Recognition

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!)