Yes campaign’s in deplorable territory. These seven ideas can save it

Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

Seven years ago, Hilary Clinton said three words that changed the world. She described supporters of Donald Trump as a “basket of deplorables”. It was the turning point in an election she should have won easily, but lost narrowly. It was the moment Clinton, from her own lips, appeared to confirm everything the Republicans said about her: that she was the face of a condescending political elite which could scarcely conceal its contempt for ordinary voters.

Hillary Clinton called her political opponents ‘deplorables’. It was a turning point in the 2016 US presidential campaign.Credit: Bloomberg

I was reminded of Clinton’s history-changing faux pas when the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Linda Burney, likened the No campaign to the Trump campaign. Her message resembled Clinton’s: if you’re not on my side, you’re just a bunch of dumb, borderline-racist rednecks. That is no way to win an argument.

It’s no wonder, given such incompetent advocacy, that support for Yes is fast losing altitude. Opinion polls show fewer than half of Australians now say they will vote Yes. Historically, undecided voters at referenda mostly default to No.

So, here are seven suggestions how to turn it around.

First, stop insulting the people you need to persuade. The government seems to have forgotten that in every constitutional referendum, the burden of persuasion is on those wanting change. It has, in fact, reversed the onus – asserting that the Voice is a self-evidently good thing, and demanding opponents or sceptics justify themselves. Scathing attacks on the No case are not just the opposite of the “respectful” debate Anthony Albanese has said he wants; they are an insult to everyone who is not (yet) persuaded that the Voice is a good idea. Burney is an unconvincing advocate at the best of times. As for Noel Pearson – is it any wonder that No campaigners are over the moon every time he opens his mouth? An angry, self-righteous proponent is never as persuasive as a courteous, methodical critic.

Voice advocates Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and activist Noel Pearson.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Second, quit the moral bullying. The wisdom of constitutional change is something about which reasonable people can differ. It is not about whose motives are purer or who is a better person. Burney captured the morally hectoring tone of the Yes campaign last week when she channelled not Clinton this time, but Michelle Obama: “When they go low, we go high.” People who are sceptical about the Voice are not taking the low road; they are merely exhibiting the same constitutional conservatism which has seen 36 of 44 referenda fail.

Third, at least pretend the debate is a level playing field.

If this is to be an authentic national debate, both sides must be heard. Yet so far, virtually all we have had from the political establishment and its surrogates in business, sporting organisations, public broadcasters, churches and NGOs has been advocacy for the Yes case. Does anyone who watches the ABC have any doubt that it is barracking for Yes (notwithstanding its charter obligation of political neutrality)? I suspect one of the very reasons support for Yes is sinking is because Australians don’t like having the establishment force its view down our throats. We are famously contrary whenever we are told by politicians and community “leaders” what we ought to think.

Next, dump the celebrities. During the marriage equality campaign in 2017, we adopted what we jokingly called the “no Cate Blanchetts rule”. We built the case around everyday Australians: parents, grandparents, friends and workmates of gay people. The public can’t stand being on the receiving end of patronising lectures about civic virtue by wealthy actors and sanctimonious, entitled celebrities.

Also, be transparent. Last year, I argued in this column that only transparency can save the Voice. At least 30 per cent of people tell pollsters they do not understand it. These are rich pickings for the No campaign’s key argument: if you don’t understand it, don’t vote for it. This problem would be eliminated if the government published an exposure draft of the bill it plans to put to parliament if the referendum passes. I know from my own previous experience there is absolutely no doubt that, by this stage, a draft would already exist within the Attorney-General’s Department. Publish it, or the argument that the government is hiding something will not go away.

Voice advocates should also be prepared to compromise, if that’s what it takes.

Many prominent supporters of Yes, like Julian Leeser and Father Frank Brennan, have suggested modest amendments which would allay the concerns of many. Rather than giving these proposals respectful consideration, they were dismissed out of hand. Arrogance like that it sends a message that the government is not interested in listening to anyone else. The more intransigent Albanese becomes, the more he will drive undecideds into the No column.

Finally, the Yes campaign needs to remember it’s not about personalities. There seems to be an assumption that the proposal will sail home partly because of Peter Dutton’s unpopularity. Yet the current support for No is almost twice Dutton’s approval rating. The public will see right through cute attempts to make this a popularity contest. They know it is a serious proposal for important constitutional change and expect it to be treated accordingly – not as a political Punch and Judy show.

I do not expect advocates for Yes will adopt any of these suggestions. And if – as looks increasingly likely – the referendum fails, they will blame everyone but themselves for running such a terrible, tone-deaf campaign.

George Brandis is a former Australian high commissioner to the UK. He served as attorney-general in the Abbott and Turnbull governments.

The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.

Most Viewed in Politics

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article