Q and A, Go Away

Is Q and A even worth it anymore? Does the Australian political discourse really need another meaningless back-and-forth that makes people want to kill themselves? I admit that it may have been somewhat charming at first, but it exponentially eroded any good will I had for it the moment it became a place for Federal politicians to 'appear.' You know, to do the rounds, spruik something, and be a dick.

The show's main contribution seems to be the addition of the now ubiquitous 'live' twitter feed on screen, which is made less appealing by the fact that it is 'moderated'. It's slightly better if you have your laptop next to you with a clean feed of tweets, until you realise you are the very modern model of a fucking stupid Gen Y loser.

Q and A has simply become a place for variously placed MPs from all sides to have a shill off and constantly get into arguments over semantics. Sometimes there's as many as one person on the panel who is not politically attached and hence speaking in human talk, but they're usually also an idiot, so it is of no benefit.

As a result the questioning has become increasingly grandstanding in nature; questioners don't seem to be looking for information but rather to get a clap after completing whatever drivel comes out of their mouths. Then there's the always awful question-that-is-actually-a-statement ramble-athon which almost drowns surrounding audience members in the smug spittle of indignant wankery. It is appalling.

Currently serving MPs, other than at election time, should be immediately banned from future broadcasts. Let's have some policy wonks, some academics, and sure, let's have Janet Albrechtsen occasionally so we can witness true soulless evil, but two MPs with intractable party lines to service are not going help anyone. Once they're finished in politics; then yes, get them in, it's infinitely more entertaining. Everyone seems surprised when a former MP goes on the TV and is actually quite likeable, there's a reason for that and it's the letters that have been removed from the end of their name.

Q and A's format needs re-tooling, and by that I actually mean de-tooling. Until that happens I'll be staring at a flickering fluorescent light on Monday nights, softly muttering.