News Corp Australia has announced details of its Federal Election live debate series which aims to give ordinary Australians the power to personally put politicians vying for their vote under the spotlight.
In a significant first for the media organisation, News Corp Australia has brought together all news brands to deliver a series of live debates across the country in the lead up to this year’s Federal Election.
The collaboration of the news network comprises the four state-based mastheads, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Advertiser, and The Courier-Mail, together with The Weekly Times regional mastheads, national masthead The Australian, news.com.au and Sky News Australia.
News Corp Australia’s federal election editor Kelvin Healey said the weekly debates would form a key part of the company’s federal election coverage and the level of collaboration allowed the news titles to focus on the burning issues facing Australians.
“Our audiences are at the heart of everything we do and we are giving them a greater voice in this campaign by allowing our subscribers to participate in real time and ask questions of their candidates, ensuring the concerns of everyday Australians are heard, and that politicians answer their questions,” said Healey.
The series consists of:
• Live-streamed debates with key candidates across seats-to-watch will be hosted by News Corp Australia and moderated by Joe Hildebrand across the company’s news websites including Facebook Live. The first debate kicks off tonight in Indi, Victoria, featuring Independent MP Helen Haines, Liberal candidate Ross Lyman and Nationals candidate Liz Fisher live from 7.00pm AEST.
• A number of national themed round table debates will be held in May hosted by News Corp Australia with a panel of experts focusing on the biggest topics on Australians’ minds – from cost of living and the economy, to health, security, education and the environment.
• Head-to-head debates with key candidates broadcast on Sky News Australia will be live-streamed across News Corp Australia news websites. To date these have included the Sky News/The Courier-Mail People’s Forum leaders’ debate between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, and the People’s Forum: Wentworth with candidates Dave Sharma and Allegra Spender. The Sky News marginal debate series continues today with the People’s Forum: North Sydney featuring Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman, Labor’s Catherine Renshaw and Independent candidate Kylea Tink live from 2.00pm AEST.