Opinion: How the government and media benefits from the Sydney siege

Tony Abbott and his wife Margie at the memorial service. Photo: Malaysian Insider

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the nation was stopped as a reported 16 hour siege in the heart of Sydney’s CBD by Muslim Cleric, Man Haron Monis came to an end with police fatally engaging the suspect holding 17 hostages in Lindt Cafe. The aftermath has left a country in shock, and left most in disbelief at the startling narrative that has unfolded right before our eyes.

Indeed, to the credit of the Australian public, an unbreakable show of unity has prevailed through this shocking event; through the fear and through the attempted division – reminding us all of the strength we have when we are united as one.

However, as Ethan Nash examines in the following opinion piece, the mainstream media and government establishments are once again using fear-mongering, sensationalism, bias reporting and emotional…