Agmates is a source of rural news that has gone unmentioned or only reported from one (very biased) angle, in the mainstream rural newspapers, which have a monopoly in most states. So as Steve Truman describes it, ‘Agmates’ is an alternative news source for rural Australians, in the same way that ‘Crikey’ is an alternative news source for urban Australians. (In the same way – you don’t have to agree with every point of view that is stated – the point is to appreciate being given the option of an alternative view to consider and discussion opportunity.) Agmates now has more than 10,000 members.
For an example of a topical story, check out this piece on the RSPCA, in particular, the NSW RSPCA President, solicitor Andrew Christopher Wozniak. The now-retired National RSPCA President Hugh Wirth gets a look in too – any Victorian who has heard him on ABC radio will be familiar with his whiney holier-than-thou anti-farmer tones (though apparently the extremists aren’t happy with him either. But if you listen to animal rights extremists, you quickly realise they’ll never be satisfied; so it’s no surprise.) It was a big mistake to ring up to ask for Hugh’s veterinary advice on talkback radio if you were not prepared to be demeaned.
I wonder what Hugh Wirth would say about about the NSW RSPCA President’s conflict of interest, with his firm pocketing huge fees for RSPCA legal work?