Newman in the thick of it

Congratulations to the Courier-Mail for exposing the demands made by Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's spin doctors in return for an exclusive story on the Clem 7 tunnel. For any politician to suggest that a newspaper give a certain prominence to a story, to demand copy approval and to expect that no balancing comments from the opposition would be sought is pure arrogance. And it's further proof of my assertion that local government has become far too politicised. When I spoke to Spencer Howson on 612ABC about the possibility of an independent running for Lord Mayor of Brisbane, I mentioned that the current regime was starting to resemble scenes from the British television sature The Thick of It. Well, Campbell Newman's spin team has apparently done its central character, Malcolm Tucker, proud.
PS: I wonder how much the ratepayers of Brisbane are paying for this kind of PR nonsense?
Update: Campbell Newman cancelled an interview with 4BC's Michael Smith at the last minute on Tuesday afternoon.