Malcolm Turnbull announces online leaders’ debate to be held on news.com.au, Facebook

MALCOLM Turnbull and Bill Shorten will go head-to-head in the first online leaders’ debate, hosted by news.com.au and Facebook.

MALCOLM Turnbull and Bill Shorten will go head-to-head in the first online leaders’ debate to be hosted by news.com.au and Facebook.

The Prime Minister put out the challenge to Mr Shorten to join him in the debate when speaking to reporters at Picton, in Sydney’s west, this afternoon.

The Opposition Leader has accepted the challenge, saying he was “happy to debate Mr Turnbull any time, anywhere”.

Mr Turnbull said the news.com.au Facebook Live format would enable millions of Australians to participate in real time on smartphones and other devices.

“We have reached agreement with, subject to Mr Shorten participation, with Facebook and news.com.au to hold the first online leaders’ debate,” Mr Turnbull, who is pushing for the debate to be held early next week, said.

“These are the platforms that many people, many would say most Australians, see most of their media on, most of their news, and I think it’s important that we have an innovative election and that we use the platforms that Australians use.

“This will enable millions of Australians to participate, they will be able to contribute, it will engage a vastly wider audience than the formats that we’ve used before.

“I’m very excited by it and I look forward to really engaging the wider Australian community.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today announced the first online leaders’ debate to be held on news.com.au and Facebook. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Mr Turnbull explained that election campaigns traditionally have three debates between the leaders. He and Mr Shorten have already participated in the Sky News People’s Forum in western Sydney and the National Press Club event in Canberra.

Mr Turnbull said the news.com.au and Facebook live forum would be the official third debate.

A Labor spokeswoman told news.com.au Mr Shorten was disappointed the Prime Minister had declined to participate in tomorrow night’s Sky News debate to be held in Brisbane.

“I’m happy to debate Mr Turnbull anytime, anywhere,” he said. “But if he doesn’t front up at the People’s Forum tomorrow, he is turning his back on Queenslanders — plain and simple.

“He’s been in hiding from voters this election, refusing to justify his plans for a tax handout for big business and cuts to schools and Medicare. If he doesn’t turn up tomorrow, it’s an insult to Queenslanders.”

Stephen Scheeler, managing director of Facebook Australia, said: “We’re delighted to collaborate with news.com.au and work, through our combined platforms, to maximise the participation of as many Australians as possible in our proposed debate.

“At Facebook, our mission is to make the world more open and connected and we are excited about the potential to connect so many Australians in one of the most important aspects of any election campaign — a leadership debate.”

news.com.au Editor Daniel Sankey said he was delighted that Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten had agreed to partner with news.com.au for Australia’s first online leaders’ debate.

“The Facebook Live platform will give all Australians the ability to not just watch, but to actively participate, in the debate,” Mr Sankey said.

“We’re currently liaising with both leaders with a view to announcing a date for the debate as soon as possible.”

This comes as Q&A host Tony Jones challenged Mr Turnbull to join Mr Shorten on the ABC TV show next week.

At the end of last night’s episode, Jones announced Mr Shorten would be part of the panel next Monday and pushed for Mr Turnbull to join him.

“We see reports today the Prime Minster is looking for a national debate that’s live and interactive with questions from Australian citizens and social media,” Jones said.

“If only such a thing existed. Prime Minister, Q&A is ready when you are.”