Editorial, The Australian, September 9:

“Greens leader Bob Brown has accused The Australian of trying to wreck the alliance between the Greens and Labor. We wear Senator Brown’s criticism with pride. We believe he and his Green colleagues are hypocrites; that they are bad for the nation; and that they should be destroyed at the ballot box.”

Greens leader Bob Brown to Laura Tingle, Australian Financial Review, September 2010:

“…[The paper] sees itself as a determinant of democracy in Australia… It’s stepped out of the role of the fourth estate … and it needs to be taken on.”

Chris Mitchell, The Australian editor in chief, to Media Watch, September 10:

“The Greens’ views on the economy, death taxes, the shutting down of the coal industry etc need to be widely reported…

“Just as The Australian refused to be intimidated by Mr Rudd last year, we have no intention of bowing to Bob Brown’s bullying this year.”

Rupert Murdoch, last night, speaking at an event as part of the The Australian’s Smart Business series:

“Whatever you do, don’t let the bloody Greens mess it up…

“I can assure you that in a very few years it will be possible to have all the energy we want from economic and cheap and small nuclear plants — which is anathema to a lot of people. But it would be safe. There would not be an energy waste problem. We don’t have to rush into a lot of mad schemes, fouling up the country with windmills and other crackpot ideas which are very, very expensive.”

Fair and balanced scrutiny or company-wide campaign? We report, you decide.