P. J. Harvey sings live…
I’d been planning to write on the truly appalling line of questioning NSW Bar Association President and barrister for Tara Anglican School for Girls, Ian Harrison SC, launched during a recent court case where an 18 year old woman alleged that she had been raped three years ago while on a school trip to Italy.
However, I’ve got nothing to add to the excellent op-ed piece by Julia Baird in today’s SMH. I’ve been frequently critical of the quality of media commentary, and we’ve recently been vigorously debating Miranda Devine’s credentials in this regard. So I thought I’d give some recognition where it’s due – Julia Baird is a superb columnist and always worth reading.
The context for the picture of the equally excellent P. J. Harvey can be found at the beginning of Ms Baird’s column.
I was at the Horden show last night. I’ve blogged my thoughts at http://www.immanuelrant.com/comments.php?id=155_0_1_0_C
It was a great show (second time for after one of the Enmore gigs in 2003).
Thanks, irant – great review.
She’s playing Brisvegas tomorrow night, but at a hundred bucks, I think the price is a little steep – more’s the pity.
The SMH, incidentally, has a report today on why gig tickets cost so much:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/12/03/1101923322669.html
Richard Acland also gives the Tara school a well-deserved, and well-written, serve.
The barrister’s wording was asking for political trouble but the general ‘line of questioning’ was reasonable – the plaintiff had made a statement about the consequences of the alleged rape on her socialising, which on the evidence collected by the insurance company may not be true. They were entitled to defend themselves against an excessive damages pay-out.
Agreed, Alex – that’s why the first link is to his article. It would appear that the whole trip was appallingly supervised – at least that’s the impression I take from this article by Michael Pelly which is also worth reading:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/12/03/1101923341743.html
I found it truly astonishing that far from admitting any liability or apologising, the Principal said nothing other than to claim that the school’s reputation had not been damaged. As if that’s what’s important here.
Thanks Mark. PJ at the Horden was $77.00 FYI. In addition to the ringside seats expect a few bands doing “intimate” shows ala PJ and the Stones Enmore gigs. Not that I would pay $1 to see any of the bands mentioned in the article.
Of course, if a certain band of 5 mighty midgets turned up at the Enmore (or a similar small venue) on their next world tour I’d mortage the house to see them.
Thanks for the info, Irant. Grrr – a friend invited me a while back to visit her in Melbourne – evidently I should have taken her up on the idea last week!
Andrew, did she make a claim about her socialising or was it something more general about her levels of confidence?
mark – both from what I recall.
Yeah, that’s what I thought too, Francis. I still think it’s exceptionally invasive to video someone going about their private business and to make the imputations that the counsel for the school’s insurers did. One would imagine that a better way of exploring these issues would be on the basis of psychological assessments and/or expert testimony.