Posted on 10/21/2007 12:16:44 AM PDT by naturalman1975
This evening, Australian time, in about two and a half hours, the only Leaders debate of the Australian Election campaign will be held between Prime Minister John Howard and Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd.
The election will be held on November 24th.
Back when I joined Free Republic in 2004, I was somewhat surprised at the interest shown in Australia's Federal Politics, and one of the earliest things I was involved in was a live thread on Australia's election night.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1239827/posts
I intend to be involved in a similar live thread on election night this year, but I thought that a live thread as the Debate takes place might also interest some people.
It will involve me posting what I'm seeing in the debate - as far as I know, it won't be available outside of Australian TV. This may be very boring, but it may also interest some people as it least it will give a summary of what is being discussed here.
Of course, any other Freepers in Australia who might also be online and watching should feel free to join in, and anyone else who has questions or comments (if they are awake, I am aware, this is early morning in America). That's how the place works after all.
Partly this is practice for the night.
The debate should last around an hour and begins at:
7.30pm, Sunday Evening, 21st October 2007, Australian Eastern Standard Time.
2.30am, Sunday Morning, 21st October 2007, California.
5.30am, Sunday Morning, 21st October 2007, New York.
(I've chosen an east coast and west coast time for the US, on the assumption Americans can work out times where they are based on that information.)
I’m interested
Its 8 PM in Aussie right now...
More like 5.30pm, actually - east coast. Still mid afternoon on the west coast.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I thought it was later, but my Aussie connection just confirmed its 5.41 PM Sunday
I was also told that John Howard’s Party has been lagging behind badly for the past 18mths, but since announcing the elections 24/11, Howard has narrowed the gap to Kevin Rudd. My FRiend doesnt trust Rudd
Kevin Rudd stole John Howard’s tax policy!
I have to admire John Howard. So much so I have saved this classic from an Aussie reporter:
Posted on 09/14/2007 7:49:44 PM CDT by naturalman1975
HOWARD radiates an implacable will, but the question must be how long the body can stand up in this debilitating leadership crisis, Andrew Bolt writes.
By god, that John Howard is tough. So tough that for a few hours on Wednesday I thought he might actually get away with it. Hand it to the bloke — his are made of brass and clang when he walks.
The polls now show three in five voters want him gone. Yet he doesn’t even blush.
His ministers tell him he’d best be off. He refuses to budge.
Instead, he glared down the TV cameras this week and warned them all: “I hope people understand that observing me in 30 odd years of public life, that I have never run from a fight before and I don’t intend to do so now.” Do you hear, Peter Costello?
And he turned on his heel to march back to battle. Clank, clank, clank.
God bless you, and may God bless Australia!
Debate is due to begin in less than five minutes. I am standing by.
Beginning now
Howard wins toin coss, will speak second
David Spears of Sky News introducing PM and Rudd. Applause
Introducing five journalists who will ask questions.
Rudd: refers to PM as Mr Howard. Election about future. Australia needs new leadership. Howard says working families better off - I disagree. Working families under pressure from increased prices. Deep concerns about future of nation. Looking for new direction. Stark choice. Me or Howard.
Intends to take nation in new direction. Will abolish workchoices, ratify Kyoto, act on housing, childcare, implement education revolution, take control of hospitals, exit strategy from Iraq.
Greatest risk is coalition returning to office and nothing changes.
Howard has said he will hand over to Costello as PM without an election. Costello will make Workchoices harsher.
I will put forward plan for future.
I hope this is replayed somewhere...my cable is limited.
Howard: I agree with Rudd on one thing - election is about future.
I have a fundamentally optimistic view of Australia’s future. Rudd is pessimist.
Rudd believes our current prosperity is due to resources boom.
I believe it is due to our new society based on greater risk taking, more entrepeneurship, built on hard work, small business.
I believe we have brought about a unique blend of the good things of old Australia, and a new optimistic view.
Economic reforms - courageous.
Second highest minimum wage of all industrialised nations.
Growth is widespread, fall in unemployment is across board. 33 year low in unemployment.
Gone over his two minutes - still going
Continue to grow Australia and drive unemployment even lower.
Question to Howard - have you been in office too long?
Howard: New leadership is only better if it’s fresh.
Rudd talks about new leadership, but ideas are old. Donald Horne Lucky Country view - pessimist
Rudd wants to return control of IR to unions. Unions are important but should not control industyr.
Rudds response: Howard says achievements in economy come from people and his policies. Rudd claims to be optimist but realist. When Howard talks about records of growth, they just reflect global trends - same with unemployment.
Global factors - China, India, make the difference.
With all the money - why haven’t we invested more wisely. Where is investment in climate change, water, education, hospitals?
Government has squandered opportunities.
QUestion for Rudd: Why are you copying government policies?
Rudd: I am an economic conservative. How do you build long term prosperity when mining boom is over? Will not last for ever. How do you prepare for that day? Labor will do this. Invest in education, broadband net access, climate change, water.
Impact on nation is huge if this is not done.
PM response: Being an economic conservative is more than a slogan. Rudd says he is, on the eve of an election, but his votes in Parliament do not reflect this. Voted against welfare reform, tax reform.
When I was in opposition, I supported good economic policies from Labor. Rudd does not support our policies.
Rudd’s tax policy would leave average families $600 a year worse off in comparison to Coalition policy.
Economic conservatism not just an ad bit.e
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