In praise of Chris Uhlmann and the Gillard interview that Paul Keating didn’t like
Chris Uhlmann is proving to be one of the sharpest and most formidable interviewers in Australia, The Spectator Australia says in an editorial this week:
Paul Keating was “appalled” by the way the ABC’s Chris Uhlmann conducted 7.30’s post-Budget interview with Julia Gillard, complaining that it was nothing but “loaded set questions” and that Mr Uhlmann’s “whole tone was invariably accusatory … putting [her] on the back foot.”
Chris Uhlmann.
(Photo: Australian Conservative.)“It’s just a question, Prime Minister,” was how Mr Uhlmann politely countered Ms Gillard’s accusation that he had “succumbed to the Tony Abbott fear campaign”. Her discomfort was obvious as Mr Uhlmann brilliantly chipped away at her obfuscation to expose a series of “promises that you broke”. The following was typical. Uhlmann: “Are you keeping that central promise that you would increase defence spending?” Julia Gillard: “I’ve just — I’ve just …” Uhlmann: “So that’s a yes, you are.” Gillard: ‘No, no, Chris, I’ve just said to you, and my answer was and it’s the same as what we announced when we announced the new white paper.”
… Refreshingly unbiased, Chris Uhlmann (along with the regular host Leigh Sales, who returns to the show later this month) is proving to be one of the sharpest and most formidable interviewers in Australia, and the ABC is to be applauded.
Read the editorial in full in this week’s issue of The Spectator Australia, in newsagents from Friday.
