THE ISSUE 13 Autumn 2019 SHELLOfficial publication of Wells Haslem Mayhew
ALL WASHED UP 2019 POLITICS IN FOCUS: How Shooters, Fishers and Farmers tapped a well of resentment to reshape the political landscape; US Democrats - the New Guard; Rise of the activist lobby group; Trade with China; Social media and the art of political persuasion 2 3 Welcome to the autumn edition of The Shell for 2019. It has been an exciting time for political junkies in Australia over the last few months. Our previous edition of The Shell was released immediately after the Federal Wentworth by-election and in the final days of the Victorian State election campaign. How shooters, fishers The Federal Coalition was left bloodied in Sydney’s eastern suburbs when independent Dr Kerryn Phelps and farmers tapped a wrested the seat off the Liberal Party following the resignation of recently-dumped Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. This result augured badly for the Federal well of resentment to Morrison Government, which faces voters next month. A matter of days after The Shell came out, Victorian reshape the political Premier Daniel Andrews was comfortably returned to power on the back of a positive campaign that focused landscape on investment in critical infrastructure in the Garden State, contrasted by a negative campaign from the Coalition led by Matthew Guy. The Liberal’s bloodletting in Canberra was blamed in part on the poor Victorian result but much can be made of Labor’s positive message. This wouldn’t have been lost on the NSW Berejiklian Government, which went to the polls last month, seeking something no Liberal-led government had achieved in the State in nearly 50 years – a third consecutive term in Government. While a disastrous final week probably cost Labor leader The Politics Edition Michael Daley crucial votes, the sense in NSW was that Benjamin Haslem, Co-CEO Gladys Berejiklian’s team – much like Labor in Victoria – was doing things and hadn’t done enough wrong to deserve to be turfed out. Keeping with the election theme, Account Manager Isabelle Walker, However, the big lesson out of the NSW Election was runs a critical eye over the candidates seeking the Democratic the disastrous result by the Liberal’s junior coalition Party nomination to run against President Trump in the 2020 US Management of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) was a key issue at the recent NSW election, partner The Nationals, which lost the western NSW Presidential election (page 12). contributing to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party (SFF) increasing its numbers in the upper seats of Barwon and Murray to the Shooters, Fishers You may recall in our last issue, then Account Executive, Stav Pisk, and Farmers party. wrote about our part pro-bono client Youth Insearch and its work house and shortening the career of the Minster for Regional Water. Basin water management pits There is a huge schism in Australia between rural and tackling youth suicide. In this edition Stav – now promoted to Account politician against constituent, state against state, and industry against environmentalists. Co-CEO regional voters and city dwellers, which the policy hard Manager – writes about our Youth Insearch Blue Heart campaign. Alexandra Mayhew Hills struggles to think of an issue that so deeply and complexly divides regional heads need to address. The reemergence of Pauline This campaign utilised social media influencers and saw our Federal Hanson’s One Nation is a symptom of this. politicians wear Blue Heart lapel badges on the floor of Parliament Australians. The SFF should approach with caution. As my Co-CEO, Alexandra Mayhew Hills explains in our (page 16). lead story, “How shooters, fishers and farmers tapped a We have heard a lot about the bad behaviour of banks in recent times. well of resentment to reshape the political landscape”, Growing up in in outback Australia during the Millennium was the government was failing at managing the crisis. For a water management is going to be a major issue at next Associate Director Kathy Lindsay relays a more promising anecdote about drought - the worst drought ever recorded since European while I thought perhaps they had it in hand, but with the recent month’s federal election. This is something that most her experience as a bank customer post Royal Commission (page 18). settlement – the conflict over regional water management was mass fish kills and the election of the SFF to the NSW Parliament, urban dwellers knew little about until their TV screens On the international front, David Croasdale Managing Director at part of everyday life. it is evident the crisis endures. and Twitter feeds were filled recently with images of our China partners – through our membership of IPREX – Newell thousands of dead fish in a drought-ravaged Darling River. Etched into my memory is the mass burning of the Murray- The Basin PR, examines Australia’s relationship with the Middle Kingdom and In a similar vein, Account Executive Larissa Jaffe (page Darling Basin (MDB) guide book (MDB Authority Chair Mike Signed into law in 2012, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) is, argues Australia needs to pivot some more toward the north (page 6) looks at the rise of grassroots political movements Taylor resigned shortly thereafter), chlorine-filled water you at its core, attempting to reduce the amount of water that can be and how they shape the voting patterns of young 20), with the One Belt One Road initiative presenting an excellent couldn’t drink and that cracked your dry skin, bruised knees extracted from the Basin’s streams, rivers and aquifers. However, Australians. As Larissa highlights, the Keep Sydney Open opportunity to build a deeper relationship with China as a strategic on cracker dust, enduring the black madness of dust storms, the organisation responsible for management of the Basin, the party was a major disruptor at the NSW Election, taking partner. pressing myself against the window to see the occasional rain, MDB Authority, must find the balance between farmers and crucial votes off the Greens and Labor. Activists groups Thank you for reading our latest edition of The Shell – we certainly other industries and conservationists. Troublingly, the Authority GetUp! and the recently formed Advance Australia will and stepping around kangaroos that bounced into town in says “the Murray–Darling Basin cannot be drought-proofed”. play a significant role in the Federal Election. enjoyed putting it together for you! search of some garden goodies to nibble on. Social media will play an increased role in the Federal I am not exaggerating. To give you an idea of scale, the Basin covers 14 per cent of Election as politicians seek to reach audiences that have the continent and two million Australians and more than 40 abandoned traditional media channels. In this edition, I Nor are the farmers who are trying to feed the nation. Aboriginal nations call it home. write about the challenges of changing political attitudes Nor are those trying to protect the ecosystems that cannot The majority of the Basin’s water is used for agriculture, and on platforms more akin to echo chambers than forums speak for themselves. for civilised debate (page 9). Benjamin Haslem, Co-CEO this agriculture accounts for almost 40 per cent the country’s To me it always seemed the only thing people could agree on production (by value). The highest water consumers tend to 4 5
be directing it towards dairy farming, The great Menindee lakes, where I swam The SFF is not alone in its scepticism cotton-growing, pasture, and rice. as a child, have been drained twice in of the Plan. Even NSW Leader of the four years, resulting in an environmental Nationals and Deputy Premier John However, humans are not the only catastrophe (to provide an ideal of scale: Barilaro admitted “the Murray-Darling creatures that rely on the Basin. The these lakes have three and half times the Basin Plan has failed NSW”. Basin supports more than 120 waterbird capacity of Sydney Harbour). The Basin species and 46 native fish species. However, this criticism is not party-wide. has seen waterbird numbers plummet, They nest in trees that are hundreds of While Federal Minister for Agriculture half the native fish species threatened, years old or breed in its internationally and Water Resources and Nationals and blue-green algal blooms becoming protected wetlands. Member David Littleproud admitted the increasingly common. Our farmers are Plan was “not perfect”, he believes it is Drought management struggling to provide water to their cattle “by far the best option we’ve got and all and crops. Homes are filling with rotten Drought affects the environment, states and territories agreed to it”. water. Everyone, out there, is screaming. farmers, businesses, and communities. The National Farmers Federation The plan has failed. Australians have long understood the (NFF) President Fiona Simson echoed need to plan for drought. As early as Any significant crisis that endures long Minister Littleproud’s sentiment: “the 1914 the Federal and state governments enough presents political opportunity. plan is the best game in town to try were agreeing on water sharing and So it is unsurprising that a narrowly- and collaborate”. The NFF has a strong longevity plans. focussed political group has capitalised voice in regional Australia and a marked on this disaster and catapulted itself into influence in water management. Good water management plans strike a a position of real political power. balance between reducing the impact of A cautionary tale drought on communities and industry, SFF makes its move The SFF clearly believes it is on to a while ensuring water needs of a healthy While the recently re-elected Premier of winner with water policy – but my river ecosystem are met. The primary NSW Gladys Berejiklian has made a point advice, approach with caution. This is a levers are caps on diversion, water of publicly stating she would not do “any long-running, contentious issue for one trade, and investment in more water- deals” with the SFF, the Shooters’ leader, reason: there is no easy answer. efficient irrigation. Robert Borsak, has every intention of The Nationals do not suffer the factional using the full force of the upper house divides that plague the Liberals and ALP, crossbench to push through his policy and yet even they are divided over the agenda. management of the Basin. This is a party that successfully won Former NSW Minister for Regional Water three regional seats (Orange, Barwon Niall Blair resigned from the Ministry The skies are brass and the plains are and Murray) in the National Party’s following this most recent State election, bare, heartland (since 2016) thanks to a citing appalling and violent threats that campaign that focused on the State’s Death and ruin are everywhere – were levelled towards himself, his family water supply. and his staff for his management of And all that is left of the last year's MDBP - tell 'em they're dreamin' Borsak has gone so far as to say the water policy. flood SFF will not negotiate on any legislation The MDBP is the government’s latest – His was not the first scalped claimed. Is a sickly stream on the grey-black with the Government until the Coalition and with a price tag of $13 billion, very mud; addresses its concerns around the MDB. I doubt it will be the last. • expensive - attempt to manage the The salt-springs bubble and the Basin. The SFF has a 10-point Murray-Darling quagmires quiver, management strategy, and is demanding For as long as I can recall, there have And - this is the dirge of the Darling the Government to “hit pause” on the been cries of mismanagement of the River MDBP. However it is not the drought MDB Plan. This is unsurprising given the that has caused the defiling of Australia’s Party’s long history of criticising the Plan, The Song of the Darling River by Henry greatest river system, this is a man-made the Authority, and the array of ministers Clockwise from top left: Robert Borsak, Lawson ecological disaster. responsible for both. leader of the Shooters Fishers Farmers & NSW Upper House Member; Roy Butler, Member for Barwon; Helen Dalton, Member for Murray; Mark Banasiak, NSW Upper House Member; Phillp Donato, Member for Orange 6 7
The rise of the The policies were enticing: ending claim victory. KSO disputed these lockouts, legalising pill testing, claims on its Facebook page, stating it activist lobby groups supporting festivals, 24-hour transport, had preferenced the Greens and Labor supporting small businesses and incumbents in every seat KSO contested. protecting heritage – it seemed like in Australian politics Criticisms aside, we need to remember every young person in NSW would be on there will never be a political party that board to fight the ‘Nanny State’. will tick all the boxes. Voters also need to However, the party didn’t miss out on its learn that unfortunately, political parties fair share of criticism. must make deals and be strategic to get Young voters started to catch onto ahead; this isn’t new. But 69,076 people across NSW voted to Keep Sydney KSO and called out their preference Open (at last count), which isn’t bad for deal with the Sustainable Australia a political party that formed only six Party. Sustainable Australia sounded months ago. progressive on paper, but the party called for immigration rates to drop At a Federal level, there has been an A supporter and his best friend lending from 200,000 a year down to 70,000 a active campaign by GetUp! to unseat support to the "VOTE TONY OUT" campaign. year on the premise that cutting down former Prime Minister Tony Abbott from immigration will increase environmental his seat of Warringah on the Lower North sustainability. Social media backlash Shore and Federal Parliament. Unlike came around in due course, claiming KSO, it doesn’t look like GetUp! will that KSO was preferencing a “racist, anti- immigration party” ahead of The Greens. become a political party anytime soon, One writer on Medium continued on the but it is a strong lobby group that can cause “Keep Sydney Open is racist” tirade and pain for Tony Abbott’s election campaign. claimed the party does not prioritise After living in Manly for 23 years, I know If the past couple of years have taught us anything about politics, it would be that activist lobby Indigenous struggle. without a doubt Warringah is a blue- groups are becoming more influential than ever. 24-year-old Account Executive Larissa Jaffé is When the results started to trickle ribbon seat. However, in the last couple through, it was even suggested KSO’s of years I have noticed a shift. You can’t finding her peers are becoming more engaged in the political system due to the rise of these involvement had helped the Coalition deny the people of Warringah still hold lobby groups and their social media influence. Social media is giving activist campaign groups the ability to fundraise, share content and engage communities. With strong commitment and financial backing, the sky is the limit for the influence these groups can spread.
In Australia’s political climate, social media is doing a good job of the political spectrum and it has made for interesting viewing. of holding politicians to account. When a politician becomes A social movement turned political party, KSO made headlines involved in a scandal, thousands of people will know about it in the lead up to the NSW election. KSO started in 2014 as an in minutes. Social media allows everyone to have a voice, and industry lobby group in response to Barry O’Farrell’s lockout sentiment can be monitored through comments, likes and laws. The aim was to organise mass scale protests in Sydney shares. The political discourse will evolve even further; the until the NSW government relaxed its stance on the laws, taking Betoota Advocate may write a satire piece, or someone will inspiration from Melbourne’s anti-lockout protests in 2008. create a meme about it. KSO founder Tyson Koh, a former producer on ABC’s Rage, This can increase engagement in the political process but people later realised that it would take more than a few protests to may still feel disenfranchised by the traditional two-party encourage former Premiers Barry O’Farrell, Mike Baird, and the system. This is the perfect space for activist lobby groups, both current Premier Gladys Berejiklian to budge on the lockout laws. progressive and conservative, to rise for their own political motive. Just six months ago KSO registered itself as a political party, running in 42 electorates in the Legislative Assembly (Lower I have been watching three activist lobby groups closely in the House) and putting up 21 candidates in the Legislative Council past year, regarding the future of Sydney’s nightlife and the (Upper House). future of Australia’s ex-Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. The recent NSW state election saw the emergence of Keep Sydney Open The fatal overdoses of five young Australians over the summer, (KSO). The federal election is putting two opposing lobby groups, the NSW government’s conservative pproacha to pill testing, and GetUp! and Advance Australia, front and centre. These three new regulations on music festivals, created the perfect climate for political campaign groups are making waves on different sides KSO to gain some traction on issues young people care about. 8 9
strong Liberal values, but they are also him at Parliament House during a school Social media and quite progressive. excursion to Canberra. He clearly cares for the people of Warringah, and still has the art of political Warringah had one of the highest “yes” many loyal constituents. His campaign votes in the country during the same sex is still energised, and just like GetUp! marriage postal survey, whereas Tony persuasion: no one has endorsed Zali Steggall (despite her Abbott was arguably the face of the “no” attempt to distance herself from the campaign. The people of Warringah are changes anything, and group), Tony Abbott has support from passionate about climate change, yet Advance Australia. The conservative Tony Abbott seems to be a non-believer. lobby group has raised close to everyone’s pi__ed The values he displays no longer reflect $400,000 to support key Liberal party the values of the electorate and his conservatives ahead of the federal inaction on climate change may be the nail in election. So far, Advance Australia has the coffin for his 25-year reign of Warringah. concentrated much of its energy on Along with GetUp!, there is a continued Tony Abbott, battling against GetUp! and anti-Abbott movement across smaller other anti-Abbott community groups. groups such as Think Twice Warringah, It will be an uphill battle for Advance Voices of Warringah, and Vote Tony Australia, which is up against GetUp! - Out. Think Twice Warringah works an organisation that has over one million on the ground by actively putting up members, spent six million dollars at the posters reminding Abbott’s constituents 2016 federal election and has received of all the things he has said about the $11 million worth of donations in the climate, women, and marriage equality. past year. Vote Tony Out sells online anti-Abbott In the recent state election, there was merchandise such as t-shirts, shopping an 11.6 per cent swing toward The bags, stickers, and stubbie holders. Greens in Manly, which is a very telling These groups together have formed a Political parties are set to use social media more and more in coming elections, including sign of how smaller political parties and Coalition of Anti-Abbott groups that are activist movements can sway polling. the Federall Election in May. Co-CEO Benjamin Haslem discusses the complexities of using working in alliance to meet a common With the GetUp! and Advance Australia goal: to kick Tony out. social media to influence voters in a context of confirmation bias and the combative nature of campaigns in full swing, the coalition of However, with all the anti-Abbott anti-Abbott groups and announcement community commentary. sentiment, it is hard to deny Tony Abbott of Zali Steggall running as an has been a very active member of the Independent, the Warringah electorate A friend posted a cartoon on Facebook recently: outcome of fixed in their ways and not open to persuasion? community. Tony Abbott used to visit my will be an interesting seat to watch in the political arguments on Facebook. primary school, and I remember meeting upcoming Federal election. • Well if years of research into opinion shaping, pre-dating social The pie chart was drowning in red ink – “No one changes media, is any guide, many of us are just that - and social media is anything, and everyone’s pissed” was the unanimous choice. only amplifying things. Two other choices – “You change your mind” and “They change It is well-established that most people seek out information that their mind” – didn’t get a look in. A big fat zero on both counts. aligns with pre-existing beliefs. It’s called confirmation bias – a term coined by British psychiatrist Peter Wason in the 1960s. It’s Jokes aside, a more rigorous study conducted by Pew Research a tendency to not only seek out information affirming our beliefs Centre last year found the cartoon wasn’t too far off the mark – – conservative voters may watch Andrew Bolt on Sky News; just 14 per cent of adults surveyed said they had changed their so-called progressives will read the Guardian online – but also views about a political or social issue in the past year because of to interpret and recall information in a way that confirms one’s something they read or saw on social media. beliefs or a hypothesis. With social media destined to play an unprecedented role in the ‘Summer was always hot when I were a lad, therefore climate looming Federal election, one has to wonder what the point will change isn’t happening’ - apologies to Monty Python. be using the platform to sway voters’ opinions. Given 14 per cent of voters switching their political allegiances On social media confirmation bias manifests as people tend to could actually affect an election dramatically, perhaps that’s follow others with similar views to their own – or at least avoiding not a bad result. Though it’s not unreasonable to question the those whose attitudes diametrically opposed to their own – and accuracy of that 14 per cent figure, given interviewee bias may these would include clicking on advertisements likely to present have played a role. Who wants to admit to being narrow-minded, information contrary to their views. 10 11
As any time spent on Twitter reveals, I often receive sponsored tweets from Nevertheless, as the last US Presidential As political and social psychologists Lee most tweet threads or conversations political parties, probably because I follow election demonstrated, political parties De-Wit, Cameron Brick, and Sander are generally people in passionate many politicians and political journalists. are willing to invest vast sums in micro- Van Der Linden argued recently “social agreement with each other. Any targeting voters they think could be media, it seems, amp up moral and The comments under such ads are full contrary view is shouted down, with the receptive to their social media messages. emotional messages while organising of vitriol from people triggered by what poor soul daring to swim against the tide people into digital communities based they read and angry that Twitter would Crafted carefully – or to use the blocked by those whose beliefs have on tribal conflicts”. dare to poison their otherwise politically technical term, framed – to appeal been attacked. pure feed. to existing prejudices, these targeted And alarmingly, research shows that Or to use the current term du jour they advertisements do work. even if people are exposed to contrary In an academic paper published in are ‘cancelled’. views on Twitter, they either retain their 2016, Walter Quattrociocchi, Antonio People use frames to locate, perceive, existing opinions or their views harden. "If you're black and still support Donald Scala, and Cass Sunstein found evidence identify, and label information. Social Trump, you are forever cancelled" -@ that social media users are drawn to psychologist Erving Goffman and A team of sociologists and political alejandro_dn98 information that strengthens their sociologist William A. Gamson describe scientists at Duke University in North opinions and reject information that frames as devices that help individuals Carolina last year conducted a field As University of Arkansas student undermines them. organize their experiences, tools they experiment that offered a large group Thomas Maunakea recently wrote: use to make meaning of events. of Democrats and Republicans financial Samidh Chakrabarti, Product Manager, “The only next logical step from compensation to follow bots that Civic Engagement at Facebook argues However, in a country where voting is someone being deemed ‘cancelled’ by retweeted messages by elected officials “that makes bursting these bubbles compulsory (Australia), it’s questionable a group is for them to actually receive and opinion leaders with opposing hard because it requires pushing against whether they are as effective as in physical or mental harm from that same 'Cancelled': Comedian and actor Kevin political views. deeply ingrained human instincts”. countries where heading to the polling group. ‘Cancelling’ someone is akin to Hart stepped down from his role as booth is voluntary (the US and UK). In “Republican participants expressed putting them on a faux hit-list.” “Research shows that some obvious Oscars' host after decade-old tweets the latter, they can target people who substantially more conservative views ideas — like showing people an article surfaced in which he appeared to make People therefore avoid engaging directly agree with the message, with the aim of after following a liberal Twitter bot, from an opposing perspective — could a homophobic joke. with people who hold a contrary view, motivating them to vote. whereas Democrats’ attitudes became actually make us dig in even more.” even if politely trying to present an slightly more liberal after following a In the US, studies have found different alternative view. So where does that leave social media as conservative Twitter bot—although this political parties use different frames a tool to change people’s voting intentions. effect was not statistically significant,” Inevitably, people are reading posts around hot-button issues. the study’s authors reported. from users who have similar attitudes Yes, there are thousands of undecided Give us a follow? Scott Morrison's and Bill For instance, Republicans frame abortion and values. voters out there ready to be persuaded. Shorten's teams are active on Twitter. discussions around the baby or child and As with much around social media, US Marketing expert, Heather A paid Facebook or Twitter post is one specific abortion procedures by using more research is required, and ideas Satterfield, argues social media may way to communicate with them, especially words such as ‘baby’ and ‘procedure,’ tested before we truly understand how reinforce people’s opinions and make among audiences that has abandoned while Democrats frame the same issue best to use the platform as a tool for it more difficult for them to entertain traditional advertising channels: around women and choice by using political persuasion. alternative points of view. commercial television, radio, newspapers. words such as ‘women’ and ‘right’. Still, with an increasing number of “In politics, it can help to make people However, unlike social media, a But if, as many argue, social media swinging voters in Australia, perhaps more opinionated and less tolerant of television advertisement isn’t is polarising political debate, the others,” Satterfield says. immediately followed by hundreds people do wish to be persuaded to vote effectiveness of social media as persuasive of vitriolic tweeters triggered by a one way or the other and social media Occasionally, a thread can be a genuine perceived malediction, assembled tool with voters may be diminishing. is their primary source of information. • conversation with counter views in your loungeroom rubbishing the expressed and politely discussed and political message. dismissed. But these are rare gems in On social media platforms, the the otherwise ugly street warfare of effectiveness of your message can be social media. undermined by the response it generates. 12 13
A GUIDE 2020 US Democrats: The New Guard
JOHN DELANEY KAMALA HARRIS BETO O’ROURKE Former Maryland Congressman Former California Attorney General & Former US Congressman from Texas Our in-house authority on American politics, Account Manager Isabelle Walker runs us through Current Senator for California Relentlessly bipartisan, Delaney You’d be forgiven for being confused some of the contenders in the already wide field of Democrat candidates ahead of the 2020 US believes America needs to unify. He’s She is respected by both the conservative about his name – Robert Francis "Beto" presidential election. an entrepreneur worth $100 million, wing and the grassroots wing of the O'Rourke is of Irish decent but an El Paso so campaign finance won’t be an Democratic Party. She is a woman of native. issue. He believes in a “more just form colour (born to Jamaican and Tamil He surprised many, including those of capitalism”. His signature policy Indian parents) and educated at Howard in-the-know, when he nearly toppled is a national youth service program. University, a historically black university PETE BUTTIGIEG (PRONOUNCED VP Mike Pence and “more military Republican stalwart Ted Cruz in the According to his campaign website, he in Washington, D.C. She has received BOOT-EDGE-EDGE) experience than anybody to walk into November 2018 US Senate Race for would implement a program that would several endorsements from well-known [the Oval Office] since George H W Texas. He had a large showing on social Mayor, South Bend Indiana give all high school graduates three progressives. Interestingly, while she has Bush.” media and impressed many with his town A self-described Maltese American, left options to participate in national service: built a successful career as a prosecutor, He’s also Harvard educated, a concert hall performances. O’Rourke is a former handed, Episcopalian, gay, war veteran, military service; community service; or she is opposed to the death penalty. pianist, and speaks eight languages (one congressman and has a huge grassroot mayor, millennial. infrastructure apprenticeships. being Norwegian, which he learned Her signature policy is to provide up to backing that saw him raise $60m in 2018 Mayor Pete, as he’s known (due so he could read more books by his $500 per month in tax cuts to working – his campaign says it raised more than to complications arising from the favourite author). families by ending Trump’s tax cuts to $6m in the first 24 hours. pronunciation of his last name), has big business. His signature policy is the abolition of His signature policy is one of immigration recently burst onto the scene as a the Electoral College (EC). The EC is the reform which is he says is based on little-known councillor from a small system that is used to elect the President “respect and dignity”. city in Indiana called South Bend and Vice President. It is consistently (home to Notre Dame University). He is criticised for being undemocratic and campaigning on traditional Democratic resulting in candidates winning the values, prioritising “freedom to” over popular vote but failing to win the “freedom from”. He backs his eligibility, Presidency (cough, Hillary, cough, despite his age (37), saying he has more Trump). government experience than current 14 15
CORY BOOKER TULSI GABBARD JOE BIDEN ELIZABETH WARREN BERNIE SANDERS Former Mayor of Newark, New Jersey; Current US House Representative from Former Vice President; Former Senator Senior Senator from Massachusetts Senator from Vermont Current Junior Senator for New Jersey Hawaii; former Hawaii State Legislature from Delaware (’73-09); Barack Obama Elizabeth Warren is a former lawyer and Feel the bern. Representative BFF Cory Booker has one of the most liberal academic, having taught at UPenn and Bernie Sanders has been accused of voting records in the Senate. He believes Gabbard is the first Hindu to serve in Former Vice President Joe Biden hasn’t Harvard Law. She has held advisory roles killing Hillary’s chances of 2016 glory in federal marijuana legalisation and the US House of Representatives. She’s put his hand up, and at 76 years old it’s for the government, most importantly after demolishing her credibility in the criminal justice reform, while working also 37. She is a former representative in seeming more and more unlikely that helping to launch the Consumer Financial primaries and catalysing a huge base with Kamala Harris to make lynching a the Hawaii State Legislature, a position it will happen. Biden has always been Protection Bureau in the fallout from the of natural young democrats to abstain hate crime. she was elected to at 21 – the youngest a fiercely bipartisan Statesman, and 2008 Financial Crisis. She campaigned from voting. woman ever to be elected to a US state someone who seems an antidote to the fiercely at the time for more stringent His signature policy is to establish legislature, and youngest person in divisive nature of the US right now. He is, banking regulations. His signature policies are for universal American Opportunity Accounts. These Hawaii’s history. She left the Legislature by his own admission, the most qualified healthcare and free university education. accounts would be opened for a child Warren’s signature policy is a wealth after finding out she could not serve from person in the country to be President. He also believes in placing a 77 per cent at birth and would receive interest and tax that would be imposed annually on Iraq, where she was stationed during her His affability makes him a popular figure tax on estates in excess of $1 billion, additional funds each year depending ultra-millionaires to pay for universal time in the Hawaii Army National Guard. in the world of US politics, and his best raising $315 billion for government on family income (poorer children to free or low-cost childcare. Under her mate Barack would certainly be good coffers over a decade. receive more). At 18, children would Gabbard has come under fire for plan, fortunes greater than $50m would counsel. access the accounts to pay for a home or refusing to label Syrian dictator Bashar be taxed at two percent. Billionaires Despite his huge following, Bernie for educational expenses. Al-Assad as an adversary and has been However, Biden has been the subject would pay three percent. The proposal is considered by many Democrats a condemned for her previously anti- of accusations from a few women who has greater than 60 percent support and nuisance and too socialist. However, he LGBTQI views. Her eligibility may also have felt he is too tactile, to the point of would raise $2.75 trillion over 10 years. continues to enjoy a stranglehold on the come into question given she was born making them extremely uncomfortable. Millennial vote. • Warren has recently come under fire in American Samoa, not in the US proper. VP Biden has since apologised for this, for exaggerating her family’s history All images have been sourced from saying he will actively work to keep to Cherokee Indians, earning the then artist DonkeyHotey through Creative a respectable distance from women nickname “Pocahontas”. Commons. in the future. Many have pointed out that this will likely sink any chance of a Presidential tilt, but only time will tell. 16 17
CLIENT CAMPAIGN In Canberra, dozens of politicians wore Social media the Blue Heart pin and several MPs made a speech in support of Blue Heart and Youth Insearch. These included: influencers and Minister Paul Fletcher, Assistant Minister Michelle Landry, Alex Hawke, federal politicians Julian Leeser, and Barnaby Joyce. Labor members Tanya Plibersek, Terri Butler, don blue hearts to Cathy O’Toole, Patrick Gorman, and Mike Kelly (among others) wore their fight youth suicide Blue Heart pins with pride. Together with Youth Insearch, we created a dedicated Blue Heart web page on the Youth Insearch website. The web page is a hub of information and resources, encouraging people to talk about youth suicide openly and giving them the tools to do so. The Youth Insearch website experienced a 142 per cent increase in visits. The Hon. Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Families and Social Services Through the influencers, politicians, and corporate supporters, Youth Insearch’s message of hope was seen by approximately: • 273,383 people on Instagram. • 118,605 people on Facebook. Wells Haslem Mayhew helped client Youth Insearch to send parliament and social media blue, • 127,500 people on Twitter. raising awareness of youth suicide. Account Manager Stav Pisk explains. The campaign forged stronger relationships between Youth Insearch and parliamentarians.
On 13 February, Youth Insearch launched its Blue Heart campaign We worked in partnership with IPREX Partner InsideOut PR to Many of the influencers involved to raise awareness of youth suicide. reach online communities. InsideOut PR’s #AsSeenOnScreen will continue their partnerships with influencer management branch connected us to various bloggers Youth Insearch. Suicide is the biggest killer of Australians aged 15 to 24. in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, parenting, wellness, and food. Blue Heart sparked conversations about Wells Haslem Mayhew helped Youth Insearch spread its message The influencer campaign was implemented in two phases. In youth suicide online and in Canberra, of hope to thousands of people across Australia. shining a light on Youth Insearch’s work phase one, influencers shared photos of themselves wearing to prevent it. • The aim of the campaign was to activate people to start white tees with a big blue heart on the front. The accompanying a conversation on youth suicide, breaking the stigma and captions were elusive, encouraging their followers to tune in the To learn more about Blue Heart head to encouraging young people to seek help. following week. www.youthinsearch.org.au/blueheart Top to bottom: model Melanie Jarnson; Blue Heart was a truly integrated campaign. We leveraged the journalist and actor Julie Snook & Hugo Meanwhile, Youth Insearch supporters Julian Leeser MP and the Johnstone-Burt; bloggers Brisbane power of social media influencers to target young people and Hon. Linda Burney MP helped distribute Blue Heart pins to their the gravitas of federal politicians to target the wider community. Food Lovers party colleagues. We wanted to reach young people from all walks of life, across Page opposite: Minister for Families On 13 February, social media and Parliament House were the country, and so we approached influencers to help spread and Social Services the Hon. Paul awareness. Blue Heart influencers included journalists Julie coloured blue. This was phase two: the big reveal. Influencers Fletcher wears the Blue Heart pin Snook (Channel 9) and Lisa Hamilton (MTV), comedian and revealed the meaning of their initial post, explaining the presenter Ciaran Lyons (Triple J), sports personality Phil Gould, Blue Heart campaign and turning followers to the Blue Heart actors Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Ezekiel Simat, and model web page. Melanie Jarnson. 18 19
OPINION
New trends in The manager said: “We know you and your wife are having a hard time with the robbery, please accept these banking? Answering from our staff, with our best wishes.”
brickbats with We don’t know if this is a bank-wide approach or a local initiative – the bouquets manager and the banking officer are smart young women – and we do understand that no amount of flowers will solve all the Big Four’s problems.
But we’ll remember this flower arrangement in a way that we won’t any of Westpac’s promotions or those of competitors trying to coax our business.
In the harsh post-Hayne climate, when customer trust and goodwill are scarce, the big banks need more of this kind of ground-level thinking. •
Associate Director Kathy Lindsay had her house broken into several weeks ago, and it set off a chain of events that started her and her family thinking - has the Royal Commission already begun to change the behaviour of our banks?
Ever had flowers from your bank manager? Well, just And a sensible place to start the reconciliation the other week my family did – and it set us wondering. process, it seems to us, is at the branches, the one place they regularly deal face-to-face with clients. After decades of running down local branch networks while shovelling retail business into call centres, online We had a home robbery last month – the second in three services and virtual assistants, are the major banks years – and, as we do our insurance through Westpac beginning to see face-to-face banking as at least one as well as our banking, my husband walked up the road way of humanising their relations with customers? to the local branch to get some help lodging the claim.
After their reputational trashing at the hands of the Hayne When he returned the next day with some additional detail for royal commission last year, it’s clear the big four banks need the claim, the personal banking officer went out the back and as a matter of priority to mend fences with retail customers. returned with her branch manager and a bouquet of flowers. 20 21
CONTRIBUTOR Rongji. But now, more than at any time more, it could help get it into a deeper in the country’s history, Australia needs relationship with China as a strategic Strong Australia- a relationship with China “comparable partner. with that which we have, or seek, with For a long time, Australia has avoided the other major powers”. China relations issue of never having to choose between Fitzgerald maintains that there is nothing the U.S. and China. When Australia was important for anti-American in Australia being a close invited to become a founding member friend of Beijing, helping to interpret U.S. of the Asian Infrastructure Investment maintaining trade President Trump, working with China, Bank (AIIB) with an opportunity to be together with other Asian countries, on involved in making its rules, and the U.S. flow torrent constructive, conflict-avoiding strategies sought to prevent it, Australia vacillated, against disaster. trying not to choose, then chose China eventually. Two areas that Australia can immediately bring its expertise in helping China would It was just economic, it said. But the be Asia-Pacific trade agreements and lesson, which is surely political, is that climate change – both areas in which there are issues on which Australia must China is willing to offer leadership. choose China. Then there’s the big one: One Belt With trade with China (A$194.6 billion) One Road. Australia can choose to accounting for more than the combined support and participate in this. This amount with Japan and the United States would assist Australia to take advantage (A$147.8 billion) it would be illogical not of the economic opportunities, but to do so. •
David Croasdale and Maggie Chan from Wells Haslem Mayhew IPREX Partner, Newell PR, has provides a fascinating insight into why Australia-China trade relations are so important.
According to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Beijing, the Chinese government vowed to stimulate growth to Top to bottom: David Croasdale, (DFAT), China was the Australia's largest individual two-way counter the effects of the trade war, and maintain growth in the Managing Director of Newell; Maggie goods and services trading partner in 2017-18, accounting for 6.5 per cent range for 2019. Don’t be surprised if this growth Chan, China Director of Newell 24.4 per cent (A$194.6 billion) of total trade.* rate is exceeded. Japan was the second largest, with 9.7 per cent (A$77.6 billion), It is important that Australia maintains good relations with China followed by the United States, with 8.8 per cent (A$70.2 billion). and makes an effort to deepen them. These were the words of former Australian ambassador to China, Stephen Fitzgerald who China was Australia’s largest export destination (valued at recognised that, more so than the United States, Australia “is A$123.3 billion) and import source (valued at A$71.3 billion). living in a Chinese world”. Despite trade tensions with the United States, China continues to By this, he meant that it is important to have a strong maintain healthy growth as an export destination for Australia. relationship with China, balancing out long-standing ties with China has sustained a strong 6.6 percent annual economic the United States (and the West), and that can only be done with growth over the past year**, and in 2017-18 Australian exports engagement at the top. grew 12.1 per cent over 2016-17. Fitzgerald argues that at prime minister level, Australia came Top Australian exports include iron ore and concentrates (A$61.4 some way towards this in the 1980s with Bob Hawke, who billion in 2017-18), coal (A$60.4 billion), education related spent many days in the company of Chinese leaders, listening, services (A$32.4billion), natural gas (A$30.9 billion) and personal learning and persuading. So much so, that the British and U.S. travel (excl. education) A$21.6 billion. ambassadors in Beijing apparently complained that the Chinese These goods and services are precisely the same as what China leaders spent more time thinking about Australia, than about demands. any other country. There is no indication of a dramatic slow-down in China’s He goes onto to say that this type of closeness has not existed, economy. Indeed, at the recent two sessions political conference except briefly between Paul Keating and Vice Premier Zhu IPREX Highlights 22 23 Wells Haslem Mayhew is a member of IPREX, a US$350m network of communications agencies, with 115 offices worldwide.
Through our membership of the IPREX global communications network, our clients can access 1,800 staff in 115 offices worldwide. Below is an overview of recent activity amongst our IPREX members.
MOWER MOVES UP TO TOP 3 IN 2019 U.S. ALTEZZA COMMUNICATIONS JOINS IPREX FRENCH/WEST/VAUGHAN LEADS ALL AWARD-WINNING AM O’SULLIVAN PR ORCA WINS $34 MILLION GERMAN INFLUENCESUITE JOINS IPREX GLOBAL B2B AGENCIES BENCHMARKING REPORT GLOBAL COMMUNICATION PLATFORM WINNERS AT TRIANGLE AMERICAN JOINS IPREX GLOBAL COMMUNICATION GOVERNMENT CONTRACT COMMUNICATION PLATFORM ADVERTISING AWARDS WITH FIVE TOP PLATFORM Mower, one of the largest independent Altezza Communications, a public ORCA Group – including IPREX partners HONORS, TAKES 14 OVERALL InfluenceSuite, a consumer and corporate marketing, advertising and public relations, marketing and communications AM O’Sullivan PR Ltd., the Cork- ORCA Affairs and ORCA van Loon – have communications agency with headquarters relations agencies in the U.S., moved up agency with headquarters in Moscow is French/West/Vaughan (FWV) led all headquartered strategic communications won a four-year framework PR contract for in Madrid, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal, is to the number 3 spot on the 2019 US B2B now a partner in IPREX. winners in the prestigious Gold and Judges agency, has become a partner in IPREX. the Federal German Ministry of Interior. This Agencies Benchmarking Report ranked Choice categories at the 2018/2019 Triangle They join Dublin-based Walsh:PR to now a partner in IPREX. Established in 2006, Altezza is the largest such contract ever tendered by by B2Bmarketing.net. Mower has been a American Advertising Awards, claiming five broaden the range of IPREX coverage in Communications operates throughout the German government. With more than 30 years of communications fixture in the business-to-business listing’s of the evening’s top honors and 14 overall. Ireland. Russia and the Commonwealth of and marketing experience, InfluenceSuite’s top 5 since its inception, ranking third in With a budget of up to $34 million, ORCA Independent States (CIS) helping clients The Gold category honors the highest level Founded in 2015, AM O’Sullivan PR provides Chief Executive Officer, Mayte González- 2017 and fourth in 2018. will be undertaking a wide range of work for build positive reputations, promote goods of creative achievement across the various strategy and crisis communications, digital the government. There will be a wide range Gil, and Senior Partner, Ana Paula Salguerio, Mower has created a number of award- and clearly communicate with external classes of competition. FWV campaigns public relations, event management, of work – consulting and implementation in are providing consumer communication winning B2B campaigns in recent years and internal stakeholders. The agency has on behalf of Wrangler Jeans and the J. media relations, internal communications, online marketing, the design of initiatives and marketing, corporate communication, internal communication, training, research for Domtar Paper, Buckman OnSite® and expertise in corporate public relations, Peterman Company were the top winners, reputation management and stakeholder and programs, advice on the development and measurement services to the entire Freightliner Trucks as well as its work with fast-moving consumer goods, travel and engagement services. and implementation of communication, and Detroit, the trucking components division hospitality, real estate and premium advertising. Iberian Peninsula. • of Daimler Trucks North America. alcohol and luxury goods communications. 24 25
Wells Haslem Mayhew team
JOHN WELLS, BENJAMIN HASLEM, ALEXANDRA MAYHEW KATHY LINDSAY, ISABELLE WALKER, STAV PISK, LARISSA JAFFÉ, JULIE SIBRAA, TRACEY JARVIS, KATE MAYHEW, CHAIRMAN Co-CEO HILLS, Co-CEO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ACCOUNT MANAGER ACCOUNT MANAGER ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SPECIAL COUNSEL DIGITAL CONSULTANT SPECIAL COUNSEL Larissa recently graduated For the past 25 Years John Benjamin has over 20 Alexandra is a founding Kathy has extensive Isabelle completed Stav holds a Bachelor of Julie Sibraa has 20 years Tracey has joined Wells Kate draws on over a from the University of was a founding partner years’ experience in the Partner of Wells Haslem communications a Bachelor of Arts Arts (Professional Writing public policy experience Haslem Mayhew to create decade of experience Technology Sydney with and senior consultant media. Mayhew. She is also the experience working in Asia. (Government and and Publishing) and in both the government the digital arm of services working in journalism in one of Australia’s She was previously head of International Relations) at Bachelor of Commerce a Bachelor of Arts in and private sectors, with a for the company. and communications Ben worked at Jackson IPREX Asia-Pacific (APAC) leading public relations internal communications, the University of Sydney. (Public Relations) from Communication (Public deep understanding of the to provide high-level Wells for nine years, where President. companies, Jackson Wells. Asia-Pacific, at Lehman Curtin University. She Communication). workings of government, She has an extensive strategic advice and he managed and worked Isabelle works closely with Working in public relations is particularly skilled at While completing her including parliamentary background in marketing support. Prior to that John’s career on complex projects and Brothers, Tokyo and was her clients, specialising throughout the last writing for a variety of studies, Larissa undertook and legislative processes, and 10 years experience embraced journalism at became a Director and a member of corporate in government relations, Kate started her career decade, Alexandra has audiences across different several internships working and the importance of in digital marketing. She the most senior levels in CEO. transition team during client advocacy and with UNICEF Australia. built her skill set during the platforms, ensuring the in PR agencies, start-ups communicating the need, Australia and overseas. He Nomura Holding’s most recently, media will be helping WHM to In this role she raised At Wells Haslem he has period of the fastest change right messages reach objectives and benefits of has extensive experience acquisition of the global relations. She continues and social enterprise. integrate PR campaigns awareness of UNICEF’s managed and worked on and growth the industry the right people. Stav policy reform to the public. in media management in banking giant. to strengthen her Her passion for for further reach through work across all forms of projects for The Smith has ever experienced. assists clients with their both television and radio, She also worked in relationships with all social change led to In 2008, Julie joined the digital tactics. media including print, Family, thyssenkrupp This has allowed her digital and social media has provided policy advice business development for levels of government, her undertaking an office of the Premier of online, television and Marine Systems, to build a robust skill needs, managing online to Federal political leaders PwC Indonesia's energy providing her clients international internship NSW as Senior Adviser Tracey set-up her own radio. Kate managed Sonartech Atlas, the set suited to today’s campaigns to grow and offers public affairs and mining business and with consistently positive with 40K Globe, a social for Transport and digital marketing agency UNICEF’s celebrity Black Dog Institute, dynamic communications audience and influence, consulting. as executive director of the outcomes. enterprise based in Infrastructure, later that nine years ago working ambassador program Alexion Pharmaceutical, environment. Alexandra as well as offering sound Australian-Thai Chamber Bangalore, India. year becoming Chief with clients such as Philips, and was responsible for is as comfortable in the advice during times of In early 1992, the two Silver Chain, Swiss Re, of Commerce. In February 2017, of Staff to the newly accompanying celebrities crisis. Larissa enjoys writing and Navman, Mazda, Smartline established Jackson Wells NHFIC, EFIC, ASIC, AMP, boardroom providing Kathy previously worked as Wells Haslem Mayhew appointed NSW Treasurer. and media on international C-suite advice to blue is particularly skilled at Mortgage Brokers, Terry with Keith Jackson. Blacktown City Council, an adviser in Victoria and sent Isabelle to the Stav is particularly In June 2009 Julie returned field trips to promote Fairview Architectural, chip organisations as she IPREX Global Leaders producing content across White Chemists, Hong In 2012, John joined with NSW state governments. passionate about to the Federal government UNICEF’s humanitarian Port Authority of NSW and is creating video for start- Conference in Paris – an a variety of platforms. Kong Tourism, Cathay former Jackson Wells conservation and social as Deputy Chief of Staff work. Zurich Australia. ups, or optimising digital annual event designed to She has a thorough Pacific and more. colleagues to establish justice, and has a keen to the Minister for platforms. develop up-to-the-minute understanding of social Wells Haslem, now Wells Ben possesses an interest in government Employment Participation. knowledge and skills for media, content creation Haslem Mayhew. acute understanding of Alexandra has board relations, stakeholder emerging agency leaders. and takes a keen interest Between September 2016 mainstream media, having experience with charity engagement, and crisis John retires as Chairman in international and and May 2018, Julie held spent the best part of a technology start-up management. at the end of 2018 but will Australian politics. the position of Director of decade working for The OnNow, The Sydney Peace continue to consult for the Governance for the NSW Australian newspaper in firm. Foundation, and the UN Branch of the Australian Sydney, Canberra and Young Professionals. Labor Party. Melbourne. Alexandra has a communications degree from Charles Sturt University. 26 27
Affiliates and counsel
KERRY SIBRAA, ROB MASTERS, JOHN KANANGHINIS, RON EDWARDS, CHRIS BOWEN, SPECIAL COUNSEL MELBOURNE COUNSEL MELBOURNE COUNSEL WA COUNSEL NSW AFFILIATE RMK + Associates is a John has close to 30 years’ Ron is one of WA’s most Chris is an investor Kerry’s career has strategic communication experience in strategic respected government relations and corporate embraced the highest and stakeholder communication planning relations specialists, marketing professional levels of Australian political engagement consultancy. and implementation both enjoying an excellent with extensive financial life and the cutting edge Since its inception, its as a consultant and as a working relationship with services knowledge of business development. approach to strategic senior executive within all sides of politics. gained from over 25 He was an ALP Senator for communication programs, highly successful multi- From 1983-1993, he was years’ experience working NSW for 19 years, including community consultation national companies. Federal MP for the Perth across different sectors President of the Australian and stakeholder John has been electorate of Stirling. Prior of the financial services Senate from 1987 until engagement processes Managing Director of to leaving parliament, Ron industry – predominantly Left to right: Shannon Fisher, Managing Director of IPSTAR, one Wells Haslem Mayhew's newest clients, with Associate Director Kathy Lindsay on the way retiring from Parliament in have earned it a reputation a leading Australasian was Deputy Speaker. superannuation; to Budget Night 2019. Co-CEO Alexandra Mayhew Hills; Account Manager Stav Pisk; Account Manager Isabelle Walker; Account Executive Larissa Jaffe; and 1994 to become Australia’s of being at the leading communication In 2006 he was awarded a investments and wealth Associate Director Kathy Lindsay after the UN Women International Women's Day 2019 Breakfast. Account Manager Isabelle Walker; Account Executive Larissa High Commissioner to edge of communication consultancy and has almost PhD in Education from the management and advice. Jaffe; Co-CEO Benjamin Haslem; Associate Director Kathy Lindsay; Chairman John Wells; Account Manager Stav Pisk wearing the Blue Heart t-shirts in support Zimbabwe and six other management for over 30 two decades of senior University of WA, which Working with diverse of our client, Youth Insearch. southern African nations. years. corporate experience investigated factors that stakeholder groups He is a former director of Rob’s services and clients through his roles as General promote social inclusion. including shareholders, Zimbabwe Platinum Mines cover the energy sector Manager of Marketing Ron is a keen AFL fan and investors, financial and World IT. (oil, gas, coal), electricity, & Communications for in 1994 helped established intermediaries and the CONTACT From 2003 to 2010 he forestry, government BMW Australia and Sales The Graham (Polly) Farmer media, Chris’ focus served the Government (federal, state, local) water, & Marketing Director for Foundation. He has been on delivering results Wells Haslem Mayhew of the Republic of finance, automotive, Scania Australia. a Board member since its has consistently been +61 2 8904 9991 Mozambique as their health and health John studied law at Victoria inception. demonstrated by the Honorary Consul-General [email protected] research, pharmaceutical, University, Wellington and Ron, who has extensive ability to build and protect whmspa.com.au in Australia. education, transport (road is also holds a Diploma in experience in the fisheries corporate reputations, In 1996, he was awarded and rail), information Business Communications and mining sectors, assists establish and maintain L2 65 Walker Street an Order of Australia. technology, primary from Massey University in Wells Haslem clients strong stakeholder (PO Box 1020) industry, environment and New Zealand. communicate with the relations externally North Sydney NSW 2060 retail. WA State Government and and internally, manage Federal MPs and Senators communications in both Twitter: @WellsHaslem based in WA. normal operational periods Find us on: Facebook, LinkedIn as well as crisis situations, Designed and produced by Wells Haslem Strategic plus help to turbo-charge the growth of businesses. Public Affairs PTY LTD April 2019