2016 Australian federal election debates and forums

The Australian federal election debates of 2016 consisted of a series of leaders' debates between the leaders of the two main parties contesting the 2016 Australian federal election: Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party; and Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition and Labor Party. Other debates, between portfolio spokespeople for example, were also held.


2016 Australian federal election
National results
State and territory results

Background

On 8 May Turnbull attended Government House to advise Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General, to issue the writs for a double dissolution.[1]

At his press conference, Turnbull said "we haven’t discussed debates but I look forward to having a number of them".[2] The following day Shorten said "I’ll debate Malcolm Turnbull anywhere, anytime".[3]

Richard Di Natale, leader of the Greens, has called to be included in the leaders' debate.[4][5][6]

Leaders' debates

13 May – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum

Sky News had planned a debate in Brisbane for Thursday 12 May. Shorten agreed but Turnbull did not and so the debate did not occur.[3] Shorten had tried to hold a debate in Townsville.[7]

The Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum, the first leaders' debate, took place at 7:00pm AEST on Friday, 13 May in the RSL club in Windsor, New South Wales.[8] It was organised by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph and broadcast on Sky News.[9] David Speers moderated the debate.[10]

The audience was made up of 100 undecided voters selected by polling company Galaxy Research. The leaders open the programme with a statement, and close with a speech,[11] with the unscripted questions asked in between. Shorten won the audience vote by 42 votes to 29, with 29 undecided.[12]

The Sydney Morning Herald, The Courier-Mail and The Australian Financial Review have criticized the debate being held on a Friday night, which generally has low television viewership.[13][14][15] It drew an average of 54,200 viewers, making it the thirteenth most watched pay television program of the night.[16] Sixty people protested against the proposed Western Sydney Airport outside the venue.[17]

29 May – ABC News 24 leader's debate
National Press Club in Barton, Australian Capital Territory

The first official leader's debate between Shorten and Turnbull took place on the 29 May at the National Press Club in Canberra.[18] The debate, organised by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, was moderated by ABC political journalist Chris Uhlmann and the panel consisted of three journalists from Fairfax, News Corp, and Seven West Media.[19]

8 June – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum

The second Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum took place on Wednesday, 9 June in the Brisbane Broncos sports club in Red Hill, Queensland. It was organised by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph and broadcast on Sky News. David Speers moderated the debate.

The audience was made up of 100 undecided voters. Shorten attended but Turnbull declined and instead appeared on 7.30.

17 June

A third federal election debate took place on Friday, 17 June 2016.[20] The debate was hosted jointly by News.com.au and Facebook, and was the first to be predominately broadcast using Facebook's video livestream feature.[21]

Other debates

18 May – National Press Club Environment Debate

On 18 May, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment debated Mark Butler, Shadow Minister for the Environment at the National Press Club. It was broadcast on ABC News 24.[22]

25 May – ABC Regional Leaders Debate

On 13 May, Joel Fitzgibbon, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and member of the Labor Party, called to debate Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and leader of the National Party.[23] Fitzgibbon, Joyce and Di Natale debated in the ABC Regional Leaders Debate which took place from 7:30pm AEST on Wednesday, 25 May at Goulburn High School in Goulburn, New South Wales. It was broadcast on ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio and moderated by Chris Uhlmann.[24][25]

16 June – National Press Club Defence Policy Debate

On 16 June, Marise Payne, Minister for Defence and Stephen Conroy, Shadow Minister, debated Defence policy at the National Press Club. It was broadcast on ABC News 24 and was moderated by Sabra Lane.[26]

References
  1. Australian Associated Press (8 May 2016). "It's official: Malcolm Turnbull confirms Australia will go to the polls on July 2". Ninemsn. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. Press conference (8 May 2016). "Election 2016: It's no accident we have a debate on a night when voters love to switch off". Malcolm Turnbull. Retrieved 13 May 2016. We haven’t discussed debates but I look forward to having a number of them.
  3. Baxendale, Rachel (9 May 2016). "Federal election 2016: 'I'll debate Malcolm Turnbull anywhere, anytime'". The Australian. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. Sinnott, Alex (27 December 2015). "Greens leader Richard di Natale calls to be included in federal election debate". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  5. Lewis, Rosie (10 May 2016). "Federal election 2016: Greens demand place in debates". The Australian. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  6. Stark, Jill (14 May 2016). "'The Green tide is coming in': Di Natale challenges Turnbull, Shorten to leaders debate". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. Australian Associated Press (13 May 2016). "Shorten fights hard to capture Qld hearts". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  8. Borrello, Eliza (13 May 2016). "Election 2016: Turnbull and Shorten to go head-to-head in first leader's debate". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. Australian Associated Press (9 May 2016). "First leaders' debate in Sydney on Friday". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  10. Australian Associated Press (13 May 2016). "Turnbull, Shorten prepare for People's Forum". Sky News. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  11. Karp, Paul (13 May 2016). "The five moments that mattered at the Turnbull-Shorten people's forum". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  12. Chan, Gabrielle (13 May 2016). "Bill Shorten wins audience vote at leaders' debate with Malcolm Turnbull". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  13. Kenny, Mark (13 May 2016). "Election 2016: It's no accident we have a debate on a night when voters love to switch off". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  14. Atkins, Dennis (13 May 2016). "Australians tuning into Friday night political forum the biggest ask of the election campaign". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  15. Coorey, Phillip (13 May 2016). "Federal election 2016: Labor will attack, and Coalition will defend". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  16. Robin, Myriam (16 May 2016). "Few tune in for first debate". Crikey. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  17. Gleeson, Ashleigh (13 May 2016). "Leaders' Debate: Turnbull and Shorten go head-to-head". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  18. "Election 2016: Leaders debate was gaffe free".
  19. "Australia Votes: Leaders' Debate".
  20. Federal election 2016: The third election debate was the best of the bunch
  21. News.com.au to host Facebook livestream election debate
  22. Sinclair, Paul (19 May 2016). "Environment debate fails to ignite confidence". The Age. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  23. Bettles, Colin (13 May 2016). "Ag leaders rumble over election debate". Farm Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  24. Murphy, Brittany (16 May 2016). "Live and local debate". Goulburn Post. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  25. "Election 2016: Live exports and milk prices on agenda in Regional Leaders' Debate". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  26. "Marise Payne and Stephen Conroy debate Defence policy at the National Press Club". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
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