While other media outlets suck up to the rich and powerful under the guise of a “list”, this year Crikey wants to recognise a higher honour: being a shitstirrer.
We’ve assembled our inaugural 2024 Shitstirrers Index for the 10 people who were the biggest nuisance to powerful people, drawn from more than 1,000 nominations from our readers (let’s just say the term resonated).
The hallmark of a true shitstirrer is that you know one when you see one. But given we were inundated with names, the council considered a few questions to help separate the good from the truly great shitstirrers.
We considered the biggest shitstorms this year and who was behind them. We weighed up who punched (up) above their weight, plus whose handiwork left a lasting impact. And front of mind: who had fun (and showed flair) doing it?
We’ll be revealing the full list over the coming days. Today, congratulations on those ranked 10-8.
10. Sammy J
They declared it the end of boring radio. Self-described “ex-Fboy, coke-sniffing a—hole” Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson — considered FM radio royalty across the country — kicked off their Melbourne debut in April this year with a party and a promise to be top of the ratings by the end of 2024.
But they were well and truly bested by another radio host who ended up having the most fun (and better ratings) this year: Sammy J.
The outgoing breakfast host at ABC Radio Melbourne spent the year prodding and poking at the soft underbelly of his $200 million commercial radio rivals, who ended up flailing in fifth place at 2024’s close. Using only a keyboard and a microphone, while staying within the limits of Aunty’s fun-draining editorial guidelines, Sammy J cheekily recast Kyle and Jackie’s attempt to outrage and titillate as a boring and manufactured strategy by two overpaid two Gen X shock jocks and their corporate backers.
The cherry on top? Sammy J raised $20,000 to “pay rent for living in Kyle Sandilands’ head” after besting him in their final ratings (the money went to non-profit Big Brothers Big Sisters).
But despite Kyle’s on-air rant about this “deluded flog”, Sammy J told Crikey that we shouldn’t label their relationship a feud. “All I did was report the facts. And the facts were that I rated better than him. I take no pleasure in it and I thought it was important that the truth was told.”
9. Joe Aston
What a year for a columnist feared by the nation’s corporate and political elite and envied by journalists everywhere.
The Chairman’s Lounge, Joe Aston’s book on Qantas launched in late October, hit the headlines with the allegation that Anthony Albanese had lobbied the national carrier’s former boss Alan Joyce for flight upgrades (the prime minister’s office came out swinging days later to deny this).
Annoying the shit out of the prime minister, forcing a bunch of MPs to give up their Chairman’s Lounge memberships and pissing off executives at a multibillion-dollar company might seem like enough to secure the coveted and illustrious top gong, but Aston ranks as ninth on our index, given our team of esteemed judges had to take into account when and where this shitstirring began.
While Aston’s been gone from the Australian Financial Review and his must-read column Rear Window for more than a year now, his initial Qantas coverage was supported by a paper — to which a subscription costs $700 a year — and the help of its lawyers. Aston declined to comment on his coveted nomination.
8. Anthony Albanese’s office protesters
In January, a group of constituents had a simple request for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: meet with us to talk about Australia’s role in the Israel-Gaza war.
He wouldn’t. So for roughly six months, an evolving group of protesters of various ages and backgrounds — some of whom lived in Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler — held a vigil outside his office, 24 hours a day, waiting for the prime minister to speak to them.
Organisers told Crikey back in March that about 700 volunteers had signed up for a roster to make sure the sidewalk was never empty, with at least two to three people always present, day and night. Albanese never came back. The office closed, citing security concerns. Staff began to work out of another office.
Compared with other protests, the constant presence at the prime minister’s office got relatively little media attention (except when it flared up into incidents where police were called). But by the laws of transitive property, a small group of protesters stopping the most powerful man in the country from showing his face is a kind of power.
The protest, now ended, was a constant reminder of Albanese’s refusal to engage with constituents in his electorate, painting a picture of a prime minister dodging tough questions.
Look out for rankings 7-5 tomorrow.
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