In Reply to: I think that if the Prime Minister is posted by Nicno on Tuesday, 10. July 2007 at 15:43 Bali Time:
After my 20 years with Golden Bali & Global Travel, I can relate to that "sick in the stomach feel" you must get every time this farcical DFAT "thing" once again hits the "headlines".
Something just isn't "gelling" in my mind with this latest saga; one could be forgiven for thinking that it could be a "smoke screen" to take the media's attention from something else. After all, nothing stirs-up the Australian Media into a "feeding frenzy" more than a chance to do some "Bali Bashing"!
I have lost count of the number of times I have seen the DFAT "Advisory" (and that is ALL it is....an ADVISORY) released on a regular basis and not be picked-up by even one media outlet and suddenly after not being reported for at least 5 previous releases, suddenly (even though there has been only a few words changed - and NONE of which referred to Bali) on what I can only imagine to be a "slow news day", it suddenly becomes a MAJOR News Story - usually instigated by either Channel 7 or 9 in their Morning Shows which run with the leader "NEW TERROR THREAT FOR BALI"!!! This is quickly picked-up by other media outlets and the "charade" continues to grow from strength-to-strength.
I agree with you Nicno, IF the Australian Government is so confident that "there are serious threats of IMMINENT attacks", then surely if they have a genuine concern for their Australian Citizens, they should UPGRADE the level of advisory and be prepared to suffer the flack when, after upsetting the travel plans of so many, it is found to be just a "false alarm".
And WHY...when as you say, there were 16 Advisories World-Wide issued by DFAT during the week (and I am sure others would have been at the same level as Indonesia) IS IT ONLY INDONESIA which is mentioned by the Australian Media? As I said before "BALI-BASHING GETS RATINGS"!!
And, on that note....I rest my case.