Yes Minister? I think I need to call in Jim Hacker

Columnist Colin Claridge didn't think much of the Leaders Debate.

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten. Picture: MICK TSIKAS

OPINION PIECE BY COLIN CLARIDGE

IT WAS difficult to watch the so-called Leaders’ Debate on television last Sunday night.

It was difficult to watch because there were the two men vying for the most important political office in the land, demonstrating absolutely no reason why we should entrust our votes with either of them.

Messrs Turnbull and Shorten were just going through the motions on Sunday night. It was like they both realised they were missing out on an episode of House Rules or something.

There was no fire. No passion. No conviction in what they were saying. One might just as well have dragged in two Joe Blows off the street and made them read off the auto-cue.

Neither the Prime Minister nor the Opposition Leader said anything new. It was basically just a tired rehash of things they’ve been saying for the past few months.

Both of them missed a golden opportunity to stamp LEADER on the front of their resumes.

Endlessly repeating well-rehearsed mantras is not a sign that either has a true understanding of what we, the electorate (well at least that part of the electorate who don’t just blindly vote for one party regardless), expect from these debates.

We might as well be voting for a parrot.

And at this point, it earns mention the media performances of some of the cabinet ministers on Monday, following the debate (if you can call it a “Debate”).

“The Prime Minister led the debate like he’s leading the nation”, gawped Michaelia Cash.

“The Prime Minister led the debate like he’s leading the nation”, waffled Mathias Cormann.

“The Prime Minister led the debate like he’s leading the nation”, proclaimed Julie Bishop.

.........pleeeeeease!

It’s stuff like this which gives reason for the contempt with which so many hold politIcians.

To parrot the one line which must have come from head office in a media release that morning just doesn’t wash with the public any more. It just looks ridiculous.

This is the the 21st century. It’s the real world out here. Not an episode of Yes, Prime Minister...or is it?