Seven, Mark Riley firm as favourite for next leaders debate

The Seven Network appears all but certain to stage the second campaign debate, moderated by Mark Riley next week.

Scott Morrison campaigns on Tuesday. Seven is firming as the network to host the next debate between the Prime Minister and Anthony Albanese Picture: Jason Edwards

Kerry Stokes’s Seven Network appears all but certain to stage the second campaign debate between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, with the Prime Minister’s office believed to have agreed to an event moderated by political editor Mark Riley next week in Sydney.

The Australian understands that, Mr Albanese’s recovery from Covid-19 permitting, the one-hour debate is set to take place in prime time at 7pm (Eastern Standard Time) on May 5, at either Seven’s Martin Place studios or at its new studios in the inner-city suburb of Eveleigh. It is understood Seven has opened up the 7pm timeslot on all of its main channels across both the Seven and Prime networks nationally.

The face-off would take place a week after Mr Albanese emerges from his Covid-19 isolation, and four days after the Labor campaign launch in Western Australia this coming Sunday.

Unlike the first campaign debate which took place in Brisbane last week for Sky News, the latest instalment would be promoted as an “old school”, head-to-head duel between Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese that features no audience and Riley as the sole moderator.

Riley has committed to being on the road with the two leaders for the entire six weeks of the campaign, and his clinching of the debate is believed to be a reward for that commitment.

With the Seven debate believed to be all but locked in, there would be just two weeks left in the campaign after May 5 for any other debates to take place. Apart from Seven, there are two other live options remaining: a Nine debate taking the form of a 60 Minutes special, and a David Speers-hosted debate on the ABC: both once again featuring no live audience.

As revealed in The Australian on Monday, Nine has offered up 60 Minutes’ plum 8.30pm timeslot on Sunday May 8 to the parties for another debate. That proposal features 60 Minutes presenter Sarah Abo as the anchor, with political editor Chris Uhlmann, the Nine papers’ chief political correspondent David Crowe and 2GB Radio afternoons host Deb Knight as panellists.

But the May 8 date for that debate is most likely dependent on Mr Morrison’s campaign launch not taking place that day.

Meanwhile, the ABC last week even put out a press release, seemingly to pressure the political parties about why it should get to host a Speers-moderated debate. The public broadcaster noted that its proposal would “provide all Australians with an opportunity to hear both leaders express their views on the issues and policies that matter to voters”.

The release concluded: “The ABC is encouraged by the discussions so far and looks forward to sharing details of the debate when all parties are in agreement.”

While the timetable is tight, there remains a possibility that all proposed debates could yet take place – although Mr Morrison is said not to be keen on a face-off in the last week of the campaign.