On March 15, 5 days shy of the 2010 Tasmanian state election, a meaningless leaders debate will be held in Launceston.
he organiser, The Examiner – self appointed gatekeeper of democracy and filters of public feeling in Northern Tasmania will gag the northern community, ensuring the three party leaders an easy ride.
Its is difficult to fathom what the Examiner hopes to achieve with what appears to be nothing more than an exercise in petty parochial one-upmanship.
What the Examiner Newspaper will achieve if it enforces its strict conditions (below) on attendees is to foster shame and suppress the freedom of expression in Northern Tasmanian during an election period.
* ID is required before issuing tickets to the event.
* Security will be significant on the night.
* Doors open from 5.30pm & you must be seated by 6.15pm or won’t be allowed in, even if you have a ticket. Doors will be locked at this time.
* Leave your badges, banners, tee shirts & all offensive (political) material at home. Bags may be searched at point of entry. Any evidence & you won’t be allowed in.
(The Princess Theatre booking office staff verbally relayed this information to a punter and most of the above info is also printed on the tickets).
Thats right. No “no pulp mill” or “stop league tables today” or “Nurses-because we care” badges, T-shirts or banners!!
No “political material”.
It is unclear as to whether such draconian conditions have ever been enforced on attendees of a free public debate or rally in recent Tasmanian history.
Not only will the party leaders be protected from the physical threat posed by Launceston and Tamar Valley bogans but they will also be shielded from difficult questions from the floor.
A privilege not even afforded to Kevin Rudd during the community cabinet round of meetings.
Questions from the public must be forwarded to the Examiner in advance of the event for approval by the Editor. The Examiner Editor has deigned in an act of benevolence to select from the submitted questions a few which she will personally air on the night.
We can therefore assume that questions without notice from the floor will not be allowed on the night.
Only those approved by the Ex will be asked on the night.
Come to the political debate but leave your politics at home.
Come, and see your party leaders stand and preach unrestrained party doctrine, while you, Mr/Mrs citizen sit, censored and stripped of your right to express your feelings in word, or represent your issue in aesthetic, lest you be ejected from the building and shamed in front of your local community.
Come and see democracy Examiner style.
Come and see Launceston 2010, sister city of Beijing.
Come and wear your badges, your T-shirts & Badges. Bring your cameras and capture the moment and the faces of the party leaders as you are evicted and shamed for your convictions.
