Corby Supporter Sacked by News Limited

Another Victim of Corby media attacks
by Peter Cross: FPSS: 25 July 2008

Gold Coast Bulletin Journalist, Tony Wilson, was dismissed today [Friday 25 July 2008] over a dispute involving a segment of the poorly researched documentary "The Hidden Truth" by Janine Hoskings.

On a Utube forum advertising Tony's latest book titled "Schapelle" which will be released later this year by New Holland Publishers, an unknown user identified only as 'Gorb1122" has publicly attacked the former Chief Police Reporter, making startling revelations about Wilson's recent dismissal from News Limited.

"Tony Wilson was sacked today so I would be very careful about the release of this biased account of the Corby story, written by a man that is clearly deluded. This book should be relegated to the fiction section. He was sacked as a reporter for the Gold Coast Bulletin for his disgraceful behaviour and his biased view of the Corby case. Readers beware! This guy Tony Wilson is a real whack job. He's been fired from his job at the Gold Coast Bulletin for gross dereliction of the journalists code, delivering a cavalcade of biased and plainly wrong stories on the "INNOCENT" Schapelle Corby" this "normal"family has defrauded Australia with their book "My Story" now they're doing it again with this pile of garbage. Both these books should clearly be pulped."

The Utube account was registered by 'Gorb1122' only 24 hours prior to the morning in which Tony Wilson received notification from his employers that he had been dismissed following a two week suspension. The award winning journalist believes that this is nothing more than a tawdry insider smear campaign to discredit him and his latest release book 'Schapelle'.

Over the past four years since Schapelle Corby's arrest in Bali, Tony Wilson has provided News Limited with unlimited, exclusive access to Schapelle Corby and her entire family. His reports have often countered his rivals reports and challenged their validity.

Wilson's reputation is one of thoroughness and investigative prowess. Whilst it is a well known fact that he is driven by his personal belief in the injustice of Schapelle Corby's trial and sentencing, he remained resolute in raising questions despite harsh criticism directed at him from colleagues, save a single Australian citizen ever be detained unjustly overseas and in the absence of a fair trial.

Prominent Human Rights Advocate Kay Danes of the Foreign Prisoner Support Service has defended Tony Wilson by challenging the Utube user's statements - "I find it quite interesting that you [Gorb1122] should know this [Wilson's dismissal] considering it isn't public knowledge. Are you perhaps working for News Limited and seeking to further discredit a former employee who has an outstanding journalistic record, impeccable integrity and is highly respected in the Qld community? You can't have any basis for comment on Tony's book because it is still in the hands of his editors. I would strongly urge people to disregard comments by gorb1122 who clearly has an axe to grind. I know Tony Wilson from my work as an International Human Rights Advocate. I think that his employers made a very big mistake obviously based on Ganja Queen that was at best unbalanced."

Tony Wilson can be counted as one of a very few journalists, in Australia, with the professionalism to research the facts of the Corby case, and the human decency to speak out about it. "The Hidden Truth" was clearly selectively edited to make Tony Wilson look bad.

"It's an absolute disgrace what has happened to Tony. He just doesn't deserve being discarded over something he may have said in the heat of the moment, not knowing he was being secretly recorded" says Kay Danes.

The incriminating conversation was of course aired on 'The Hidden Truth' to which Tony Wilson angrily accused the former Schapelle supporter, Ron Bakir, of using Schapelle Corby as a means to making money.

"What you've done to that girl is a disgrace and it's going to come out, boy. You're the lowest person in Australia" said Wilson.

Obviously Wilson was not aware that Bakir was taping this conversation or that it would become part of "The Hidden Truth". The question begs to be asked, just what was said by Bakir to get the usually calm mannered reporter so riled up.

"It's not at all like Tony to get so angry unless perhaps that person has threatened either him or his wife" said a close friend of the Wilsons. "I believe that it was a set up to discredit him. It's obvious isn't it... if you know you are secretly taping the person you are calling?"

The final twist in this story is yet to come with the release of what is destined to be an explosive book of truths titled simply - 'Schapelle'.

Given the veracity of these attacks on Wilson's previously unblemished career, it makes no sense at all why someone would want to discredit him unless that someone fears what might be revealed in this soon to be released title.

Schapelle - the facts, the evidence, the truth by Tony Wilson
www.newholland.com.au [Released October 2008]