Sky News set to host election showdown

Sky News has locked in the second live television debate between Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten.

David Speers will moderate the leaders’ forum in Brisbane. Picture: Sean Davey.

Sky News has locked in the second live television debate between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who will face voters’ questions live on TV.

They will take questions from 100 undecided voters chosen by YouGov Galaxy at a one-hour forum hosted by Sky News and The Courier Mail on Friday May 3 from 6.30pm in Brisbane, a major battleground for the election.

With billionaire businessman Clive Palmer ramping up spending on federal election advertising, Mr Morrison and Mr Shorten are under pressure to perform.

Mr Palmer’s United Australia Party has spent a total of $33.7 million on ads across commercial TV, radio and newspapers since last September, well ahead of Liberal’s $6.16m and Labor’s $6.29m.

Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker said it was “appropriate that the most highly anticipated debate of this campaign was being held in Brisbane, where the Coalition is under intense pressure to hold 21 of the 30 federal parliamentary seats up for grabs at next month’s election”.

“Queensland’s knife-edge marginal seats will play a pivotal role in the election outcome, with preferences from minority parties likely to prove crucial in deciding the final results,” he said.

Mr Whittaker said the forum would “provide undecided voters with a unique opportunity to question the leaders on their policies and vision for the country just two weeks out from the polls”.

“Candid, direct and live, our people’s forum debate will test the political mettle and authenticity of both leaders.”

Sam Weir, editor of The Courier Mail said “Queensland is the key battleground of this election and, with so many marginal seats at stake, who holds power from May 18 will be decided by voters in the Sunshine State”.

The first live TV debate will be on the Seven Network on Monday in Perth from 7pm, hosted by Basil Zempilas in Perth and moderated by Seven News political editor Mark Riley and The West Australian’s Lanai Scarr.

It’s unclear if there will be a third live TV debate. A Nine spokeswoman said it was still working on a date.

ABC acting managing director David Anderson and new chairwoman Ita Buttrose have written to both major parties requesting a live TV debate that would be hosted by Leigh Sales from its flagship news and current affairs program 7.30.

Sky News political editor David Speers will moderate the forum in Brisbane. He anticipates fireworks as the campaign ramps up.

“If you’ve found the campaign boring so far, tune in to this forum. The leaders can’t hide or dodge,” Speers said.

“They’ll have to convince a room of undecided voters why they deserve to be prime minister. These forums have been pivotal in recent election campaigns.”

Sky’s coverage of the second live debate will kick off at 4pm with Speers’s political program live from the venue, followed at 5.30pm by analysis, featuring The Courier Mail’s federal political reporter Renee Viellaris.