So Saturday’s Canberra Times dragged RiotACT into the issue of staffers and public comment.
This morning Mark Parton had me on 2CC to talk about it. We didn’t really tackle the bigger issues and in a lot of ways I was just a curtain raiser for Jorian Gardner to cavort on air.
Anyway, I have no idea whatsoever as to whether RiotACT posting has lead to ructions in Senator Humphries’ office. I do know that of the ACT’s federal politicians Senator Humphries has been the most engaged on this site, but has in our experience always been completely transparent and above board.
I generally find though that paid staffers are either such horrid shills that they’re counter-productive (I often wonder if they’re not cunningly working for the other side), or they’re trying so hard to fit in with a community, making such balanced and measured remarks, that they’re a joy to have around.
Having said that, while we provide an opportunity for a sense of anonymity there’s no requirement for public figures to use it. Longer term thinkers might choose to save themselves some trouble by coming clean from the start.