Power to the People (well not quite .. or yet ... but you have to keep trying don't you)

Last Wednesday morning was very cool in Sydney .. probably about 15C .. but the sun was shining brilliantly and promising another spectacular autumn day.  I got up early, got myself ready and George drove me to North Sydney where, for the 2nd time in as many months, I took part in a public demonstration against the policies of the Abbott government.

This time the demo planned to visit the office of Joe Hockey and deliver a signed petition in support of the ABC - our national broadcaster.  The same thing was happening all over Australia with over 61 electorates visited by regular voters delivering a 250,000 signature strong petition to demand funding for the ABC remain strong and untouched.

It was a small crowd in North Sydney and mostly made up of people around my age group.

I guess 8:45 in the morning on a Wednesday is a hard time for younger working people to get away although there were a few younger people there.

Even though we were a small contention of about 30 grey haired ladies and gentlemen we were greeted outside his office by 3 police and one security guard!

Bit of an over kill I thought but they were all very nice.  One young policewoman was all smiles and asked what we were doing.  Bless her.  We were such a dangerous rabble that they would only let 10 of us go up to the office and deliver the petition .. in case we went nuts and started demolishing the place I guess.

Anyway in spite of the (very small) ruckus we created on the streets of a busy North Sydney there wasn't a single mention of it in the paper - local or otherwise.  And in spite of petitions being delivered in electorates simultaneously around the country there was no coverage or mention - that I saw - on TV. 

Of course the Murdoch media wouldn't cover it.  They want very badly for the ABC to be broken up and sold off so they can either buy the rights to the programs for pay TV or ensure an independent voice in Australian news is shut down for good.

George wouldn't go with me.  His excuse is it won't do any good.  Same excuse as the 'March in March'.  But I feel strongly that something has to be done even if left to a tiny band of greys.

Nevertheless all the bad news will be delivered on Tuesday with the first "horror" budget of the even more horrific Abbott government.  Apparently the egalitarian days of Australia will be well and truly over by Wednesday morning.  Pity.