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First election debate likely on Sunday

The Liberals still want the debate to be held in Canberra, rather than taking up Labor's proposal for a Seven Network-Facebook hosted event in Sydney.

First election debate likely on Sunday
The first debate of the federal election campaign could be hosted by Seven Network and Facebook.

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Source: AAP


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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will face off on Sunday in the first debate of the federal election campaign.

But the two sides are still to agree on the venue and format.

Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane is standing by his proposal for it be held at National Press Club in Canberra.

The leaders would make opening and closing remarks and take questions from a panel of journalists.

ALP national secretary George Wright has proposed the Seven Network, in conjunction with Facebook, host the debate in Sydney.

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Mr Loughnane suggested the leaders could take questions from social media platforms.

"The coalition believes the first debate should be ... in Canberra and open to all media, as well as taking questions from ordinary Australians through social media," he wrote to Mr Wright on Wednesday.

Mr Abbott earlier ruled out a Seven-Facebook hosted event in Sydney on Sunday.

"I think the first on Sunday night should be your standard National Press Club debate," Mr Abbott said.

"I respectfully request that Mr Rudd turn up at the press club on Sunday night for the traditional leaders debate."

Mr Loughnane also called on Mr Rudd to respond to Mr Abbott's proposal for further leader forums in western Sydney and Brisbane in the lead-up to election day on September 7.

The format of a Sydney Sunday night debate was jointly proposed by Seven and Facebook.

If it went ahead, it would be the first time the social networking site has been directly involved with a televised federal election debate.

"The involvement of Facebook will facilitate greater participation from young people," Mr Wright said.

Mr Wright says all the major television networks have contacted Labor asking to host debates.

"We have taken up their offer, should Mr Abbott be willing to participate and a suitable time can be found," he added.

As a result, Labor's raised the prospect of as many as six debates - hosted by each of the free-to-air networks and another on pay TV broadcaster Sky News.

Mr Abbott said he wanted to have three debates with Mr Rudd in total.

"I'm completely relaxed about debating Mr Abbott," Mr Rudd told reporters in Sydney.


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