People’s Forum: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese square up and face the music

Squaring off for the first time since the federal election began, Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese are heading into a crucial test – can they win over 100 undecided voters?

Squaring off face-to-face for the first time since the federal election began, Scott Morrison will pitch stability and prosperity against Anthony Albanese’s message of integrity and care in a crucial test for both leaders.

The two men seeking to be elected as Australia’s prime minister on May 21 have been playing down their preparations for the Sky News and Courier Mail People’s Forum to be held at the Gabba in Brisbane tonight, but sources close to both camps said it was an ­important early moment in the campaign.

The debate will kick off at 7pm and feature an audience of about 100 undecided voters who will be able to ask the leaders questions and then vote on who they believe performed the best at the end of the forum.

The Prime Minister did his preparation work at his Perth hotel yesterday and will arrive in Queensland today, while Mr Albanese has already positioned himself in Brisbane ready for the debate.

Sources in the Liberal camp said Mr Morrison was treating the debate as business as usual, taking policy briefings from key advisers, particularly in areas like the economy, national security, cost of living and health.

Mr Morrison will attempt to put the heat on Mr Albanese to explain his economic plan, but did not believe the debate will provide the “reset” Labor have hoped for.

Mr Albanese told The Daily Telegraph he believed events like debates were naturally occurring resets for any campaign, and was preparing for the debate “in my own way with the team”.

He criticised Mr Morrison’s history of shutting down debates on various ­issues brought on by Labor during the last term of parliament.

“The Prime Minister has walked away from debates in the parliament,” he said.

Mr Albanese was criticised in the first week of the campaign for not being across the detail, and Labor sources said there was a strong effort going into ensuring the leader was able to articulate the key themes as well as specific policies and positions.

It’s “business as usual” in Scott Morrison’s corner. Picture: Jason Edwards

The two candidates are expected to arrive at the Gabba one hour before the debate begins to undertake their final preparation.

One staffer each from Mr Morrison’s and Mr Albanese’s office would be present for a coin toss, with the winner to speak first during both the opening and final statements.

Once the debate starts, each candidate will have just 60 seconds to make their case before the floor is thrown open to an audience of undecided voters for a no-holds barred discussion.

Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese will be free to roam about the stage, making body language almost as important as words.

Will the People’s Forum be the reset Anthony Albanese needs? Picture: Toby Zerna

In 2019, Bill Shorten fired off a well-rehearsed line about Mr Morrison being a “classic space invader” when he supposedly came too close in that year’s second leaders debate.

While Mr Shorten tried to talk up the incident as the PM’s “Mark Latham moment” – a reference to Mr Latham’s aggressive handshake with John Howard that helped cost him the 2004 federal election – punters were not listening.

Instead voters defied predictions and returned Mr Morrison to the Lodge.

Mark Rolfe, an author and expert in Australian and American politics, said there were traps for both Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese in ­tonight’s debate.

“No matter how structured the environment a politician will always try to turn the rules to their advantage,” he said.

While candidates’ answers will not be time limited, host Kieran Gilbert will have the authority to cut both men off if he feels they have taken too long.

Success, said Dr Rolfe, would come from “saying what they want to say … while staying within their campaign’s message”.

Dr Rolfe said this gave Mr Morrison, who has honed his ability to stay on message and keep it over and over again until people take ­notice, an advantage.

But he also said Mr Morrison’s occasional tendency to “glib” answers could provide fodder for the Opposition.

Mr Albanese, Dr Rolfe said, had a steeper hill to climb. “What I’ve noticed since their 2019 post-mortems, which all said they needed more effective digital campaigns and a more effective narrative, they haven’t done it,” he said.

“I’ve been following their campaign for the last week and they raise effective issues but let them sink.”

Originally published as People’s Forum: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese square up and face the music