News Corporation has no-one to blame but itself

In the matter of Eatock v Bolt, Justice Bromberg also rejected the testimony of Murdoch executives.

The Australian Journalists Association has a 12-point code of ethics. All twelve are now routinely violated by Murdoch employees.

In 2010 Herald Sun reporters lied about their identity to ensnare politicians in a British tabloid-like sting. They had the support of editors and executives – despite explicit condemnation in the code.

Most Murdoch publications seem now primarily spruikers for conservative political causes. The frequency and viciousness of these crusades increased markedly after Labor came to power in late 2007.

In 2008 Glenn Milne in The Australian attacked PM Kevin Rudd over a risqué play in Gippsland which the local Labor candidate had promoted in his newsletter. Milne failed to disclose, however, that the tawdry theatrical event was actually approved and funded by the previous Howard Coalition Government.

Examples since are the campaigns against the economic stimulus packages during the GFC, against climate change, against the mining tax, against the carbon tax, against internet security, against changes to discrimination laws and against the National Broadband Scheme. 

Sydney's Daily Telegraph was found by the Australian Press Council to have used false customer figures in a news story on the NBN. Other Telegraph articles were found misleading by serious omission. The Council expressed concern that "within a short period of time three articles on the same theme contained inaccurate or misleading assertions."

The Daily Telegraphran a front-page story headed "Thousands of boat people to invade NSW". The Australian Press Council found elements of the story to be "gravely inaccurate, unfair and offensive". The Council condemned the newspaper for "an especially serious breach of its principles."

Murdoch outlets have attacked the PM ruthlessly over her alleged involvement with a union two decades ago. They have produced no evidence whatsoever of anything amiss and were forced to retract and apologise at least twice.

They have constantly attacked the Treasurer Wayne Swan, who according to external assessment, has done a better than average job.

The last four years "have been disastrous for Australians," claimed The Daily Telegraph in 2011. "There have been broken promises, billions lost in wasteful spending and economic mismanagement and sheer incompetence."

This was the month Australia gained its triple A credit rating with all agencies for the first time ever. And shortly after The New York Times reported" Australia's economy has been booming".