Maumill says Burke gets things done

Perth radio identity Bob Maumill has come out in support of his longtime friend disgraced former WA Premier Brain Burke. Bob Maumill, who has been a friend of Mr Burke for decades, today said people and businesses came to him because he knew how to get results."They knock on Burke's door, or Grill's door, out of frustration," Mr Maumill told ABC Radio.

Mr Maumill said he accepted Mr Burke had gone too far and cut too many corners in some cases.

But he said his brand of patronage was widespread throughout Australian politics.

"Yeah, but tell me a political party that doesn't do it," he said.

"The major political parties in Australia, careers are born of patronage."

Asked if he thought the scandal would end Mr Burke's lobbying career, Mr Maumill said: "I wouldn't think so".

With input from WA BUSINESS NEWS

Radio still strongest at breakfast.

On average, up to 20 per cent of people (or around 2.24 million people per quarter hour) in metropolitan Australia are listening to commercial radio during breakfast – according to figures released today by Commercial Radio Australia. 

The same figures show that in comparison, only four per cent or around 623,000 people are watching breakfast commercial television in metropolitan areas.

The analysis of Nielsen Media radio surveys 1-8 2006 and OzTAM TV surveys for the same timeframe, shows that commercial radio on average reaches over four times more people than commercial TV in metropolitan areas nationally for the three hours from 6am to 9am.

ACCC & ACMA to share media merger information?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) intend to facilitate the flow of information between the two agencies during media merger investigations in a way that protects confidential information while helping to ensure that each agency’s investigations are fully effective, the Chairman of the ACCC, Mr Graeme Samuel, and the Chairman of ACMA, Mr Chris Chapman, said today.

In particular, the ACCC and ACMA will ask parties involved in a media merger who provide confidential information to either agency to agree to that information being provided to the other agency. This will allow the ACCC and ACMA to share this information with each other in a transparent and more efficient way, Mr Samuel and Mr Chapman said.

Hinch cirrhosis of the liver, possible cancer

3AW's Derryn Hinch is suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and he has a growth on his liver that may be cancerous. Hinch has revealed that he felt shame in the fact that he has what is commonly known as the drunks disease has not up until now revealed exactly what his illness was.

Hinch has admitted to drinking up to four bottles of wine on a daily basis over many years and although he has not had a drink for over six months now he would only ever have a drink again if he received news that his condition was terminal. Further to that if he did receive news to that end he has decided he will take his own life.

Hinch to reveal secret on 60 minutes

3AW's drive presenter Derryn Hinch is set to reveal to cause of his illness that kept him off air for extended periods in 2006. 

This coming Sunday Channel Nine will feature Derryn who will be interviewed by reporter Tara Brown.  According to reports coming out of the 60 Minutes camp they say 'Derryn Hinch is finally ready to reveal the truth about the disease that could very well kill him.'

ACMA 2GB finding

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Harbour Radio Pty Ltd, the licensee of commercial radio service 2GB Sydney, breached the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice 2004, by presenting material in a misleading manner by giving improper emphasis to the material and by editing that material out of context.

ACMA received two complaints from the Baulkham Hills Shire Council relating to the Mornings program hosted by Ray Hadley. The complaints concerned the presenter’s repeated broadcast of an excerpt of a Council ‘question time recording’ in which the Mayor of Baulkham Hills Shire Council is heard addressing a fellow councillor.