This week I’m reflecting on Playful politicians and serious satirists: comedic and earnest interplay in Australian political discourse by Rebecca Higgie.

Higgie references ‘sideshow syndrome’ which I don’t think is unique to Australia. I think because we have access to 24 hour on-demand news, politicians and traditional news outlets try to steer away from doom-and-gloom because they know these topics cause discomfort and desensitise use to trauma. Politicians and traditional network media use news to rile voters up about issues that will keep them in power and minimise news that doesn’t fit with their agenda.

In the text, Lindsay Tanner is referenced saying politicians “have to be entertainers in order to win”. Journalists have to pander to politicians and avoid any pointed or specific policy questions. Politicians no longer view themselves as fallible representatives but as figureheads—and thus don’t want reporters to ask questions that acknowledge their mistakes. Australian voters typically vote on party lines rather than for an individual candidate. I think the internet era has pivoted from party policy to a more Americanised or neoliberal style of politics that values the individual, and entertainment, above their party and policy. I think traditional network news props up this system to keep its credibility lest it be labelled a fake news channel.

I think Australian satirical news should continue to play into larrikinism. Higgie acknowledges that because of satirists like The Chaser, “politicians can now expect to face the satirist in the press gallery, the news interview, at the party convention, or even their homes”. The pivot towards neoliberalism means that politicians must always be on, and if they aren’t, Australia will rip them apart. A good example of this is when Kevin Rudd reportedly made a flight attendant cry. This was a private moment but because of the ‘fair go’ attitude Australians have it didn’t bode well. Even though I was 11 I remember how he was made fun of for this—even by my classmates. We had a shared understanding that while Rudd viewed himself as a true-blue Aussie bloke but was really a stressed out, up himself idiot. Satirists bring politicians back to the flawed human beings they are and encourage critique rather than blind believing.

Rebecca Higgie (2015) Playful politicians and serious satirists: comedic and earnest interplay in Australian political discourse, Comedy Studies, 6:1, 63-77, DOI:10.1080/2040610X.2015.1026077