Melbourne Ports debate
What did the candidates talk about at Sunday night's Melbourne Ports debate? Follow the proceedings here.
Check out all the questions and answers from last night’s debate.
1800 – Preparing for proceedings to kick off around 1835. Stay tuned and refresh often.
1820 – Liberal candidate Kevin Ekendahl has arrived and is chatting with constituents.
1830 – Labor candidate Michael Danby is pressing the flesh.
1840 – We’re underway at the Melbourne Ports debate. Editor Zeddy Lawrence is introducing the candidate
1845 – Danby will speak first
1847 – Danby says Gillard wants to bring love of education that Jewish people have, to the rest of Australia
1851 – Danby addresses ALP’s support of Israel during Gaza war & Australian sanctions against Iran
1853 – Danby calls the last three years “a golden era” for Jewish schools
1857 – Ekendahl says his dad is Swedish, hence the unpronounceable name, and mum is Sephardic Spanish
1900 – Ekendahl pays tribute to Danby’s record but says the election is about parties and their records
1902 – Ekendahl says Israel is not Labor’s priority and will sacrifice support for Jewish State to win votes in the UN and in marginal western Sydney seats.
1908 – First question is about Australian Wheat Board and Aus funding being spent on terrorism.
1910 – Danby said it has not been forgotten and it was a terrible mistake, but does not say Libs are not pro-Israel.
1911 – Ekendahl concedes it was a huge mistake but says Howard Govt took strong action against Iraq
1913 – Next question is about the parties’ positions on using military action against Iran, Danby says sanctions need to be used 1st, Ekendahl says effective diplomacy is necessary, as is backing Iranian supporters of democracy
1915 – Ekendahl slams ALP preference deal with “extremist” Greens. Danby says ALP senators will cross the floor if necessary on amendments put forward by The Greens.
1920 – Next question about Liberal plans for economy. Ekendahl touts thee Liberals past record on economic management & support for first stimulus
1922 – Caulfield MLA Helen Shardey asks Danby why Greens are preferenced ahead of Liberals in Melbourne Ports.
1924 – Danby says sometimes you have to choose and that Liberals choosing to preference Greens ahead of Labor in Melb is a mistake. Ekendahl calls it pure politiking and will do anything to win government.
1926 – Young voter asks about candidate’s hopes for education. Ekendahl says investing in teachers is vital. Danby says voters should look at dollar figures to see which party is stronger on education.
1932 – Good question about Danby’s role in Rudd’s removal
1934 – Danby said it is the right of parliamentarians to remove the leader and added Dutton congratulated Danby on the quick removal of the leader.
1936 – Education questions are popular – another young voter asks about Holocaust studies in the national curriculum. Danby said this is an issue of importance and Education Minister Simon Crean is deliberating.
1938 – Broadband policy question to Ekendahl. He responds that the ALP’s broadband network is just a re-nationalisation of telecommunications
1944 – Ekendahl wrapping up – says ALP is one of the worst governments we’ve ever had by any standards and says ALP takes the electorate for granted.
1947 – Danby wrapping up – speaks about Australia’s economic strength and says it is laughable the Jewish community has been taken for granted by the ALP.
1949 – Thank you for joining us for The AJN’s first debate available live on our website. Pick up the paper on Thursday for the full report
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