Transcript [Presentation title]

Effective Lobbying
© PIAC 2009
Effective Lobbying
Presenters:
Louis Schetzer, Research & Policy Officer
Carolyn Grenville, Training Co-ordinator
5 May 2010
© PIAC 2009
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.”
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- Sun Tzu, 400 BC
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)
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“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
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
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- Submission to cabinet to get approval for policy
announcement – needs support from the major
players
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
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- Have a sexy title for the initiative!
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.”
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- Bill Hayden
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
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•Stories
Messages that stick
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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
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• Keep and copy & copies of replies