After the Great Debate 05, it was always going to be a staid affair. Last time, Barnett used the forum to announce his plans for the “Far Canal“. The Howard Government wouldn’t speak in support of it, and then he got his costings wrong and denied that they were.
So it’s not surprising that the verdict this time: dull.
Carps focussed on his Vision for Western Australia, in a strategy that sounds a little “More to do but heading in the right direction“; talking about environment, infrastructure and services.
Barnett’s main theme was that the current government is too corrupt to win another term, although he refused to implement a ban like Gallop’s (and, eventually, Carpenter) on his team meeting with Noel Crichton-Browne or Brian Burke. He started off quite well, and the worm liked him, but he struggled when the focus turned to how he would deal with the problem. Frankly, it’s a little strange to make Burke the focus, yet be unwilling to say the word “ban”. Apparently, his team just won’t have any contact with them.
Barnett is also going to return values to the WA community, which seems to involve putting more sex workers and teenage pot smokers in prison. You see, no-one smoked pot and prostitutes stayed away from the suburbs before Labor and their laws.
Nothing much was discussed policy-wise; the debate was largely about fitness to lead, and character. The debate got most interesting when it turned to women and their role in government. Barnett did very badly with that, which was unsurprising. The Liberals’ record on putting women up for winning seats, and treating them with respect in the workplace is indefensible, and Barnett can’t even distance himself from the main culprit, given he’ll be Treasurer should the Libs win.
There was also a question about the fact that until three weeks ago, Barnett was in “semi-retirement”. Again, Barnett would have found it easier to address the issue had he been able to distance himself from Buswell, and paint himself as selflessly giving up his plans for the service of his party, and his state. Instead, he has to try to convince the voters that his team is good enough, experienced enough, to run the state, yet none of them were good enough to lead the party. But while he’s keeping the same people, he’s claimed that the last three years’ worth of policy work was completely up for debate. This helps the Labor claim that they aren’t ready because they’ve wasted the last three years.
So, a useful way of providing an overview of the story for those who haven’t followed any election news. But for anyone who’s undecided in the sense that they’ve paid attention and still don’t know who they’ll vote for, I don’t think tonight would have been much help.
Anna,
Did you notice that there was no representative on the Panel from Ch 7, nor WA Today, though they did have Simon “Shorter Liam Bartlett” from 6PR and Joe “I sound like John D’Orazio” Spagnolo. And why did the panel ask supplementary questions towards the end of the alotted time which didn’t allow the question to be answered properly. They should’ve offered a follow up AFTER the initial 90 seconds were up.
Here is Perth Now’s take on the debate.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/comments/0,21590,24241370-948,00.html
Was it on in prime time, Anna?
In Queensland, there’s only one debate – usually on the Friday before we vote, and televised at 1pm. So it hardly counts because of the miniscule audience and the fact that it takes place the day before we go to the polls.
Anna, did Barnett cry about an early election despite the regular use of the term ‘election’ before the election was called here?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2008/08/06/2326359.htm
Mark, It was shown at 6.30pm on the 3rd rating Ch 9, though it was actually pre-recorded at 10am this morning because Ch 9 amazingly don’t have the facitlities to do Live Multi-Camera Programs.
Originally it was scheduled to be broadcast on the ABc at 7.30pm on the First Friday Night of the campaign, but the Libs didn’t agree, and as a result the ABC couldn’t do it tonight because their ABC Studios will be used as the State Election Tally Room.
In 2005 the Debate was on the Top Ratring Ch 7, which must have been sidelined becausee their wasn’t a reporter on the panel, and also because of a possible conflict of interest with former Political Journalist Reece Whitby running for the ALP in the seat of morley, though it should be noticed that the Moderator was Dixie Marshall, who is the daughter of former State Liberal MP and Tennis Great Arthur Marshall.
Thanks, Frank. That’s still a lot more exposure than the debate gets in Qld. It’ll be interesting to see if The Borg and/or Bligh push for a higher profile event.
I could only bear to watch the last part and was heartened that when Barnett got on to the socially conservative stuff (prostitution and drugs) the worm went steadily down. Also interesting that at the end 57% declared themselves still undecided – which I assume means, understandably, “don’t want either”. Perhaps good news for the Greens.
I skimmed a report in the Oz (I think) that they’re neck & neck. Didn’t read it with any attention, but here’s a link to the report.
Running the first couple of weks of the campaign under the media mask of the Olympics has meant that there is a feeling of disengagement still. I have heard no water-cooler talk at work; nobody -anywhere- has so far broached the subject with me. Makes me wonder whether the ALP has actually wasted a lot of the money they’ve been spending, though they apparently have deep pockets.
Several unions have announced their intention to campaign against the government, which works two ways. The ALP gains a few more anti-union swinging voters (or loses fewer of them to the Libs and others); but the party loses the resources that the unions could have provided.
ABC TV Perth News Report on the Leaders Debate.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2008/08/25/2346149.htm
Frank, that link is a dud.
When asked about women in the LP, did Colin mention the fact that he elbowed aside a female candidate for his seat of Cottesloe to make his glorious comeback?
Highlights of the Debate on West TV. note it’s the first 5 or so items, just press play and they will all play in sequence.
http://www.westtv.com.au/
Strewth, Frank, over 70 comments on the PerthNow blog and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! from Ann of WA.
But I’m sure she’s alright, having posted her scorecard on Carps over at Sattler’s latest recycled rant about pensioners eating dogs or cats or something.
Can you guess what the results were?
She’s on Perth Now, but not that particular article
she’s here
And she outed herself on the Colleen Egan blog as a Married Mother of 4
John Ryan has beenstirring her up 
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24247021-2761,00.html#comments
Yep, just saw it, a Big F for EVERYTHING.