CAS 1sts lose to CHS in a unanimous decision, as was expected. Extremely messy debate which highlighted both teams' deficiencies in economic knowledge. CHS 2nd and 3rd speakers were particularly good, as was CAS 2nd speaker. I believe CAS had a different 3rd speaker to last week (from Knox so I assume their original 4th speaker) who was not much better than the 3rd speaker from last week. I don't know what the selectors are doing putting a state squad 3rd speaker in the CAS 2nds. I expect CAS to lose to an embarrassing degree against Archdale, who I assume would have easily brushed aside GPS.
In Tuamasaga's rush to complain about CAS again (are they a disaffected CAS parent?? An Archdale supporter who deeply dislikes CAS??) they didn't mention the topics for reps debates, which were (or similar):
1. That adolescents should be able to make autonomous medical decisions.
2. That parents should be able to choose their child's gender.
3. That we support the weakening of labour laws and protections in times of economic crisis.
CAS v CHS 1sts did the labour laws topic and the 2nds did the gender topic -- in both debates CAS was AFF (and in the 2nds debates, CHS also won unanimously).
Having watched the firsts debate, Tuamasaga's appraisal is rather hyperbolic. The debate was hardly extremely messy, becoming essentially a debate about the relative effectiveness of supply-side and demand-side injections in times of economic decline. CHS team had relatively good economic knowledge and CAS did rather well, considering none of the speakers study economics. There was some confusion from AFF about the nature of bailouts and stimulus packages, however that was probably the most messy the debate got. As for the omission of CHS 1st speaker, the artist formerly unknown (on this forum) as John Bivell, I thought he did quite a good job setting up the NEG's case and his economic analysis was central to the debate.
CAS 3rd speaker, whatever Tuamasaga might say, was probably the best speaker on that team, and certainly not as bad as represented, having probably the most effective knowledge of economics of the AFF side, and being the only speaker to critique the effectiveness of existing labour laws and regulations. I don't know what Tuamasaga's vendetta is against CAS 3rd speakers, but they might try to be a little more accurate in their criticism after the final debate tomorrow.