Last week I concluded that Adam Bandt, the Greens leader, has been the most impressive of the leaders on display during this election campaign.
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That is a big call, but Bandt had a positive week. My conclusion came after watching his appearances, including a lengthy interview with Leigh Sales on 7.30 and excerpts of his National Press Club address.
It was also a week in which some of the other major leaders did not distinguish themselves. In the first week of this campaign we returned to the usual unedifying rhythm of past campaigns. The two major-party leaders dominated the media, and easily slipped into the sniping mode that we are used to seeing. "Snake oil salesmen" would be a kind description of their approach.
Both the commercial media and the ABC have utilised a most dispiriting form of election coverage, in which a Liberal and Labor spokesperson appear side by side to defend their own policies and attack the other side. These are conducted by either the official spokespeople - Senator Anne Ruston for the government and Jason Clare for the opposition - or variations on this theme. Such sessions make very little positive contribution to election discussion, because they are stupidly adversarial.
Bandt's interview with Sales showed him at his best. He was articulate and down to earth. He was also confident in his pitch, showed his belief in his cause, and was not noticeably affected by nerves. He was not overconfident, and was firm but not stubborn. He was informative and not evasive.
These are admirable qualities in any leader, but may not convince everyone. I admit, too, that meeting person to person may tell a very different story. Some leaders may be much more impressive in private than in public. That is one of the appealing features of programs like Kitchen Cabinet, where some personal characteristics are given a chance to shine in an informal environment.
Other caveats are in order, too. Leadership means more than being able to give a persuasive interview. Other relevant abilities are not tested. The best leader also does not guarantee the best political party. It is only one factor distinguishing the parties, and party policies are more important than personalities. I get all that.
Furthermore, it may be easier to lead a minor party than one of the governing parties. There's less scrutiny, less to defend and less intensity in the interview format.
Bearing this in mind, let's look at the seven leaders we have on display. The Coalition has Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the Liberals and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce for the Nationals. Labor is led by Anthony Albanese, while the Greens have Bandt and Pauline Hanson heads One Nation. Finally, Craig Kelly and Clive Palmer speak for the United Australia Party.
This means only one woman among six men. The three major leaders, Morrison, Albanese and Joyce, all come from NSW. All of the leaders are middle-aged - Bandt, at 50, is the youngest.
These leaders, according to the polls, are not highly regarded. Both Morrison and Albanese have negative approval ratings. Lesser leaders have a high "unknown" or "unsure" rating among voters.
The prevailing public opinion of our leaders is that we are not well served and can do better.
Long before Morrison became Prime Minister, I formed the view that in media interviews his approach was usually to bluster. By that I mean that he comes across as loud, with a touch of indignation and aggression. He talks more than he listens, and his bluster is not far removed from bullying.
At the same time, these and other qualities make Morrison a superb campaigner who exudes confidence and has enormous energy and stamina. As the old saying goes, he could sell coals to Newcastle.
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Barnaby Joyce now has damaging personal baggage to shoulder that has put him in many awkward interview situations. He, too, is reputed to be a good communicator, maybe even the best "retail politician" in Australia, though perhaps better received in rural Australia. Maybe some characteristics are more appealing in the bush rather than the city.
Joyce can be remarkably inarticulate, stumbling over his words, though he is not yet in the notorious Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen class. Some might find this apparent confusion appealing, but I want more from any leader.
Albanese used to be a Labor firebrand, but now, without that infectious energy and outrage, he can appear bland and unenthusiastic. During the first week of the campaign he made mistakes which have haunted him since. More importantly, in my view, he appears nervous, straining and lacking in confidence. Like Joyce, he can be inarticulate and unpersuasive in interviews.
With Hanson and Kelly/Palmer, it is difficult to separate their outrageous messages from their personality. Yet these extreme right-wing leaders each possess small but devoted followings. Hanson, too, is inarticulate. She also has a sharp and hectoring tone. Kelly is a blusterer and a shameless purveyor of exaggerations and untruths. Palmer is similar, though at his best he has a smoother veneer.
That leaves Bandt, whose positive qualities struck me last week more than ever before. He stands out in a weak field because this campaign is not blessed with a compelling range of leaders. As a nation, we should be able to do better. We must strive to improve if politicians and political parties are to regain the trust - and stir the imagination - of the Australian people.
- John Warhurst is an emeritus professor of political science at the Australian National University.