Ciobo quizzed on leadership
GOLD Coast Federal Minister Steven Ciobo has laughed off – but not ruled out – the prospect of running for the LNP leadership if the Coalition loses the next Federal election.
In the wake of the row between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and under-fire Deputy Barnaby Joyce, and with latest polling showing the Coalition would lose to Labor, Peta Credlin asked Mr Ciobo on her Sky News show if he would push for the leadership of the Liberals if they ended up in Opposition.
Mr Ciobo, 43, serving his fifth term in the seat of Moncrieff, laughed off the question.
“Peta, we are getting well and truly ahead of ourselves,” he said. “I’m not even going to start canvassing what’s going to happen post-election. Let’s just focus on the next 12 to 15 months before the next election. I’m going to be out there selling this Government’s achievements.”
SOMETIMES it feels like the Gold Coast gets laughed at more than laughed with, but tonight at The Avenue we’ll see who’s laughing.
Hopefully everyone will be, as droves of comedy wannabes take to the stage to have their jokes judged at the RAW Comedy Competition.
Owner of Based Comedy Company, Josh Armstrong, responsible for bringing the competition to the GC, said stand-up comedy is akin to a mental illness.
“Actually wanting to get up in front of strangers and tell jokes on the off chance that they might be entertained by you is a mental illness, not a talent,” he said.
“Comedy is interesting because when you start out, you think the dizzying heights of fame await, soldout festival shows and performing on TV drives you, and you know that you’ll be getting off stage to a standing ovation from a crowd that loves you and people who want to take you home and sleep with you.
“The reality is that you’ll spend three years doing open mic for nothing more than free drinks, you’ll spend thousands putting on your first festival show, only to bomb in front of 30 people and your partner will leave you because you ‘never have any money’ and ‘you’re always trying out those stupid jokes on me’.”
Despite this, approximately 15 comedy rookies will perform hoping to take out the top spot, which could see them sent to Edinburgh to compete.
“RAW is Australia’s largest annual comedy competition where thousands of hopeful open mic comedians put their best foot forward, hoping to land a televised spot as part of the grand final at Melbourne International Comedy Festival,” Mr Armstrong explained.
“The winner of the RAW Grand Final then goes to Edinburgh Festival Fringe to compete in their massive comedy competition, So You Think You’re Funny.
“But often it’s a hilarious way for people who have never done stand-up comedy to find out that they are not very good at telling jokes in front of a large crowd of people.”
Last years’ RAW Queensland runner up Dalton Whiskey will have another crack this year.
“Some people say a joke falling flat is the worst feeling in the world, but it’s something you do get used to. It’s inevitable,” he said.
“It can be particularly crushing for something like RAW as well because you’re among your peers.
“But it’s the crowd that can really make or break a new act because it’s on the comedian’s shoulders to deliver great material but it’s up to the crowd to return the energy.”
Tonight’s show starts at 8pm. Tickets are available online or $15 on the door.