Former Idol Host James Mathison Is Running Against Tony Abbott
No, he was not on Cheez TV. But he was on Channel [V].
James Mathison, who co-hosted Australian Idol from 2003 to 2009, is running against Tony Abbott in the Sydney seat of Warringah he’s safely held for the last 22 years.
Mathison has spoken to both news.com.au and MTV Australia about his decision to run as an independent. It’s a very 21st century campaign he’s running, with fundraising via Pozible, a Twitter hashtag (#TimesUpTony), and a plan to create viral videos inspired by John Oliver and The Project.
Here’s what he told news.com.au: “Using Facebook will be big. We’ve seen through the work Waleed [Aly, The Project co-host] has done, the stuff John Oliver has done, an idea done well on video on social media can be shared like that (snaps).”
As for his politics, Mathison is pro marriage equality, believes in climate change, and is in favour of better treatment for refugees if not actually welcoming them to our country, saying, “the thing about that is the Coalition’s policy has worked. The turnbacks have worked. We’ve got less people in detention, but what Labor and the Coalition forget is that you still have to treat people who are in detention with dignity and respect.”
You said it pic.twitter.com/s0F5GiolVj
— James Mathison (@jamesmathison) May 27, 2016
In the years since he left Idol Mathison has done jobbing TV work like co-hosting the short-lived talk show Wake Up, and his only political action of note was being dragged away by police while protesting against the chopping down of Moreton Bay figs in Moore Park.
Mathison first became famous as a host on Channel [V], and let’s not forget the time he was part of a band formed by fellow Channel [V] reporters including Yumi Stynes called The Punisherz. They supported Mickey Avalon and once played Splendour In The Grass.