First federal election leaders' debate for WA as Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten set to lock horns

Updated

The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is set to face off against Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in an election debate to be held in Perth later this month.

Key points: The leaders' debate will be the first ever held in Western Australia

It is unclear what format the debate will take and how many others will follow

The likely topics have been named as the economy, tax cuts and health funding

The debate on Monday 29 April will be the first of this federal election campaign and the first leaders' debate ever to be held in Western Australia.

Despite being little more than two weeks away details of the debate's structure, where and when it might take place, and who will host it are yet to be confirmed.

The likely topics however have been named as the economy, tax cuts and health funding.

WA Premier Mark McGowan welcomed the decision to hold the first debate in Perth.

"That being held in Perth is terrific for our state, it draws attention to our state and it shows since the election of my Government there's been an enhanced focus on Western Australia which is exactly what we want," he said.

Leaders welcome debate

Both leaders indicated they would look to focus on infrastructure and taxes, as well as Western Australia-specific issues.

"This debate will be a great opportunity to demonstrate the very clear choice at this election," Mr Morrison said.

"West Australians know they can trust the Liberals to manage money and do the right thing by the WA economy, as we demonstrated by fixing the GST as promised.

"We have a proven plan for more jobs, lower taxes, paying down Labor's debt and guaranteed record funding for roads, schools and hospitals."

Mr Shorten said he looked forward to a genuine town hall debate where locals could ask questions.

"I've done more than 80 of them all over the country, including in WA — in places like Ellenbrook, Forrestfield, and Wanneroo," he said.

"I know WA hasn't been getting a fair share. Whether it's hospitals, schools or infrastructure, you're being ripped off by Canberra.

"I'm keen to tell people about Labor's plan to reverse the Liberals' cuts to schools and hospitals, and work with Premier Mark McGowan to build Metronet."

Debates can still change the game: analyst

Political analyst Peter Kennedy said while leadership debates did not attract the attention they did in the past, depending on its structure the Perth debate carried potential to influence voters' opinions.

"In the past debates have been television blockbusters and run across a number of channels, but the last election there were a number of television debates which I think were minor affairs," he said.

"The impact on campaigns can be very significant — voters can see the leaders head-to-head, they can see the leaders think on their feet.

"They can see how frank the leaders are or whether they resort to polly-waffle in answering questions."

While many voters have already seen Opposition Leader Bill Shorten go head-to-head with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull ahead of the 2016 federal election, it would be Scott Morrison's first federal leadership debate.

"I think head-to-head debates for Scott Morrison would be new territory, and I guess a lot of people would be interested just to see how the Prime Minister performed against the leader of the opposition," Mr Kennedy said.

Number of debates unclear

While the April 29 debate would be the first for the campaign, it was not yet clear how many others would follow.

"Traditionally it's the Opposition who wants the debates and wants more than one, because the Opposition wants to show up the Government and show up the Government's record," Mr Kennedy said.

"In past campaigns the Opposition usually wants three debates and the Prime Minister or Premier says 'No, one will do'."

"But in this case, because the Government appears to be behind in the polls it might be Mr Morrison who is keener to have more debates."

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One topic Mr Kennedy said Mr Morrison would be keen to avoid would be the Liberals' leadership changes in recent years, but he said with Labor's record prior to that, Mr Shorten may also avoid the subject.

He said the true value of the debate for voters would depend on its structure.

"The big issue is whether they are just answering questions or whether they are being involved in a serious debate and their views are being tested," he said.

"If a debate format allows for answers to be followed up and for some of the answers to be tested again then they are very valuable I think."

Political and media analyst Steve Lewis agreed the debate's success would depend on its structure.

"Historically over the last several decades the election debates have at times been critical, in terms of at least shaping public opinion," he said.

"I'm thinking back particularly to '96 when John Howard beat Paul Keating — the debates back then were very important, and you could almost see Howard gaining strength from those debates.

"These debates will probably, touch wood, be more freewheeling than we've seen in the past, which I think will be great from an entertainment point of view, from an informative point of view in actually giving voters a sense as to what the two leaders stand for."

While yet to be confirmed, it is understood the debate would likely be hosted in some way by the West Australian Newspaper and broadcast on Channel 7.

Topics: political-parties, government-and-politics, federal-election, federal-elections, elections, perth-6000, wa, australia

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