Best of 2010: The crucifixion of Christine Nixon

watch out Anna....your next

Thanks for this article.I am still in 2 minds about this whole saga, not about Christine's possible error of judgement in leaving the tactical emergency rooms or the fact she had dinner at a "pub". But for the fact that a woman who had worked tirelessly for the many months, many hours overtime and spent an incredible amount of her energies with those communities affected so badly by the devastation and forever life-changing fires in Victoria. The hidden hours away from the limelight and public eye where work went on and on and the commitment of giving continued well beyond any pub meal or lack of presence on that fateful night.No, I don't condemn Christine but I do protest a media who could too have been drawn over the coals for their many intrusive and insensitive reporting especially in those early days can then turn around and condemn a woman like Christine for what may have been an error of judgement. Fair go and remember as a wise man once said "If you begin pointing your finger at another, just look around and see how many fingers are pointing at you." And to those who don't know or understand the situation and can condemn, please listen deeply with compassion and discernment when faced with trial by media.

Christine Nixon is a great example of the "Peter Principle". She was unable to perform in her role as Police Commissioner and caused a huge drop in the morale of the Police force with her style of governing and she ruined the abaility to allow Police officers to do their job and mismanaged many police programs. She has a large ego and a thick hide but no intelligemce for a most responsible position as Police Commissioner. However, she became a "darling" of the Leftist mob and thus was guaranteed higher positions because of her leftist, feminist ideology not because of merit. A conservative woman would find it impossible to attain such a position as she would be deemed unsuitable for anything in this 'brave new world'

I see the same treatment being meted out to Anna Bligh for having joined her family in Sydney on NY Eve. Given modern communications, what benefit remaining in Queensland?

She is amongst many in the Public Service with a “don’t care” attitude towards people outside their social cycle. In such cases we actually need the media to remind all that Public Servants and Government officials are actually paid by the taxpayers.

when a small fire starts in the bush, they should let it burn on the fuel as managing the fire not to grow big. wildlife rescue should be there. otherwise, leftover fuel from a victory of firefighting can only make the next year fire only to burn with more fuel. if not wanting the fire, firefighting should mean removing the fuel from the bush whatever cost the government wants to pay. allowing small fire that comes naturally will prevent large fire from happening - which can also do more destruction to both people and nature. i don't like supporting fire management that just regularly set fire here and there. but i prefer the nature does its both good and dirty works. but i don't want to blame her for not knowing what came next - but her misjudgment was obvious although it could be forgivable. nobody seemed to be more qualified for that day than these people working for firefighting for long. humans make silly mistakes. i guess she might not forgive herself for such silly mistake which she had all powers to avoid.

Trent, don't be like that ... Not being from Victoria I know little of Christine Nixon, but I too believe she has been completely mistreated over that night. Even the media, who has been so critical, did not report on the fires on television until around 11pm on Black Saturday. Every time a woman is promoted to a position of authority, people always say it's not on merit, but because she is a woman. I think that is truly unfair. And how do we know what her beliefs are? We should be careful not to make assumptions about her ideology on the basis of her career. I don't think it's fair to castigate Christine Nixon for the way she does her job. Even for her subordinates, to voice such an opinion in a public forum is not fair. Much damage is done in the world by casting judgement on situations and people we do not know. 'Love one another' - people deserve the benefit of the doubt.

Well said - there should never have been blame attached to that night and Christine Nixon!

I read this article with interest and then with a big sense of justice being denied. Was there no one to come to her defence on the day? Victorians ought to be ashamed but it is all too late.

Once again, Trent's prejudice blinds him to the point that Moira was making. See the last paragraph - "Our attitudes to strong women are grievously at fault". And note also that Moira is not only talking about women 'from the left' - "Those with right-wing views, who are not seen as particularly compassionate, are portrayed as almost subhuman monsters, with grotesque features ripe for satire or caricature ..." Does that remind you of the way Julie Bishop is depicted in the media as the 'cockroach'? Take the blinkers off Trent and judge Moira's piece for its intrinsic value, not on the basis of the gender of its subject and author.

I am always concerned when complex issues are reduced to gender as a single factor. The 'execution' of Christine Nixon in the media was tough but was it just because she was a woman, and honest and fallible and vulnerable? In the past I have been a public figure and most of my actions were under the microscope from the community where I was supposed to set the example and to model exemplary behaviour. I just knew that if at a time of crisis, even if my oven at home did not work, I had gone to a public place for a meal, I would have been judged similarly. That is how the critical public works, even when there seem to be mitigating circumstances. One of the issues of being a highly paid public servant is to accept that some issues will be blown out of proportion and to adjust your lifestyle accordingly. It might not seem fair but that is how the world works. I don't think that gender is the issue, it is the small-mindedness of the ignorant. I sympathise with Christine but them's the breaks.

Thank you Moira Raynor. The persecution of Christine Nixon was the most disgusting witch hunt of a good, strong , determined and conscientious woman, led by a wholly malicious, female legal persecutor. I felt ashamed of our media and community throughout.

Anna Bligh is a member of Emily's list and at heart a social democrat - both policy positions diametrically opposed to my own. Plus, if you insist on throwing it into the mix, she's - gasp! - a woman. Yet I and "conservatives" such as Andrew Bolt - we who gave Nixon a big fat "F" for her Black Saturday non-response - unhesitatingly tip our hats to Premier Bligh for her sterling performance this week. She had infinitely more presence than the sainted Rudi Giuliani of 9/11.

Of course, that is not to lose sight of the big (pro-life) picture, but can we cut the rubbish about sexist stereotyping?

I don't agree with the argument although for some people it may be true that they viewed a woman appointed Police Commissioner as unacceptable. Not I. However I believe she had a responsibility in the crisis that was not able to be delegated - although in a practical sense she could bow to greater knowledge in crisis management. Had she remained at work as a figurehead demonstrating leadership and even esprit de corps (after all, members of the emergency services were actually putting their lives at risk for the community) she would have been praised.

I think her evidence at the commision was embarrassing to many members of the force(which is why she qualified it out of court - badly). I would hesitate to accuse her of dereliction of duty but there was something missing. I really do not believe that 'crucifixion' is a justifiable description of what followed. I think she (as a political appointment) disappointed with her failing at the moment of great need. I cannot see the comparison with Anna Bligh as justified.

To understand adult behaviour I look to the playground of my youth. It is my impression that only very few ever grow up to be responsible independent adults while most stay in the playground and play life by the rules learned there. Boys are self focused tear-away boisterous types, little concerned with group behaviour-more intent on carving a niche for themselves. It may involve bullying but not of the deep charachter-destuctive sort. Girls superficially seem so much more sociable, interacting, playing cooperatively and being more mature. Until! or Unless! Until they want to play with the boys. Then watch the reaction of the girls. Character assasination-thy name is woman. Christine Nixon wanted to play with the boys.