Canberra decides: Region's live-streamed election forums to put candidates on the spot, and you can ask questions too

With the October election campaign officially starting this Friday, the community has an opportunity to run an interactive ruler over the key parties in a series of online candidates forums hosted by Region.

To be streamed live on Riotact’s Facebook page, the forums will cover three broad themes and take place on 11, 18 and 25 September from 6 pm to 7 pm, with former Region Group Editor and now Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs moderating.

Candidates from ACT Labor, the ACT Greens, Canberra Liberals and Independents for Canberra have agreed to participate and be grilled by Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Greg Harford, ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devon Bowles and political author and journalist Professor Chris Wallace from the University of Canberra, as well as Jacobs, who will keep everybody on track.

The public can also post their questions online (or comment under this article) for Jacobs to relay to the candidates.

The first debate will cover business and the economy and include Independents for Canberra candidate in Ginninderra Leanne Foresti, Greens candidate in Kurrajong Jillian Reid, the Canberra Liberals frontbencher and Yerrabi MLA Leanne Castley, and Martin Greenwood, running in Kurrajong.

The second will be an all-Kurrajong affair on Canberra’s future with Independents for Canberra leader Thomas Emerson, ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury, Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee and Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

The third and final debate will cover the cost of living and include Independents for Canberra candidate in Brindabella Dr Vanessa Picker, ACT Greens Deputy Leader Rebecca Vassarotti, who is contesting Kurrajong, Liberal MLA in Murrumbidgee Ed Cocks and Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry.

Viewers will have the opportunity to interact beyond posting questions and comments. They will be asked to state their voting intentions at the beginning and the end of the debate and whether the process has changed their positions via Slido.

Jacobs said the emergence of a strong independents movement and a renovated Canberra Liberals at the same time as Labor seeks a sixth term pointed to one of the most interesting elections for some time.

“How does a government that’s been in power for a very long time provide something fresh and energised and new?” Jacobs said.

“But conversely, how do the Greens, who supported them much of that time, distinguish themselves in a meaningful way?

“What is the significance of the independents who look like a force that’s harnessing some real momentum in Canberra, and can the Liberal Party make the best of this opportunity for real change?”

Jacobs said rather than follow the usual debate format and focus on particular seats, Region believed it would be more engaging to have a panel of experts quiz candidates on the big issues and take audience questions in real-time as well.

“We’ve opted for a series of quite broad themes because this seems like a fairly pivotal point in Canberra’s political history,” Jacobs said.

“We’re looking at the cost of living crisis and how tough it is for Canberrans. Obviously, for me, as the CEO of Hands Across Canberra, that’s an important anchor point, and we understand the difficulties that Canberrans face every day.

“We’re going to be looking at Canberra’s economic drivers, and those are changing substantially in the transition away from the public service sector, the growth of the knowledge economy, how well that’s working across the community as a whole, and then we’re going to be looking at Canberra’s future.

“It’s going to be about mapping the future out when our population quickly reaches half a million or more, what it looks like from there onwards, and how the decisions of those who might be in charge will affect that growth.”

Jacobs said it was less about meeting the candidates and more about meeting the ideas to give voters the policies, the ideas that Canberra will decide on come 19 October.

However, voters would be able to assess candidates’ characters, authenticity, and ability to answer quickly, clearly and honestly.

“We’re here to find out the facts, not to do anyone favours,” Jacobs said.

The forums will also be posted to Region’s YouTube channel after the debate.

Tune in to the live-streamed events on Facebook here.