Timor Leste political parties receive campaign strategy assistance from ALP International Projects team.

Date:  06 June 2007

On Saturday 26 May 2007, a senior ALP International Projects team delivered targeted training on political campaigning strategies to representatives of Timor-Leste’s major political parties.

The program, delivered under the Australian Political Parties for Democracy (APPD) scheme, continues Labor’s record of practical support to Timor Leste’s political parties in the lead up to the June 2007 legislative elections. The seminar was open to all the major parties contesting the elections. A number of non-partisan observers were also present.

Led by George Thompson, Chief of Staff to former federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley, the ALP team represented decades of experience in state and federal politics; from grassroots campaigning to high-level strategy.

The program focused on the fundamentally democratic process of the political campaign. The campaign is the process that energises party structures and brings meaning to policy debates. The training featured strategies for building strong and disciplined campaign teams, organising volunteers, contrasting approaches to campaign strategy and tactics, and messaging and values. Notably, participants acknowledged that in future they would place increasing emphasis on media as a political tool.

The participants agreed that the dividends of long-term cooperation between the ALP and Timorese parties would be greater knowledge and exchange and the strengthening of parties in both countries. Providing technical assistance with campaigning strategies is a crucial framework for our engagement with Timor Leste and other recipient countries. Through Labor’s International Projects, we will continue to observe developments in Timor Leste politics and assist Timor Leste’s parties as they strive for better outcomes for their people.