Upcoming elections bring opportunities, and uncertainty, for business
Seven Word Summary: Elections bring opportunities, and uncertainty, for business.
Over the coming months, West Australians will have the opportunity (and indeed the obligation) to participate in two elections.
Firstly – a State election which is scheduled to be held on 8 March. This will be quickly followed by a Federal election, expected to be held before May – the timing of which is at the discretion of the Prime Minister.
And both of these polls come hard on the heels of a US election that attracted blanket media coverage in Australia and indeed around the world.
For political “junkies” this is something approaching heaven.
But for most voters, it can all seem a bit overwhelming.
Many businesses and organisations can be left wondering what does it all mean, and does the outcome even really matter?
There are a number of ways the election process can impact your business, including:
Your sector may be impacted directly by policy changes (for better or worse), while more broadly, any movements in economic policies can impact virtually all Australian organisations, leaving your customers with more or less money in their wallets.
Perhaps your business is seeking, or indeed relies upon, government contracts. State and Federal governments are big spenders across a very wide range of goods and services, and therefore are vital customers for many organisations.
At the pointy end of the political process, some businesses may decide to make a donation to one or more of our nation’s political parties. With intense scrutiny around such donations in the current environment this needs careful consideration, including the reasoning and/or expectations behind such a gift.
An election inevitably delivers change – even if incumbent governments are returned.
Two elections within a very short time-frame compound this, and will leave many decision makers in the private sector scrambling to understand the new landscape in which they find themselves operating.
Regardless of your position or perspective, Seven Patterns has deep experience of Australian politics and can therefore help you navigate this process and its potential impacts on your organisation.
Specialising in Advocacy, we can assist your organisation in Government Relations — mapping a pathway to influence, navigating the machinery of government, whilst identifying potential opportunities and implications.
About the Author
David Ikin is a Senior Advisor at Seven Patterns.
David is a highly experienced corporate communications professional with significant experience across the mining, technology, defence and financial services sectors.
Over the course of a career spanning more than 30 years, David’s work has been split between consulting and in-house roles. His most recent project involved leading the communication function for a major technology program within one of the largest global mining companies.
David’s passion is for helping companies communicate more effectively with their stakeholders: investors, customers, employees, the media and the broader community.
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Let’s talk — hello@sevenpatterns.com