17/9/07
This question time was rather interesting. The reoccurring issue that kept popping up was to do with advertising campaigns – the trend that I have been noticing since I started my question-time-watching career, the most hotly contested issues of the day’s question time will most inevitably end up on the evening news.
I quite like the fact that when a member asks a general question, they also ask for specifics about their local electorate, no doubt so they can get quick answers and go back to their local areas and issue a press release on the findings. It also provides an opportunity for the member’s local area for publicity and recognition in parliament and even perhaps in the media if they find it worthy for publication. One such example is from today’s question time in the House of Reps (This is now my favourite question time, as opposed to Senate question time).
For example, Mr Hargrave, the liberal member for Moreton asks “Would the Deputy Prime Minister update the house on how the government’s plan for infrastructure is building the road and rail networks Australia needs for the future, including in my electorate of Moreton?
And for a very humble response to the member of Moreton, Mr Vaile responded:
“I thank the member for Moreton for his question. I recognise what a great job he has done in representing the constituents of Moreton for many years, given his 37-year history as a local in the area. He knows what his people represents…that obviously can not be said of his Labour opponent…he does not know the constituency.”
So a bit praise and paying out (at any opportunity) at the same time, as one could imagine a shot back to Mr Hargrave showed a very happy and proud man.
It did make me chuckle, the fact that the deputy prime minister was giving this guy a huge wrap and as if all the others members wanted to hear it, and wouldn’t it just be wasting more time (especially for those PR students out there who are being forced to watch it!)
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
House of Reps - Canberra Superstars
11/9/07
Roll up, roll up to the House of Representatives question time featuring the superstars of Australian politics. With the likes of John Howard, Peter Costello, Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett, there is a politician for everyone.
This is the glitzy question time quite often shown in snippets on the evening news. As the federal election nears and the polls creating gossip and rumours, there is not a more important time than for the Coalition to counteract negative polls and for Labour to win the hearts of the Australian population.
Today in particular is an important day as it is the day before the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The question time today includes quite a few questions regarding the War on Iraq. I enjoyed listening to these as I think it is an important topic for our generation to understand. Previously it has all been a bit of mumble jumble in not really understanding the topic. I always feel I should be doing other things rather than sitting down during the day and reading. This is one of my faults. So this question time helped me to understand the War on Iraq.
The first question today was from Kevin Rudd to John Howard regarding wether the Australian Government’s plan for Iraq was to follow that of the UK and the US with the draw down of forces after the election.
Howard answers the question in the first line of response, “We do not have any proposal to draw down forces in Iraq.” This technique corresponds with what we were taught in our media conferences last semester – to answer the question quickly and efficiently.
Howard makes an interesting point, which I have not previously been aware of:
Prior to the surge there were about 130, 000 American combat troops in Iraq, the surge has added approx. 30, 000. The force levels that Australia had prior to the surge are exactly the same as the force levels that are there now.
Roll up, roll up to the House of Representatives question time featuring the superstars of Australian politics. With the likes of John Howard, Peter Costello, Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett, there is a politician for everyone.
This is the glitzy question time quite often shown in snippets on the evening news. As the federal election nears and the polls creating gossip and rumours, there is not a more important time than for the Coalition to counteract negative polls and for Labour to win the hearts of the Australian population.
Today in particular is an important day as it is the day before the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The question time today includes quite a few questions regarding the War on Iraq. I enjoyed listening to these as I think it is an important topic for our generation to understand. Previously it has all been a bit of mumble jumble in not really understanding the topic. I always feel I should be doing other things rather than sitting down during the day and reading. This is one of my faults. So this question time helped me to understand the War on Iraq.
The first question today was from Kevin Rudd to John Howard regarding wether the Australian Government’s plan for Iraq was to follow that of the UK and the US with the draw down of forces after the election.
Howard answers the question in the first line of response, “We do not have any proposal to draw down forces in Iraq.” This technique corresponds with what we were taught in our media conferences last semester – to answer the question quickly and efficiently.
Howard makes an interesting point, which I have not previously been aware of:
Prior to the surge there were about 130, 000 American combat troops in Iraq, the surge has added approx. 30, 000. The force levels that Australia had prior to the surge are exactly the same as the force levels that are there now.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Question Time's Weakness = Attractiveness
7/9/07
To me, Question time’s downfall is its sole element of attractiveness to a younger audience. I am talking about the immaturity that seems to go on between the two major opposing parties. It is rather amusing to watch one senator have a dig at another with sly remarks or just straight out rudeness.
A good example of this is from 7/9/07 question time in the senate. Queensland Senator McLucas (Labour) calmly asks a question to South Australian Senator Minchen (Liberal) about the government intervention of the Mercy Hospital in Tasmania. Senator Michen responds with the comment “Thanks for that question, it is interesting a QLD senator has to ask a question on a TAS issue, where is the TAS senator, the labour party is clearly all over the place on this issue,” – blatant dig.
I also had to chuckle later in the answer to Senator McLucas’s question when Senator Minchen started imitating Kevin Rudd in saying he only really had two policies.
The drama is as follows:
Minchen imitating Rudd (high-pitched and sarcastic voice) when being asked on his position - “Oh I don’t have a position; I’m just going to have a look at this, see this and see that.”
Minchen being the comedian of a senator he thinks he is: “Rudd only has two policies for this election,
1) To wreck our industrial relations system,
2) To cut 60% in carbon emissions.
We cannot find any other policies. When we make a significant intervention to ensure the retention of health services in Tasmania, Mr Rudd is nowhere to be seen, and nor are any of his Tasmanian senators, which is fascinating.”
Haha – funny. Almost like a slinging match from Home and Away with slightly less attractive people and in parliament.
To me, Question time’s downfall is its sole element of attractiveness to a younger audience. I am talking about the immaturity that seems to go on between the two major opposing parties. It is rather amusing to watch one senator have a dig at another with sly remarks or just straight out rudeness.
A good example of this is from 7/9/07 question time in the senate. Queensland Senator McLucas (Labour) calmly asks a question to South Australian Senator Minchen (Liberal) about the government intervention of the Mercy Hospital in Tasmania. Senator Michen responds with the comment “Thanks for that question, it is interesting a QLD senator has to ask a question on a TAS issue, where is the TAS senator, the labour party is clearly all over the place on this issue,” – blatant dig.
I also had to chuckle later in the answer to Senator McLucas’s question when Senator Minchen started imitating Kevin Rudd in saying he only really had two policies.
The drama is as follows:
Minchen imitating Rudd (high-pitched and sarcastic voice) when being asked on his position - “Oh I don’t have a position; I’m just going to have a look at this, see this and see that.”
Minchen being the comedian of a senator he thinks he is: “Rudd only has two policies for this election,
1) To wreck our industrial relations system,
2) To cut 60% in carbon emissions.
We cannot find any other policies. When we make a significant intervention to ensure the retention of health services in Tasmania, Mr Rudd is nowhere to be seen, and nor are any of his Tasmanian senators, which is fascinating.”
Haha – funny. Almost like a slinging match from Home and Away with slightly less attractive people and in parliament.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)