Election ‘07 Norg

The first debate is when to hold the debate

Ahh, it's going to be a long six weeks.

In his address on Sunday, John Howard suggested him and Kevin Rudd have an election debate this coming Sunday at Parliament House.

But Rudd is refusing to commit to the debate untilHoward responds to his request for three debates spread out across the campaign.

From the ABC:

Mr Rudd has told Southern Cross Radio it is wrong for the sitting prime minister to set the program for debates.

"If you're the Prime Minister you say, 'Oh well I might have one debate and I might have it then, here are the rules'," he said.

"I've got to say when we were in office in '96 we weren't a whole lot better on this.

"I'm saying for the future let's clean it up and put it in the hands of an independent body run by the press gallery."

Speaking on Southern Cross Radio, Mr Howard defended his role in deciding when debates are held.

"Surely to goodness my federal director and Tim Gartrell - the director of the Labor Party - can work out the details, the rules of engagement," he said.

"We do not need the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery or indeed anybody else to tell us what to agree with on a debate.

So what do people want one debate or three?