Carroll pushes Wilson to face Pickering in three-way debate
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Victoria premier Ben Carroll demanded that opposition leader Jess Wilson attend a scheduled three-way debate with One Nation leader Warren Pickering, after she declined the invitation and preferred a narrower format.
Victoria Premier Ben Carroll used a press conference near Ballarat to press Opposition Leader Jess Wilson to join a televised three-way debate with One Nation leader Warren Pickering. The debate, organized by Channel Nine and The Age, is set for next week, and Carroll said it should include leaders from all three parties so voters can judge the full field.
Carroll stood behind a Labor lectern placed between empty One Nation and Liberal lecterns and said leadership requires "showing up and answering questions" instead of ducking a public test. He added that candidates who want the support of One Nation should be willing to share the stage with its leader and not expect special treatment.
Wilson has so far declined to appear alongside Pickering, arguing that previous campaigns featured only a premier-opposition leader debate. She said she is willing to hold a one-on-one debate with Carroll at any time, emphasizing that the contest is between the two candidates who could become premier.
The premier noted that both he and Pickering have confirmed their attendance, while Wilson has not responded to the invitation.