ABSTRACT
Since 1984, leaders’ debates have become part of the national electoral contest in Australia. Nonetheless, these debates have lacked independence from the interests of the major parties and particularly those of the incumbent party. Consequently, leaders’ debates have led a precarious existence in Australia. This chapter explores the key “two-party contest” assumptions underlying the first leaders debate in 1984. It traces the development of subsequent debates through three phases: an establishing phase (1984–93), a phase of relative stability during John Howard’s prime ministership (1996–2007), and a post-modern campaign phase (2010–19). It identifies the changing perspectives of voters, parties, and the media on the role of election debates in Australian democracy over the past 35 years. It notes that Australian election debates remain largely untheorised and identifies four possible avenues for their better theorisation: politics as mediated performance, the “presidentialisation” of Australian politics, changes in electoral behavior, and new power relations between and within political parties. The chapter concludes with brief discussion of the possible development of an independent debates commission in Australia and notes some emerging challenges for the future of Australian election debates.
