The case for bipartisan political advocacy

It seems like there’s always an election on the horizon. That’s because – between each of the states and territories, local governments, and even the federal government (as we went through this year) – there often is.

For the social sector, elections mean opportunity – it’s a great time to engage with politicians, reset policy agendas, and seek funding through election commitments.

In an increasingly divisive political environment however, where the likely outcome may clash with your own personal convictions, it begs the question: how do you know which side to back?

Simply put: you don’t.

You may have heard the saying that ‘the only poll that matters is the one on election day,’ which has proven true time and again. There’s no such thing as an unlosable election, endured recently by both the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition (in 2019 and 2025 respectively).

Despite the prevailing media rhetoric, even with Labor’s significant majority in the House of Representatives the next federal election isn’t a guaranteed victory for Labor. So, the safest bet for a NFP is to engage with all sides – not just government, but also the opposition and crossbench. Unfortunately, this may mean having to grit your teeth and play nice with a politician that you don’t necessarily entirely agree with.

The key thing to remember here is that you can do this without selling your soul (that’s an activity you can leave for politicians and lobbyists!), by not compromising on your values and bringing government stakeholders with you on your organisation’s journey.

You don’t have to agree with each other on everything – so don’t waste time arguing about what you don’t agree on, when you can build connection by talking about what you do.

Believe it or not, (almost) every politician in our parliament is in it for the right reason: they want to make Australia a better place. We just all have differing views on what that looks like or how to get there. So, by taking a step back and considering what is important to that politician personally, you can have a far stronger likelihood of appealing to them and their values.

At Tanck, this is our bread-and-butter: we work with organisations to build bipartisan support so that they can achieve their funding or policy objectives.

One of our clients was a small documentary filmmaking team who had been telling stories of vulnerable Australians making it through hardship, with a focus on First Nations and migrant stories. The thing was, the particularly progressive subject matter wasn’t making cut-through with the conservative government of the day.

So, together, we considered where their overlap in values lay and identified a story regarding a farming community doing it tough. By leaning into this messaging, we were able to connect with a very senior Nationals Minister who delivered them more funding than we could have possibly expected otherwise.

Who could have expected that an incredibly conservative Nationals MP would become the champion of a small, progressive documentary team? Perhaps it was a long shot, but by being pragmatic and reaching across the aisle they were successful in not only securing funding, but also building a relationship that has since helped them to have a greater impact on vulnerable communities across Australia.

Too often organisations, advocates, and change-makers believe that taking a principled stand against certain politicians is the courageous thing to do.

Sure, this may be true in some cases – but for many it could be argued that refusing to engage with your political adversaries and only speaking with those in your ideological bubble is safe, timid, and ultimately a waste of time. What takes courage is accepting that people come from differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and perspectives and it takes time and effort to bring them on your journey.

When you view the first step of advocacy not necessarily as advancing your goal but building relationships with the people who can help you to do so, things can shift into gear. Despite the prevailing thought, politicians are people – they aren’t just a means to an end.

So, instead of focussing on what you want, it’s important to initially focus on them. What makes them tick? What are their values? Focus on them as a person first and the rest will follow. Just as you might disagree with your drunk uncle’s political rant at Christmas lunch, you can still have a positive relationship with someone without agreeing with them on everything. Sometimes swallowing your pride can be the real bravery.

On the other hand, it’s useful to keep in mind that not all political rivals are personal adversaries. You may or may not be surprised by the relationships that cross party lines, that your organisation could benefit from by taking the time to seek them out.

Any political staffer can tell you a story of a particularly savvy opposition or crossbench MP who swallowed their pride and worked closely with the government to deliver for their community: and if they can do it, you can too.

Another reason to engage with both sides of the aisle is because it can help bring the other side with you. Time and time again we’ve seen clients be told by governments ‘we’d love to help, but there’s just no money,’ who then miraculously find millions to match a commitment made by the opposition.

Progressive governments benefit when progressive organisations refuse to engage with conservatives, and vice versa. They may even make you feel awkward for doing so. But governments change, and your organisation can’t afford to keep all its eggs in one basket.

Balancing the left and right of politics isn’t fence-sitting, it’s a tightrope walk. It’s risky and exhilarating, and if you aren’t careful there’s a long way that you can fall. If, however, you keep your chin up and confidently put one foot in front of the other, it can be rewarding.

One thing is for sure: it takes a lot more bravery to do than sitting idly by, watching from the ground.

Rory Parker brings a diverse, creative skillset to his role as associate director at Tanck, focusing on values-driven policy and people-led campaigns. He previously worked as an advisor in Federal Parliament and as a policy advisor to a senior state Minister.