2016 Australian federal election debates and forums

July 2016 July 2026 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. Background On 8 May Turnbull attended Government House to advise Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General, to issue the writs for a double dissolution.http://www.9news.com.au/National/2016/05/08/08/46/Prime-Minister-Malcolm-Turnbull-set-to-seek-double-dissolution-election It's official: Malcolm Turnbull confirms Australia will go to the polls on July 2 Ninemsn Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press 8 May 2016 14 May 2016 15 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160515013249/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/05/08/08/46/prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull-set-to-seek-double-dissolution-election live At his press conference, Turnbull said "we haven’t discussed debates but I look forward to having a number of them".http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/press-conference-election-2016 Malcolm Turnbull Election 2016: It's no accident we have a debate on a night when voters love to switch off Press conference 8 May 2016 13 May 2016 "We haven’t discussed debates but I look forward to having a number of them." The following day Shorten said "I’ll debate Malcolm Turnbull anywhere, anytime". Richard Di Natale, leader of the Greens, unsuccessfully called to be included in the leaders' debate.http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/greens-leader-richard-di-natale-calls-to-be-included-in-federal-election-debate/news-story/00c3ed43f6a89f7d27c1c1bfacc578d3 Geelong Advertiser Greens leader Richard di Natale calls to be included in federal election debate Alex Sinnott 27 December 2015 13 May 2016https://www.theaustralian.com.au/federal-election-2016/federal-election-2016-greens-demand-place-in-debates/news-story/dffdcb934337fef66bd3f4bf487e44da The Australian Federal election 2016: Greens demand place in debates Rosie Lewis 10 May 2016 subscription 13 May 2016http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/the-green-tide-is-coming-in-di-natale-challenges-turnbull-shorten-to-leaders-debate-20160514-gov4j7.html The Sydney Morning Herald 'The Green tide is coming in': Di Natale challenges Turnbull, Shorten to leaders debate Jill Stark 14 May 2016 14 May 2016 18 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160518033140/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/the-green-tide-is-coming-in-di-natale-challenges-turnbull-shorten-to-leaders-debate-20160514-gov4j7.html live 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.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/federal-election-2016/federal-election-2016-ill-debate-malcolm-turnbull-anywhere-anytime/news-story/e460a1e19cb4ee54a034e945e535b5cf The Australian Federal election 2016: 'I'll debate Malcolm Turnbull anywhere, anytime' Rachel Baxendale 9 May 2016 subscription 13 May 2016 Shorten had tried to hold a debate in Townsville.http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/13/shorten-fights-hard-capture-qld-hearts Special Broadcasting Service Shorten fights hard to capture Qld hearts Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 14 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160514111025/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/05/13/shorten-fights-hard-capture-qld-hearts live The Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum, the first leaders' debate, took place at 7:00p.m. AEST on Friday, 13 May in the RSL club in Windsor, New South Wales.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-13/shorten%2C-turnbull-to-take-on-first-leader%27s-debate/7410444 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Election 2016: Turnbull and Shorten to go head-to-head in first leader's debate Eliza Borrello 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160513003749/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-13/shorten%2C-turnbull-to-take-on-first-leader%27s-debate/7410444 live It was organised by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph and broadcast on Sky News.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/first-leaders-debate-in-sydney-on-friday/news-story/2718bf537a27966bd0b89bac00575296 The Daily Telegraph First leaders' debate in Sydney on Friday Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press 9 May 2016 13 May 2016 David Speers moderated the debate.http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/05/13/turnbull--shorten-head-for-sky-news-forum.html Sky News Turnbull, Shorten prepare for People's Forum Australian Associated Press Australian Associated Press 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 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,https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/13/five-moments-mattered-turnbull-shorten-peoples-forum Guardian Australia The five moments that mattered at the Turnbull-Shorten people's forum Paul Karp 13 May 2016 14 May 2016 with the unscripted questions asked in between. Shorten won the audience vote by 42 votes to 29, with 29 undecided.https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/13/bill-shorten-wins-audience-vote-leaders-election-debate-malcolm-turnbull Guardian Australia Bill Shorten wins audience vote at leaders' debate with Malcolm Turnbull Gabrielle Chan 13 May 2016 14 May 2016 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.http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016-opinion/election-2016-its-no-accident-we-have-a-debate-on-a-night-when-voters-love-to-switch-off-20160513-gou7uj.html The Sydney Morning Herald Election 2016: It's no accident we have a debate on a night when voters love to switch off Mark Kenny 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 16 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160516155458/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016-opinion/election-2016-its-no-accident-we-have-a-debate-on-a-night-when-voters-love-to-switch-off-20160513-gou7uj.html livehttp://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/federal-election/analysis/australians-tuning-into-friday-night-political-forum-the-biggest-ask-of-the-election-campaign/news-story/42005fb5171d990ee9512ee35794a770 The Courier-Mail Australians tuning into Friday night political forum the biggest ask of the election campaign Dennis Atkins 13 May 2016 13 May 2016http://www.afr.com/news/politics/election/federal-election-2016-labor-will-attack-and-coalition-will-defend-20160512-gotwbq The Australian Financial Review Federal election 2016: Labor will attack, and Coalition will defend Phillip Coorey 13 May 2016 13 May 2016 It drew an average of 54,200 viewers, making it the thirteenth most watched pay television program of the night.http://www.crikey.com.au/2016/05/16/tune-first-debate/ Crikey Few tune in for first debate Myriam Robin 16 May 2016 17 May 2016 Sixty people protested against the proposed Western Sydney Airport outside the venue.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/leaders-debate-turnbull-and-shorten-go-headtohead/news-story/120096d0c9b8ee7d458b1c67a56ea983 The Daily Telegraph Leaders' Debate: Turnbull and Shorten go head-to-head Ashleigh Gleeson 13 May 2016 14 May 2016 29 May – ABC News 24 leader's debate thumb|right|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.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/federal-election-2016/election-2016-leaders-debate-was-gaffe-free/news-story/adfd319f033e426b26e3c388d39a6c4e subscription Election 2016: Leaders debate was gaffe free 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.http://tv.press.abc.net.au/australia-votes-leaders-debate Australia Votes: Leaders' Debate 14 September 2024 17 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160617191701/http://tv.press.abc.net.au/australia-votes-leaders-debate live 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.http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016-opinion/federal-election-2016-the-third-election-debate-was-the-best-of-the-bunch-20160617-gpm2wk.html Federal election 2016: The third election debate was the best of the bunch 17 June 2016 14 September 2024 23 July 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160723002724/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016-opinion/federal-election-2016-the-third-election-debate-was-the-best-of-the-bunch-20160617-gpm2wk.html live 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.http://www.newsmediaworks.com.au/news-com-au-to-host-facebook-livestream-election-debate/ News.com.au to host Facebook livestream election debate 20 June 2016 26 August 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160826025119/http://www.newsmediaworks.com.au/news-com-au-to-host-facebook-livestream-election-debate/ dead 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.http://www.theage.com.au/comment/environment-debate-fails-to-ignite-confidence-20160519-goyt61.html The Age Environment debate fails to ignite confidence Paul Sinclair 19 May 2016 22 May 2016 22 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160522134052/http://www.theage.com.au/comment/environment-debate-fails-to-ignite-confidence-20160519-goyt61.html live 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.http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/politics/ag-leaders-rumble-over-election-debate/2752572.aspx Farm Weekly Ag leaders rumble over election debate Colin Bettles 13 May 2016 15 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160603232117/http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/politics/ag-leaders-rumble-over-election-debate/2752572.aspx 3 June 2016 dead Fitzgibbon, Joyce and Di Natale debated in the ABC Regional Leaders Debate which took place from 7:30p.m. 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.http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/3907994/live-and-local-debate/ Goulburn Post Live and local debate Brittany Murphy 16 May 2016 17 May 2016http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-25/election-live-blog-may-25/7442778 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Election 2016: Live exports and milk prices on agenda in Regional Leaders' Debate 25 May 2016 16 June 2016 26 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160526032406/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-25/election-live-blog-may-25/7442778 live 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.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-16/marise-payne-and-stephen-conroy-debate-defence/7518162?section=act Australian Broadcasting Corporation Marise Payne and Stephen Conroy debate Defence policy at the National Press Club 16 June 2016 16 June 2016 17 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160617113635/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-16/marise-payne-and-stephen-conroy-debate-defence/7518162?section=act live References External links Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum on Sky News National Press Club Environment Debate on ABC iview ABC Regional Leaders Debate on ABC iview ABC Regional Leaders Debate on YouTube Debates and forums Australian federal election debates and forums, 2016 Federal election debates and forums Federal election debates and forums Category:Election campaigns in Australia