Australia politics live news: China’s Pacific push dominates election campaign as Labor unveils seven-point plan
Kooyong #Kooyong
The campaign in Kooyong is heating up, with treasurer Josh Frydenberg and independent challenger Monique Ryan exchanging potshots over a candidates’ debate, with each accusing the other of dodging the spotlight.
A candidates’ forum is to be held on Wednesday in Kooyong, with Ryan and several other challengers slated to attend. Frydenberg has declined. On Monday Channel Nine political editor Chris Uhlmann tweeted that his network had invited Frydenberg and Ryan to a debate to be held at Melbourne’s Docklands – about 10km outside of Kooyong.
Uhlmann later tweeted that Ryan had declined – a post retweeted by Frydenberg.
Ryan released a statement saying she would “relish the opportunity” to debate Frydenberg but was critical that Nine’s “proposed format does not involve the people of Kooyong, or give them the chance to ask questions of me or Mr Frydenberg”.
She said she would accept Nine’s invitation if the debate were held in Kooyong, with questions from locals, and accused Frydenberg of “hiding from his constituents”.
But Frydenberg quickly shot back in a Facebook post, claiming the Kooyong community debate was being hosted by a “climate activist group”, which he called a “front” for his opponents:
Participating in a debate hosted by Lighter Footprints would be akin to attending a campaign rally organised by my political opponents.
This is not to say that climate change is not a very important issue. It is. I have been a strong advocate for net zero emissions by 2050, to which our government has committed and has a plan to meet. However, it is not the only important issue at stake at the upcoming election and, therefore, should not be the only issue debated between candidates.
At this stage, it seems that while both candidates say they are keen to debate, they can’t agree on where and how to do it.
It’s all a bit ugly and silly but shows the tension in this race – where polls show Frydenberg could be in trouble. Kooyong is covered top to bottom with election posters, and residents are being bombarded with targeted social media ads from both sides.
