Not-for-profits should get active before the federal election, urges political trailblazer

Known as both pragmatic and principled, Patten has returned to the fray as a federal Senate candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party.

Her latest campaign follows her recovery from three types of cancer in just two years, and builds on a legacy of political victories, including passing voluntary assisted dying legislation, decriminalising sex work, criminal records reform, legalising ride sharing, and ensuring safe access zones near women’s reproductive health clinics.

Speaking to the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) ahead of her appearance as the main guest on the April 3 edition of the Not-for-profit Agenda podcast, Patten shared her knowledge of the inner workings of parliaments, and explained how not-for-profits (NFPs) could better engage with politics.

Time to start knocking on doors

Patten said the lead-up to the election was an ideal time for not-for-profit leaders to familiarise themselves with the promises and policies of candidates and sitting members.

Asked what “homework” she would assign NFP leaders, she emphasised the importance of understanding research and engagement.

“Look at who the candidates are, look at their policy, and start connecting with them,” she said.

This could entail a short phone call, email or Zoom meeting.

“Some of them – that are getting out and about in their community – will want to speak to everyone. So now can be a good time to do that.”

“Election times are often key times to get some commitments from Members of Parliament, and certainly when the reality of the popularity contest that is that election looms, they are all too conscious and aware that they need broad support in their community.”

Surveys could be an effective way of assessing candidates’ positions.

“I know as a candidate, I would try and respond to every single one of those. It sharpens those issues for those Members of Parliament, knowing that these are issues that voters will care about.”

Patten encouraged organisations to examine all political parties’ policies and to consider “whether they've got policies that align with the policies and objectives of your organisation. It may surprise you”.

Even parties such One Nation or the Shooters and Fishers parties may be “unlikely allies”.

“I mean, who would have thought that Warren Entsch, a conservative MP from Far North Queensland, would have led some of the fight on marriage equality?”, Patten said.

“Keep your options open.”

Sector leaders shouldn’t underestimate their influence

Patten said not-for-profits and charities had a duty to engage politically, even if that required a non-partisan stance.

“It behoves them to influence the political process, for many of them are at the frontline and many are working with people with lived experience. They understand the challenges that are facing our society. And they are best placed to inform governments and decision makers about how we can improve the lives of Australians.”

She said understanding the parliamentary system could be a powerful tool for not-for-profits.

“I find things like Senate estimates, but also at a state level – committee inquiries, and a whole range of other parliamentary processes, provide opportunities. They provide opportunities to ask questions and have a minister who must answer them.”

“Whether it's at Senate estimates or whether it's in the Parliament at Question Time, these are opportunities to get direct answers from the minister, something that if you wrote a letter to the minister, you might wait months for a response. And more than likely, you won't get an answer.”

NFP leaders should start thinking about their key questions, and should already have gathered supporting evidence, data or statistics.

Organisations may need “a friendly senator to ask those questions for you”, and Patten highlighted the value of crossbench senators, those who aren’t members of major parties.

“This is something that has changed over the last 10 years, but the crossbench is becoming more powerful”.

However, she advised against trying to catch out the government or major parties with “gotcha” moments.

“The opposition quite often is just there for a ‘gotcha’ moment, but if you want to progress something and you want to work with government, ‘gotcha’ moments don't necessarily help you. Embarrassing a government official or a Member of Parliament doesn't necessarily win you any points or progress your issue.”

Don’t take sides ­– apart from your own

As someone who has worked with not-for-profits on a variety of reforms, Patten advised organisations to remain politically neutral. (For registered charities, this is a requirement. – Ed.)

“I think if your organisation can remain as nonpartisan as possible, that is to your benefit. To be able to speak to both sides of the House is important.”

She said that while governments control funding and the legislative agenda, “they won’t be in government forever”, and she stressed that the opposition, crossbench and smaller parties were influential.

Patten said it was important to put aside personal politics and engage with all representatives.

“Speak to everyone.”

She said NFPs that were able to open doors to conversations “have the chance to change or soften someone's opinion, or the way someone thinks about an issue”.

Organisations should tailor their messages to representatives, she said, which requires knowing what they’ve said on an issue previously.

She said it was frustrating for MPs to discover that “people hadn't done their homework, so they didn't know that I had already spoken about the issue, or that I was already completely on side”.

Keep that political pitch simple

Patten recommended NFPs keep their messages clear and concise.

While politicians want to understand issues, “they're probably not going to read that 50-page report”.

She said groups should prioritise executive summaries, key recommendations and findings, and use pictures and graphics to quickly get their message across.

Patten said it was essential to simplify and “consolidate” information for the targeted politician or representative, and to personalise that information to include statewide, national or electorate-based data as needed.

“If you can personalise it … that also gives them something to say, gives them something to put in their newsletter, or when they're speaking to the issue in Parliament, to say ‘In my own electorate, this is happening.’”

A little extra work can go a long way

Asked whether organisations at the frontline were too busy with service delivery to spend time on political work, Patten suggested a simple but effective tactic: invitations.

“I used to go to the opening of an envelope,” she said.

“Most MPs do care about their community, so even if you're not going to be lobbying and writing letters and knocking on party doors, invite those MP to events, whether they're the government or the opposition or an independent. Invite them to see what you do. You might not have a success every time, but MPs are putting out newsletters, they're putting out social media, they need those photo opportunities.”

Events were also an opportunity to inform MPs about NFP work firsthand, she said, including how hard the organisation is working, and to demonstrate the dedication of the people in it.