The symbolism reflects the reality.

This evening, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott will come face to face in the leaders’ debate of the 2010 Australian election campaign. I say ‘the’ – because this is the only leaders’ debate of the campaign.

Gillard and Abbott: this year's choice of News Corp-approved 'leaders'

Two leaders, one debate – and one moderator: Sky News (News Corp) presenter David Speers.

In negotiations shortly after the election was announced, Labor and the Coalition both agreed to these arrangements. It was their choice. They might have widened the debate to include Bob Brown, leader of the rising star of Australian politics: the Greens. Unsurprisingly, they chose not to do that. Why let a serious competitor into a closed shop? As Gordon Brown and David Cameron discovered in the British election, a third participant can be dangerous to a cozy duopoly.

More surprising, they chose to have only one debate. In recent US and British elections – and the previous Australian election – viewers were treated to a series of three.  It’s not as though there’s a shortage of opportunity; the election is still 27 days away. But for some reason, it seems to have suited both sides to keep debate between the party leaders to a minimum. Perhaps this makes it easier to avoid topics neither side wish to discuss – such as the Afghan War and Australians’ fast-disappearing civil liberties.

There may be another reason. Both parties are desperate for the approval of  the Murdoch media. News Corp support is the elixir of success in Australian politics. Ensuring there’s only one debate – and having News Corp run the only debate – is a way both major parties can pay due homage to the nation’s real agenda setter.

Tweet of the debate

This is Australia’s distinctive, home-grown version of plutocracy posing as democracy. Only 75 minutes remaining before the great debate begins. Excitement is intense.

Not.