Outgoing Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has lamented the fact that the 43rd Parliament did not establish an independent body to organise election debates - and remove them from party politicking - as the traditional "debate about the debates" rages between the Labor and Liberal parties.
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Mr Oakeshott, who along with the Greens, has been advocating for a Leaders' Debate Commission over the past three years, said he was "guilty" for failing to get the idea implemented during the 43rd Parliament, which was prorogued at 5.29 on Monday evening.
This came as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Coalition leader Tony Abbott continued to fire shots at each other over how the election debates should be conducted.
The Prime Minister has challenged the Opposition Leader to a debate every week of the campaign, while the Liberal Party has suggested one formal debate on Sunday afternoon and two community forums.
"It's entirely predictable and I'm guilty for failing to get the independent debates commission up and running," Mr Oakeshott told Fairfax Media in one of his final interviews as the Member for Lyne.
"I tried and I tried and just couldn't get any momentum ... And here we are in the absurd dance of the head offices over when, where and how debates are going to be conducted."
Former prime minister Julia Gillard pledged in 2010 to establish a "Leaders' Debate Commission", as part of her agreements with the Greens and independents Tony Windsor and Mr Oakeshott that allowed her to form her minority government. No concrete progress has been made on the body that would have decided when, where and how election debates were held.
In Canberra on Monday afternoon, Mr Rudd said that Mr Abbott needed to front up for a debate in order to explain the Coalition's budget plans.
"For goodness sake, Mr Abbott, have a debate to explain what the bottom line figure is. What will you cut, what will you spend?"
Mr Rudd said he was debating the Liberal National Party candidate for Griffith, Bill Glasson, on Tuesday morning. "If the Liberal candidate for Griffith can stand up and debate as the local member ... why can't Tony Abbott?"
On Monday morning, Mr Abbott said he was not trying to avoid debates.
"There will be, as far as I'm concerned, at least three debates between me and Kevin Rudd," he told Fairfax Radio.
Mr Abbott said there should also be debates between ministers and their Coalition counterparts.
"It's very important that his election campaign is not some insider bubble, where Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd and a few journalists argue with each other. There's got to be an engagement with the people," Mr Abbott said.
On Monday, Greens leader Christine Milne said it was critical that her party was included.
"You need the Greens in those debates or it's going to be pretty boring watching two people who have the same view argue about the same thing," she said.
