The Federal Election: A Lesson in PR? - August 7th

The upcoming federal election proved to be a hot topic for debate in question time today. It became a battle amongst the nations leaders yet again. They not only picked at and criticised each other’s policies, but made personal attacks on one other. Unlike Committee hearings which “are not intended to provide a forum for people to make adverse reflections about others.”- The ministers showed no shame in doing exactly that during question time.
As the time fast approaches for next federal election the candidates will do everything in their power to gain the upper hand. However, despite their best efforts I feel they do the exact opposite.
Senator Foreshaw began questioning Senator Minchin (the Minister for Finance and Administration) about Howard’s uncosted announcements in the lead up to the 2007 election. He was asked if he shares the concerns of the treasurer ( n.b using a quote from Mr Costello from 2004) and what he plans to do “to prevent the Prime Minister from another irresponsible election year spending spree in a desperate bid to cling to power?” (I commend his use of emotive and descriptive language to indirectly express the view that Howard is struggling to remain in power- perhaps subtlety is not his forte.)
The following response from Minchin made about as much sense as Miss South Carolina in the recent Miss Teen USA Pageant- although his rambling continued a lot longer!
During question time the Ministers were certainly not discreet and showed no shame in personally attacking one another. The following is proof of this;
Minchin: “I do not think Forshaw, with great respect, understands anything about economies.”
Forshaw: “I do no think the minister understands a straight forward question… I ask you to direct him to answer and try not to lecture us about the failings of his own department and his own government.”
Minchin: “The last 40 seconds of that question was an attack on the government in relation to our budgets…”
I don’t think this constant bickering is of public interest at all. If question time is an opportunity for back benchers to ask questions of the Prime Minister (or those representing him) in which they are obliged to answer- I thhink it’s a waste of time.
Minchin was literally saved by the bell- when time ever so conveniently expired. This display of immaturity left me questioning the point of question time. I don’t think anything substantial was achieved and wonder just how many of the questions posed were even partially answered.
During discussions of the most pressing issues Australian are currently facing- rather than increasing awareness and understanding of policies and procedures, the nations leaders blatantly insult one another through derogatory comments and personal attacks. The ministers tried their best to avoid opposition questions, providing misleading answers or blatantly ignoring the question. The skilled Ministers turned around the opposition's questions, and used them to further attack the opposition. We have all experienced how difficult it can be to answer questions on the spot whilst pushing our own agenda or key messages- but the Ministers seem to have nailed it. Practise makes perfect hey? Maybe its not such a bad lesson in PR!