New Canberra service offers an ‘ear to the ground’
Posted by MattE on 15 Aug 2008 at 04:09 pm | Tagged as: Communications, consumer engagement
A new service launched in Canberra this week offers companies and associations with a cost effective solution to their political monitoring and analysis needs.
The “Canberra Listening Post” allows companies to keep an ear to the ground in the area of collecting information on Federal Government policy and regulatory issues which affect their interests and helps them make timely analysis for strategic decision-making and lobbying.
Director of the service, Philip Eliason, said often companies and associations lacked the resources to maintain an adequate watching brief on changes to the government’s agenda.
“Shifts in policy can be quite subtle and go unreported, but can have profound impacts on a company’s or association’s effectiveness in the market if they are not seen and acted upon.
“By knowing what is being considered by government can also open up opportunities for lobbying interventions and public affairs strategies to influence government and its officials.”
Mr Eliason said that without being correctly informed, business could be missing ideal opportunities to make effective representations on behalf of its owners or shareholders and workers.
“An example is the treatment of solar hot water heaters under the Government’s Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets which adds up to $1,500 a heater rather than promote their use. Activity to reverse this and other costly policy changes can be enhanced through expert analysis and alternative recommendations to Government.
“Part of political lobbying is being able to present a good argument at the right time and approached from the right perspective.
“No matter if you are wanting increased funding for an interest group or gaining advanced warning of potential or actual shifts in government thinking, having a person on the ground is the only way to do it” he said.
