© PIAC 2009

Effective Lobbying

© PIAC 2009

Effective LobbyingPresenters:

Louis Schetzer, Research & Policy Officer

Carolyn Grenville, Training Co-ordinator

5 May 2010

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10 hints for effective lobbying – from a government perspective

There are two things which you never want to see being made – laws and sausages.

- Bill Clinton

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Hint 1

Don’t assume that the Government officials with whom you are dealing know who you are or what you do.

- You need to ‘dumb it down’ for them.

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Hint 2

… and even if they do, don’t assume that they care about your work or your issue.

- Competing priorities – “the kitchen table issues”

- Is it important in terms of overarching Government goals?

- Does it conflict with other priorities?

WHERE IS THE FIRE?

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Hint 3

Be realistic about your power base and that of other stakeholders

-eg. Police

- Business

- Church

These groups are well resourced, have the ear of government, know how to play the system and can run sustained and effective media campaigns.

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

- Sun Tzu, 400 BC

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Hint 4

What drives government action – sensationalism and the media cycle

- Importance of tabloid media & talkback radio

- Well resourced, powerful stakeholders can run sustained and intense media campaigns

- The power of fear is difficult to counter (the importance of ‘framing’ the debate)

“The one permanent emotion of the inferior man is fear - fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable.  What he wants above everything else is safety.” - Henry Louis Mencken

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Hint 5

What else can influence government – evidence: “Evidence-based policy” is not a myth

- Need for rigour in research

- Research is not ‘advocacy’

- In real research, sometimes the results are not what you expect

- Danger of bad research or misstating research results

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Hint 6

Understand the policy development process

-If there is a public consultation, it is not the only thing that is happening:

- Internal Government/inter-departmental consultations

- Justice system consultation – judiciary/police

- Submission to cabinet to get approval for policy announcement – needs support from the major players

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Hint 7

Understand the legislative process- Cabinet approval to prepare legislation

- Instructions to PC

- Possible further exposure draft/consultations

- Ongoing consultations with govt depts., justice system stakeholders

- Further instructions to PC

-Further discussions with Govt depts, justice system stakeholders

-Further submission to Cabinet for approval to introduce legislation

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Hint 7 … cont’d

- Opposition and cross-bench briefings ….

-Legislation introduced

(You’re not there yet ….)

- further lobbying from the powerful stakeholders

- Upper House

(You’re still not home ….)

- Delayed and non-specified proclamation dates

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Hint 8

Understand the budget process

-Timing

- What are government priorities

- What are the political priorities

- What are the Departmental priorities

- The stages:- Departmental prioritisation – October

- ERC 1 – December

- ERC 2 - February

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Hint 9

What makes for a good budget submission?

- A well developed business case

- Strong links to Government & Department priorities

- Economic model

- Identified financial savings to Government

- Costed options (including ‘do nothing’)

- Identify other possible sources of funding and why they are not viable

- Think about how much you’re asking for – a delicate balance - neither too big nor too small

- Make it sound like a new initiative, even if it is not

- Have a sexy title for the initiative!

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Hint 10

Know what you’re asking for and how to effectively frame the issue

- Key ingredient for successfully achieving outcome, whether for policy, new legislation or budget

- Sets the tone for political and government consideration of the issue

- Sets the media tone for the issue.

“It’s only words … but words are all we have …”

- Barry Gibb

“Words are like bullets – once they are fired you can never take them back.”

- Bill Hayden

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The ‘ask’

• What will a solution to this problem look like?

• What action needs to be taken?

• What specifically are you asking your target to do

for you? Focus on practical outcomes.

• What is the timeframe?

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Framing your argument

• Write down your key messages

• What is the other side of the argument and what

are you up against?

• Frame your issue around your target’s

motivations and to appeal to the general public

• Do you have examples or stories you can talk

about?

• Sticky messages

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Messages that stick

Loud and Clear

Crafting Messages That Stick

What Nonprofits Can Learn from Urban Legends

By Chip Heath

Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2003

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Messages that stick

•Simple

•Unexpected

•Concrete

•Credentialed

•Emotional

•Stories

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Messages that stick

© PIAC 2009

Lobbying Kit

• Clear and brief summary of:

• what is the issue?

• why is it a problem?

• what are the possible solutions to the problem?

• No more than 1 page

• User-friendly language

• Longer, supporting documents can be attached

• Include other relevant material

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Advocacy by Letter

• Letterhead, address and date

• Full name and title of target

• Subject line; one issue per letter

• Who you are and connection to issue

• Define the problem concisely

• Name relevant policy or legislation

• Ask specific questions

• Request action with time frame

• Offer solutions

• Suggest a meeting in person

• KISS; attachments included

• Contain your anger

• Always sign the letter

• Keep and copy & copies of replies