2013 has already produced some surprising political moments, most significantly the unprecedented announcement of the federal election date seven months out. The game of politics seems to be different from the past, but is it? Will the next seven months be about policy or personality attacks?

Jack Waterford AM, editor-at-large of The Canberra Times, has been covering federal and local politics since the 1970s. Jack will draw on his extensive experience to shed light on the upcoming election, what it means for Canberra and what the media’s role should be during this long election campaign.