First election debate on Sunday

Date
    August 8, 2013
    The Age.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will face off on Sunday night in the first debate of the federal election campaign.      

Labor has agreed it be held at the National Press Club at 6.30pm - with conditions.

Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane had proposed the venue and a format in which the leaders make opening and closing remarks and take questions from a panel of journalists.

ALP national secretary George Wright wanted the Seven Network, in conjunction with Facebook, to host the first debate in Sydney.


However in a letter to Mr Loughnane on Thursday, Mr Wright accepted the Canberra proposal.      

The ABC should provide the moderator and a live feed to all networks without restriction, he said.

"We are accepting this proposal on the condition that all major networks have the opportunity to host a debate during the campaign," he wrote.

Then he asked Mr Loughnane to accept a debate in Sydney, hosted by Seven and with Facebook, on Sunday August 18.

If it went ahead, it would be the first time social networking site has been directly involved with a televised federal election debate.

Mr Abbott has said he wanted three debates with Mr Rudd in total.

Mr Loughnane has written to Mr Wright on Thursday saying Mr Abbott would participate on Sunday and he believes the two other forums they previously proposed should take place.

They had called for two other televised debates beyond Sunday - at Rooty Hill RSL in Sydney's west and in Brisbane - be held in the lead-up to the September 7 election.

Mr Wright says there should be debates specifically covering national security, the economy and climate change, health and education.

I don't think Mr Rudd is scared.  Lets remember one thing, Mr Rudd is very good at debates.  Does anyone remember the one he had with Mr Howard in 2007?.  Maybe Mr Abbott, better start brushing up.  This should be good.                

Quote:


yes... this guy can just go on and on and on and on about nothing until you've forgotten what the original question was....

ask him a second question and most likely you'll feel like topping yourself before he's finished the answer...

and if the do the "WORM" again i'll fair dinkum puke...

greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 9^th, 2013 at 8:25am:



mmmmm... look at those pursed lips....seminary lips....

and if only good leadership and policy were synonymous with debating skills.

Id rather have a deaf and dumb mute with brilliant leadership and policy development skills than someone with Obama-level oratopry and debating ability and the brain of a psychopathic flea (ie Rudd)

I remember Abbotts performances in the people's forums in 2010.  He was very good, very convincing but most importantly he then went on to tell people what his plans were, and he explained his position on matters.

Then the idiot walks out of the room and winds back up in attack dog three word slogan mode and his message was completley lost.

Based on the peoples forums I watched I wouldnt underestimate Abbott.  As long as he focuses on what he is going to do and not what Labor has done and projects positivity like he did in those forums, he could very well take them out.

You underestimate your opponent at your own peril.

Quote:


Ummm, it's a lie that Abbott has been reluctant to debate Rudd. Abbott had said on numerous occasions that he'd be happy to participate in an election debate any time - once an election was called. It's a bit hard to have an election debate without first calling an election!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Aug 9^th, 2013 at 12:34pm:


Rudd didnt want an election debate, he wanted a debate about the economy.

Abbott refused the debate on the grounds that if Rudd wanted to debate he should recall parliament.  The stupidity of that statement is I have yet to see a debate in the house of reps.  All I see is cheap shots from each side in the worst display of behaviour in a manner that cannot be effectively moderated because out of 150 members only about 10 respect the place and the rest chant and nod like idiots.

Abbott could have easily accepted and instead tried to use it as a bargaining chip in getting Rudd to announce the election date on his terms and not Rudds.