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The Observer Effect: Sept 1

The Observer Effect continues to focus on politics, now with people who aren't even in the political spotlight.

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2013-08-30_1528The Observer Effect continues to focus on politics, now with people who aren’t even in the political spotlight….

Just not grabbing my attention anymore and that’s for a show that is already struggling to cut through.

As we draw closer to the 7 September federal election, former Liberal Senator Amanda Vanstone joins Ellen Fanning on The Observer Effect 8.30pm Sunday 1 September on SBS ONE.

Amanda Vanstone was a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 1984 to 2007. She held several ministerial portfolios in the Howard Government and her time as Minister for Immigration was marked by several controversies within the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The issues that affected her tenure back then, are once again on national agenda.

This week, Vanstone talks to Ellen about her experience in Federal politics, her opinion on the current campaign and her prediction for the upcoming election. Amanda will also discuss; the AFL/Essendon scandal from her perspective as director for Port Adelaide AFL club; her time as ambassador to Italy and how she now views Australia. She’ll also talk about her dog Gus and its infamous attacks on a Pakistani diplomat and an Italian policeman.

Ellen Fanning’s other guests will be Galaxy pollster David Briggs and mongrel dog Photographer David Darcy.

Pollster David Briggs is from Galaxy research, a company that monitors the fickle pulse of the nation. Galaxy is responsible for providing opinion polling on State and Federal politics, along with polls on many other subjects. David Briggs is the principle manager and his polls are regularly published in News Limited tabloid newspapers, including the Herald Sun, Courier-Mail and The Daily Telegraph.

This week his custom poll for The Observer Effect is “Which of the two party leaders do you trust the most to manage the economy?” When Briggs joins Fanning on the program this Sunday, this question, its poll results and many more topics will be up for analysis.

Photographer and author David Darcy has been capturing portraits of dogs in Australia and overseas for more than a decade. David worked on the Australian hit film Red Dog and will join Ellen to help her analyse the unique place dogs have in this country and our lives. He will tell us what these animals mean to everyone; from politician’s pets to working dogs on outback stations. Amanda Vanstone, David Briggs and David Darcy join a growing list of high profile guests who have appeared on the show in recent weeks. Several celebrities and politicians have ‘bared their souls’ by offering rarely heard perspectives on issues of public life in Australia.

Sunday 1 September at 8.30pm on SBS ONE.

9 Responses

  1. I watched last night’s episode, it was very interesting, and nothing like others had feared to be. I suppose it’s hard for people to leave behind those blinkers.

  2. Nathan, I actually think it’s great when former politicians stick their noses in because they no longer have to hold back for fear of offending anyone. Paul Keating is a prime example of this & that’s a good thing for our democracy. The problem is a lot of former Liberals like Vanstone still tow the party line & that adds nothing to the debates except wasting everyone’s time. Free thinkers should step forward, but party hacks should stay out.

  4. @Sydney2K Do re-read what I say, note “this is what’s wrong with politics and the election” I didn’t even mention Vanstone or The Observer Effect, it was a general comment on the state of politics and the media in Australia.

  5. The problem with TOE is that instead of getting interesting people on to discuss the events of the week, the show’s producers have opted instead to get famous people on, for a ‘long form’ interview, or people enjoying their 15 minutes, to discuss their 15 minutes.

    The premise was good, the implementation a shambles.

  6. I have worked out the reason they put long shows after The Observer Effect is to try to keep as many viewers that’s left for as long as possible. Because I guess it’s like the Ten Masterchef situation. Where Ten put Masterchef; Renovation show; Masterchef on. Except it is worse because it takes the viewers away.

    Also long ago I worked out they tried an interview show on Sunday because of other channels and their success with them. I guess the horrible lesson is what works for some channels may not work for others. Sorry I’ll stop being depressing now.

  9. I think this is what’s wrong with politics and the election, too many former politicians sticking their noses in. We voted you out, basically stay out.

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