Dull election campaign is the fault of the media
Issued 18 August 2010
Public complaints that the election campaign is a boring battle between tweedledumb and tweedledumber are not due to a lack of interesting parties or candidates, says Liberal Democrats President Peter Whelan.
“There are 25 distinct political parties running in this election, but very few of the public would be aware of that. The only ones they ever hear about are the three majors – Labor, Greens and Liberal,” said Mr Whelan.
“That’s not because the other parties have got nothing to say; it’s because the media never chooses to mention them. There is a huge range of policies out there, from far left to far right and everything in between, yet voters are not told about them. As a result they believe they must choose between barely distinguishable policy alternatives and a Gillard versus Abbott personality contest.”
“Australians have an implied constitutional right to free political speech, but the media is filtering what they hear so severely it is inhibiting the evolution of our democracy. We will never enjoy genuine political diversity so long as the media only reports two or three alternatives.”
The Liberal Democrats call on Australian journalists to let the public know they have real choices outside the three major parties.
“The Liberal Democrats have a liberal philosophy that many Australians instinctively find attractive. We have well-developed policies that would appeal to those who see no difference between the major parties, and we are politically realistic and pragmatic. Yet most Australians do not know we exist because the media never tells them anything about us.”
“There are three days left for Australia’s political journalists to lift their game. I challenge them to do it,” Mr Whelan concluded.
Contacts:
Peter Whelan
National President
(02) 9652 0415
0416 275850
president@ldp.org.au
Glenn Druery
NSW Senate candidate
0418 230010
Website: www.ldp.org.au
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Finally, an LDP release I can wholeheartedly support. =)
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