme. I am a qualified ski instructor and have been onto Mt Feathertop many times both in summer and in winter. I have also been involved in many mountain rescues in alpine regions. I was also awarded the most significant contribution by an individual to the Victoria Tourism Industry in 2006. – AND I live in the High Country and know it well.
There is a missing man out there tonight most likely suffering great discomfort and danger for which we should all have great concern and wish the best for him, his family and loved ones, and hope and pray for a positive outcome. Everyone, no matter how professional can make an error of judgement or a mistake, even a minister.
My comments, by which I stand, reflect my concerns that anyone – let alone a minister of the crown – has placed both himself and those who must go in to rescue him in such a dangerous situation. I have personal friends involved in the rescue operation. No one could refute that it is foolish practise to go into that area alone, without sufficient communication equipment, (a mobile phone is not considered suitable communication equipment) especially given the impending weather. It is simply bad practise. I was making a comment as a professional outdoor leader on a subject close to my heart.
Whilst I was a candidate in the 2002 state elections, I am not preselecting or vying for any position in the Liberal Party, nor have I had any correspondence in this matter with the Liberal parliamentary leader whatsoever or his “faction” as you put it.
This tragic situation is not about winning points. The only win is if Tim Holding walks out of the bush safe and sound. Your grubby attempts to make this a political statement and besmirch my good name and professional credibility is a cheap shot and more reflective of your uninformed lack of moral judgement, and the gossipy trash you peddle. Give my regards to Wally
Andrew Dwyer
Director
Diamantina Touring Co
I believe from the press reports that Tim Holding was on his way DOWN the mountain. He was not unique – there were other bushwalkers out in the same conditions who made it out safely. Lets hope that this story has a happy ending.
60 people searching for him, camping out there over night, helicopters…amazing what you get when you’re a minister?
I’m sure taxpayers will pick up the rescue bill for his stupidity. Ex army reservist? – plain stupid any way you look at it.
He or his family should pay for the cost of this search.
Switzerland has it’s St Bernard /other dogs that are trained to go looking for and seeking out people who are missing in the snow. I don’t know if they actually achieve a great result in finding missing individuals though. Do we have any dogs that are trained for this purpose in Australia? If we don’t-well it looks like we need some. Although the conditions look like they may have deteriorated beyond this point. It’s going to take all the skill that this guy possesses to see him through this challenge.
I hope that Mr Holding is found safe and well.
Kind Regards- Liz C. Trafalgar
“He or his family should pay for the cost of this search.” ….what!!!! When anyone is lost in this country they are searched for – thats what a civilized country does !!!!! isn’t it — its called humanity —
how really mean minded can some people be, what if it was your son or daughter or Mum or Dad …. then we would hear you squeal …….and squeal and squeal …… have a bit of compassion you might need it yourself one day ….unless you don’t care about them either
I hearby call on the comrads of the sda and hsu to save him
I just turned the heater up a notch, made me think of timmy.
What rubbish is written here in the comments, apparently it is now unacceptable to go for a walk. It is not even that cold here, the conditions are challenging if you are not used to them, but thats about it. Having walked that track as a blizzard descended many years ago, I know what i’m on about. It was the closest I got to being struck by lighting in my life by a longshot, it would also be easy to get lost on the razorback in a whiteout. Something has happened to poor Mr Holding we don’t know what, but as an outdoorsman he is likely hunkered down awaiting rescue (most likely), if a minister of the crown cannot escape the nanny state, what hope for the rest of us. Why shouldn’t we pay to search and rescue him? It is a measure of a civilised society that we do so. We rescue people from stupidity all the time, and their is no sign of that here. For those worried about their taxpayer dollars being used for this search, simple solution move to another country, hopefully one without a government, where your useless contributions might of be more value.
How many people will now risk their lives to find this fool?
Stop being such a bleeding heart. This supposed visionary thinker has exercised incredibly poor judgment in placing himself in harms way. As a former reservist I would like to know when was the last time you heard of the army sending a lone man in to freezing conditions? (SAS and commandos aside) It just does’t happen.
Anyway, I hope for the sake of his family that he is found safe and well as I do concede that now is not the time for political point scoring.
Is it too early to suggest a nomination for a Darwin award?
If he does a harold holt, who’d get his portfolios?
‘He had [planned to walk to the summit] but he had decided that he wasn’t going to now because it was too steep. He said he was going to make his way back to the car,’’ Acting Superintendent Rotherham said.
These are not the actions of a fool 23.10
Probably Lynne Kosky, at least we’ll get the same poor standards Tim seems to be great ov delivering on ( or deliverED on, lol)
Foolish.
Anyone who is missing deserves respect while feared dead or injured, if and when he’s found alive, then you can call him whatever you want to.
These people are absolute scum. The lowest of the low. Tim’s family and friends deserve better during this stressful time waiting to hear any news from the mountain.
Sitting comfortably in front of heaters and posting hateful comments is very peculiar. This human being, Tim Holding, is fighting for his life alone in freezing temperatures – and some people here are shafting him.
Get a Life!
The author is obviously a great fan of Ellen Whinnett. His/her own inabiity for objective comment has been lost in the vitriol.
What was he thinking indeed.I fail to see what being an Army reservist has to do with having the commonsense not go hiking out
a by yourself
b in foul weather
c. without an EPIRB
Plenty of so called experts have perished in that area.
And get your facts right.It’s Graham Stoney, who is married to T.B.’s sister in law.
“I missed my plane!!! Wot are you up to today?”
OMG – Della Bosca – txt Dalla Riva anytime. Wuld B HOT!
A lack of judgement
We’re acting like this guy is actually important and some sort of loss? What the!!??
f#$5 off dark horse
tim is found alive and well
Some politicians will do almost anything for some publicity.
I see that he has been found. But he has wasted a lot of resources.
Hi Andrew,
As an avid mX reader you would know fully well we don’t indulge in sensationalist journalism, so I was a little surprised to read your reaction this afternoon.
You’re entitled to your opinion and I’m not going to attempt to change it here, but I would like to clarify a few points you raise.
Rent-a-quote know-alls? I simply asked the reporter, Inga Gilchrist, to contact some hiking experts to get their thoughts on a man trekking alone in those conditions. Every single one of them said he was tempting fate (hence the headline, but I’ll get to that in a minute). It’s called journalism. Who do you suggest we should have contacted? Or are you suggesting we should not have contacted anyone – just ignored the biggest story of the day/week/month?
As for Inga being a “city slicker”, well yes she does live just a few kms outside the CBD but Inga is also a fully qualified ski patroller who has provided first aid to skiers on Australia’s ski fields for the past 8 winters. It is with these qualifications in mind I asked her to write the piece you highlight. That doesn’t make her a “know-all”, but it does makes her qualified to offer an opinion.
I’m surprised to see you, of all people, attacking someone for having an opinion. If we removed the opinion from your blog what would be left?
As for reporting on non-politicians who go missing while wandering the mountains alone, I seem to recall Jamie Neal getting a bit of attention in mX (and elsewhere) not all that long ago.
And, given I wrote the headline, I’m very aware of what the headline writer was thinking – he was thinking what most people (judging by the reaction to your post) was thinking: Holding should have known better.
In future I ask you to refrain from calling our journalists grubs. They’re not. It isn’t Inga who should be apologising.
Holding is a bloody idiot, if Brumby had any any guts and morals he would remove this imbecile from Cabinet immediately. It has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and many people have risked their own lives rescuing this ill prepared selfish git.
Oh dear Mr Acott … almost sounds as though you’re sorry he was found. Mate, the Gilchrist piece was a turd … don’t try to polish it. Most people were actually thinking that I hope he makes it out okay, not attempting to blame the guy. It’s called human decency.
andrew dwyer is fraud. just because you say you are an expert does not make you one. I am so sick and tired of hearing ‘as an award winning tour operator’. I think I might be ill. He basically runs four wheel drive tours using other peoples vehicles and contract drivers. No staff, all contracts and no risk. What a joke. Thats not a business, its a phantom business as a means to make money. I think everyone from Dwyer to MX is a little sensitive dont you think vexnews.
I am very unhappy he was found.
I’m happy he was found, despite him being the minister for water theft, but I wonder if it was just a mere mortal lost, would the special secret super dooper AFP plane have been used?
I wonder if it was not a deliberate PR stunt by the Minister to boost his prospects in any future challenges…or is it only me.
As the Minister is a person who is experienced in these things, a couple of nights in the cold for great publicity wouldnt be a bad idea.
Maybe I am just too suspicious of these things.
I doubt it was deliberate. He put himself and consequently those searching for him in real danger.
He made basic mistakes for a so called experienced walker.
Anyone who knows that terrain in that weather knows that slipping is a real danger.
He should have gone up not down as he got himself hopelessly lost.
I see the AFP is now trying to make it look like anyone can ‘lease’ their special plane. So was this plane leased to the govt, at what cost, or was it donated as a pollie was involved?
Come on what about Bernie Finn’s comments??? They were disgraceful – and no coverage here? Just into bagging poor old Ted.