ALP's rotating team eroded voters' trust

Sitting in Labor HQ with four senior campaign staff, we were planning the announcement of the small business package.

One of the staff suggested: ''Let's get Brendan O'Connor to Tassie to do the announcement with the boss [the PM].'' Her bemused colleague asked ''Why would we get O'Connor there?'' ''Well, he is the small business minister …'' ''No he's not … he was the minister two ministers ago … we've had a few though.''

There were five ministers for small business in the last term of government. For the record, I wasn't much help - I couldn't name many of them.

The effect the leadership battle had on the Labor brand has been well canvassed. Less explored but almost as important was the effect the frequent cabinet and ministerial reshuffles - caused by the challenges (and non-challenges) - had on the public perception of the Rudd and Gillard governments.

We all know that stability at the top is important, but if Labor hopes to restore public confidence in the competency and capacity of its team then it needs to figure out how it can rebuild the trust the swapping, chopping, changing and replacing of ministers eroded.

Trust was the most important issue of the federal election campaign, as it is in almost every election campaign.

Dr Jackie Dickenson, an academic from Melbourne University, recently published Trust Me, a history of trust in Australian politics. She identifies four components of trust: competence, openness, honesty and reliability. To restore the electorate's trust, Labor needs to address all four.

Well said

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/alps-rotating-team-eroded-voters-trust-20131006-2v27z.html#ixzz2hOORy0hJ