A short time ago Press Gallery President Phillip Hudson sent the following email to Gallery members.
Dear Gallery Colleagues,
I have received this letter (see below) from the National Press Club tonight.
The details about the debate rules are still being negotiated.
The Press Gallery Committee has been kept informed about the progress of discussions but we have not made any of the decisions. It is an agreement between the Press Club board and the two political parties.
I can confirm TV networks will be given a live clean feed and there will be no restrictions on the use of audience response meters.
Phillip Hudson
Press Gallery President
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Phillip Hudson
President
Federal Parliamentary Gallery
Dear Phil,
2010 LEADERS DEBATE UPDATE
The Board of the National Press Club is able to advise that following agreement by the ALP and Liberal Party Campaign Directors that the Prime Minister Julia Gillard will debate the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott this Sunday 25 July 2010 at 6:30pm for duration of One (1) hour at the National Press Club.
It is further advised on the basis of the agreement that:
1. The debate will be moderated by David Speers, Political Editor Sky News
2. The Leaders will be questioned by a panel of three (3) senior federal parliamentary journalists:
Chris Uhlmann – Political Editor ABC News 24
Laura Tingle – Political Editor Australian Financial Review
Malcolm Farr – National Political Editor Daily Telegraph.
The full debate rules will released later this week.
Sincerely
Maurice Reilly
Chief Executive
One Comment
It seems a bit illogical to me that the board of the national press club haven’t decided to dispand the debate, so that the entire debate design can be redone. With only one debate instead of three, and the fastest growing political party in Australia not included, interested Australians will receive one third of the intense political disussion, which will only achieve two thirds of its required scrutiny and analysis. Given that the true “debate over the debate” has not achieved its intended purpose, I have very little hope for the actual (singular) debate.