Tuesday 11 January 2011

News Ltd's "alarmist" bullshit

Queensland Police have slammed News Ltd for dodgy reporting over the flooding.

"We appreciate the support you are providing in getting urgent messages to at-risk flood communities," Police said in an statement this afternoon.

"But alarmist messages are not assisting, this includes messages such as the Brisbane CBD being evacuated which is not the case."

In fact, on the News Ltd website's main page this afternoon, they headlined that "Brisbane city" was "evacuated." Bullshit. The graphic depicted a photo of Toowoomba, not Brisbane.

What would international readers, especially family of those living in Brisbane think when they are dependant on accurate reporting?

Police say that the flooding is likely to worsen over the next few days.

"We need the public to continue to have confidence in our warning systems,Queensland Police say. "We will continue to issue appropriate warnings, as needed, and we appreciate your continued assistance in helping us to issue these warnings."

At around 4pm, two hours after Police issued the message to curtail such reporting, NewsLTD changed the headline to read "City under water." Still bullshit.

There are now nine people confirmed dead, with 66 still missing in Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley region.

In Grantham the bodies of a female child, a male child, a female aged in her 30s, and an elderly woman have been located. In Murphy’s Creek, bodies of a male aged in his 50s and a female aged in her 40s, have been found. One in was killed Gatton and in Toowoomba, a woman aged in her 40s, along with a male child.

As at 11 January 2011, including Toowoomba's death toll, there have been 26 deaths attributed to the floods.

Meanwhile, a pastor says that Kevin Rudd is to blame for the floods because he "spoke against Israel" in December last year. Daniel Nalliah from Catch the Fire Ministries says "it is very interesting that Kevin Rudd is from Queensland. Is God trying to get our attention? I believe so." Whilst in Israel Rudd asked the Jewish state to allow international inspectors into nuclear facilities.

What a drip, Daniel Nalliah.

2 comments:

Mark ☭ Archer said...

Maybe now that Brisbane's involved in this alarmist crap, certain tourism bodies might stand up...

Paul Drabble said...

after this will councils and state goverment still approve developments in flood plain's or low sea level catchment's...will we see a return to building on poles in flood prone areas.