Once Bitten, Twice Shy? Not at Notre Dame

NOTRE Dame’s federal election debate on April 15 has been ‘hijacked’ by members of the Fremantle Network including former councillor Rachel Pemberton.
In a repeat of the February 19 state candidates debate in which four of eight candidates opted out, Liberal Party Tait Marston and One Nation Hannah Mariner have declined to attend.
Notre Dame organiser Martin Drummond is overseas, leaving Fremantle Network and the Fremantle Society to manage the free ticketed event at Tannock Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Society president John Dowson said he was sitting in for Fremantle Shipping News’ Michael Barker who also is overseas and helped organise the state election candidates debate debacle with Fremantle Network.
People who want to register need to scan a QR code for the event (if they have one) after which they will be informed by Monday whether the registration is successful. No email confirmation is provided at registration.
Streetwise asked executive dean Drummond why the event was not streamed live so the wider public could hear from candidates in the lead up to the May 3 elections. Tannock Hall holds only 350 people.
“The event is an in-person event,” he told StreetWise yesterday. “Has never been streamed or online. There is no vetting of anyone who registers.”
As reported by StreetWise on February 28 at https://www.streetwisemedia.com.au/candidates-debate-offends-catholic-values/, Australian Christians Peter Watt sent his apologies and offered a written statement to Fremantle Network which did not pass it on. Instead it ridiculed him and the other absent candidates.
The Society had planned to hold a separate debate until it was invited by Notre Dame to help organise the federal election candidates debate.
“We (organisers) were supposed to have a meeting last week but it didn’t happen,” Mr Dowson told StreetWise. “Then we were supposed to have one this week and that hasn’t happened.
“Emails are flying around, Rachel Pemberton is involved and it’s getting very political. With Martin away and meetings that didn’t happen, it’s hard to get this together.”
He added that organisers could also see questions sent in for the debate and were making comments between themselves.
Mr Dowson said he urged Mr Marston to attend the debate.
StreetWise has contacted Mr Marston and Ms Mariner for comment.
Additional stories at www.streetwisemedia.com.au.