One Nation is dominating the narrative right now – and it’s not because Pauline Hanson is suddenly more persuasive.
The hoarding of wealth and resources by the few has caused an economic crisis for the many, and the political mainstream are failing to put forward an ambitious solution people can get behind. When we fail to articulate a believable path out of a crisis, or worse stay silent for fear of getting it wrong, a vacuum appears. Enter One Nation who have filled it and, as a result, are dominating the mainstream media with divisive messages targeting people based on their race and gender, pitting communities against each other for political gain.
While the conversation is centred around Pauline Hanson's sudden ascension to being preferred Prime Minister, social proofing for One Nation continues to climb, we continue to cede ground, and communities of colour and immigrants are rightly feeling abandoned.
Here’s what we know:
People are angry and outraged about the economic crisis, and billionaires have succeeded in scapegoating marginalised communities (including immigrants, trans people, and working class communities). Globally, anti-immigration parties are gaining in traction as a result.
Newer One Nation supporters are generally doing it tough and are looking for a way to protest and challenge the ‘political elite’ (aka major parties – and even civil society organisations), who they feel have failed them. They don’t always support One Nation policies, but are looking for alternatives that aren’t elitist. As a result, attacking Pauline Hanson in fact moves persuadables away from our messages of fairness and justice.
The solutions to improve the lives of everyday people are our solutions – real wage rises, tackling housing inequality, stemming corporate greed, ensuring access to public health and education – yet this is the opposite of the current conversation. Put simply: our messages aren’t cutting through.
We’ve invited Anat Shenker-Osorio to host a snap briefing to share frank advice on how we turn this around. Anat has spent years figuring out how progressive movements break out of this stagnation; build solidarity across race, class and genders; and give people a vision to get excited about. The briefing will include a presentation plus Q&A with Anat.
Here are the details
What: Responding to the rise of One Nation: snap messaging briefing
When: Tuesday 7 July, 9:30-10:30am AEST
Where: Zoom
Who: Organisers, campaigners, communicators and leaders from across civil society
This webinar is free to attend. Please register via the link below.
SPEAKERS
Anat Shenker-Osorio (USA)
Principal and Founder of ASO Communications, Host of the Words to Win By podcast
Anat Shenker-Osorio is an American political strategist and messaging consultant. She is the Principal and Founder of ASO Communications, author of Don’t Buy It: The Trouble with Talking Nonsense About the Economy and the host of the Words to Win By podcast. With a background in cognitive linguistics Anat examines why certain messages falter where others deliver. She has led research for new messaging on issues ranging from freedom to join together in union to clean energy and from immigrant rights to reforming criminal justice.
ACCESSIBILITY
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Zoom - This webinar will be held online via Zoom. If you have access to a computer or laptop, we recommend you join the training by computer to make navigating the materials easier. See here for accessibility documentation for Zoom; including a list of keyboard shortcuts here.
Chat - On Zoom you will be able to use the chat function. Participants will be asked to introduce themselves in chat, and to enter responses in the chat.
Captions - We will have captions enabled in Zoom.
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Other additional support - In the registration form, we will ask you for your access needs. If you require something in place that is not already arranged, or if you need more information about any part of the workshop, we will work with you to provide this.
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If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact us via info@australianprogress.org.au