Transparency, Honesty, Relatability (“I can relate to that!”): these are the three essentials for good communication. What does that tell us about our politicians?
Then, of course, there are the 3Cs (to be clear, concise, and consistent).
Simplistic? Yes. Is it a useful guide for leaders? Also, yes.
Pauline Hanson
With a 26% approval rating on one poll, Pauline Hanson has the advantage of having been in politics for 30 years.
But never in government, she keeps her messaging to three main ideas: immigration, government spending, and an energy policy that works for householders.
Hanson has held the same views for three decades, and a portion of the electorate likes it.
So, does her communication meet the three essentials above? Yes to all three. And on the 3 Cs: clear, concise consistent? Yes.
Sussan Ley
The high-order leadership of a Menzies or Howard – ‘values’ of the individual, the family, hard work – is not evident when she speaks. Her communications focus is on the internal spat.
Why did she become confused with passing the post Bondi massacre legislation – are these hate laws, antisemitism laws, anti-extremism, anti-religion laws? This should have been the government’s headache, not Sussan Ley’s.
So how does she rate on the three essentials above? She scores one out of the three essentials, honest. And on clear, concise, consistent? Zero.
David Littleproud
It is poor communications to throw your toys out of the cot, and then say you won’t communicate. When Littleproud broke the Coalition and refused to discuss it saying there can be no team until the leader changes, this is not a form of leadership that Australians relate to.
He has the added pressure of abandoning the net-zero emissions target, when the majority want it.
We know what Littleproud doesn’t like. But he has no cut-through on what he likes.
So, on the three essentials above? Zero. And on clear/concise/consistent? Zero.
Barnaby Joyce
Joyce has a unique communications style, using down-home examples to illustrate macro policy.
He is a ‘retail politician’: love him or loathe him, he has the three essentials: what you see is what you get and he speaks what a lot of people think.
However, there is hypocrisy: having held Ministerial portfolios, he fails on loyalty. Aussies don’t like it, and it spills into his personal life.
So, on how does he rate on the three essentials above? Yes to all three. He scores only two of the 3 Cs; he is seen as erratic.
Anthony Albanese
The Prime Minister is not a perfect communicator, but he has the discipline and wisdom to ‘shut up and take the win’. As the Opposition factions fight, the PM stays mum.
Still, Albo has major communications fails: for example, pursuing The Indigenous Voice when bipartisan support was a known prerequisite, with the added negative of a divided indigenous voice.
And his chain-dragging on an antisemitism Royal Commission? Inconsistent and just plain confusing.
Albo is not a strong communicator like Hawke, Keating and Howard. But he is likable.
So how does he rate on the three essentials above? No to being transparent and relatable on some big issues. And on the 3 Cs? Not so clear or consistent.
