Inside Labor’s ‘no dickheads’ campaign for victory

Written by Ronald Mizen for the Australian Financial Review

Pizza and beer have long been staples of hard-knuckle political campaigns. But, as it fought to return from the wilderness and make Anthony Albanese Prime Minister, Labor’s campaign HQ went dry.

No alcohol in the office. The decision was part of push by the party’s national secretary Paul Erickson to professionalise the operation after a turgid term of parliament defined by scandalous workplace behaviour.

According to the dozen campaign insiders who spoke to The Australian Financial Review, a big part of Labor’s success was the planning and unflappable nature of Erickson and Albanese’s chief-of-staff, Tim Gartrell.

The key phrase from people who worked as part of the 100-person team in Sydney’s Surry Hills was “quiet professionalism”.

Erickson and Gartrell started assembling their team about a year ago. One party insider described there being a “very deliberate no dickheads policy”.

That was a reference to large personalities in past campaigns that clashed, resulting in conflict and acrimony. This time around, there was a focus on workplace cohesion in the appointment of key personnel.

Erickson was joined by Richard Marles’ chief of staff Lidija Ivanovski as his second in command. Leading the key target seats and field unit, and given responsibility for wrangling the different state branches, was Labor’s assistant national secretary, Jen Light.

When Erickson in the first week was struck down by COVID-19, it was Ivanovski and Light who stepped in to fill the void.

John Olenich, Penny Wong’s deputy chief of staff, led Labor’s media unit, while the ALP’s head of digital Kate Ryan continued in that role. Long-time Labor advertising consulting David Nelson provided strategic advice.