Mass Shootings & Media + How Albo dodges Questions, The Toll Road Scam That Shook Me & The Toll Hostage Plan
Mass Shootings & Media: The one Thing Media Does That Makes Us Less Safe
THE ISSUE: Since 1966, major news has followed a sensational template: focus on the perpetrator's identity, methodology and speculated motive. This creates the very platform and infamy that perpetrators, from Port Arthur to Christchurch, explicitly state they are seeking when they commit their atrocities.
THE DAMAGE: This coverage actively makes society less safe. By fulfilling the shooter's expectation of fame, it validates the core motive and directly inspires future attackers. Research indicates changing this narrative could potentially stop up to nine in ten such events.
THE OUTCOME: The harmful cycle continues because it drives corporate media profits. Outlets defend the practice as "giving the public what they want," while avoiding systemic reforms like stronger media ownership laws or business models that would prioritise public safety over ad revenue.
Punter Citations:
The Conversation - News media heeding call to limit naming perpetrators in mass shootings
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How Albo dodges Questions, The Toll Road Scam That Shook Me & The Toll Hostage Plan
THE SCAM: Toll giant Transurban loads drivers with layers of extra fees beyond the actual toll. The most egregious is a $10 "admin fee" per toll trip for non-account users. Other punitive charges include a $15 "non-return fee" for lost tags, $3.50 online account setup fees, "image processing fees", "dishonour fees", and "interstate look-up fees". It's a fee-for-everything model on essential infrastructure.
THE DAMAGE: This isn't just a costly commute. It's a private monopoly legally gouging everyday punters, many with no alternative route. The money flows to shareholders, not services, while the company minimises its tax bill—taking from the public twice.
THE COVER-UP/OUTCOME: Governments fail to regulate this monopoly pricing. Transurban spins the fees as a "choice," pushing users to accounts with slightly lower (but still hefty) fees, creating an illusion of fairness while the core profiteering continues unchecked.
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