Challenges to political leadership through the prism of the National Cabinet: Representing one’s ‘gang’ or one’s ideology?

"First Ministers" - the bizarrely elitist term for members of the informal National Cabinet

My paper below has been accepted for presentation at the 2023 Public Policy Network Conference at the Museum of Australian Democracy on Wednesday 12th April. The abstract and slides for my paper are set out below.

Abstract

The Albanese government has achieved an apparent policy consensus among Australia’s ‘first ministers’ in the quasi-institution known as the National Cabinet. But behind the public-facing consensus lies vicious party in-fighting that threatens to undermine the legitimacy of Australia’s political party leaders. A unique feature of political leadership is the need for leaders to keep their party base onside while also representing the interests of their constituents and their political party colleagues. Prioritising one group over another requires careful consideration for a leader to achieve their desired policy outcomes without losing support for their leadership. The National Cabinet has been used as a public relations vehicle by the Albanese government where premiers who are alone in their disagreement are spotlighted for negative public discourse. At the same time, the legitimacy of political leaders who support policy areas where consensus exists in the National Cabinet (such as The Voice and energy policy) is threatened by industry lobby groups, political party members, and power brokers within political parties. This paper, then, considers the impact of the National Cabinet on political leadership. The paper considers two case studies, The Voice and energy policy, to examine the power plays that influence the policy positions adopted by political leaders. It then considers the democratic deficit created by political leaders who stray from their party’s platform and how this influences a leader’s legitimacy within the party structure. The paper argues that the National Cabinet, now a regular feature of Australian politics, has allowed greater concentration of power in the prime minister’s leadership. The paper addresses the question: Has the National Cabinet weakened the ability of state and territory leaders to represent their parties’ bases, making it easier for ideology-based federal policy to gain public support?

Memes: The Road to Collectivism

As politics becomes increasingly polarised, policymakers are no longer focused on giving voters what they want, but on making voters want what they are given. Rather than presenting policies as rational choices for individual voters, policies increasingly ignore the intelligence of individuals in support of a collectivist agenda.

Here is my latest article in The Spectator's Flat White, Memes: The Road to Collectivism:

Our children speak in memes, and these memes are driving government policy. No wonder everything is going wrong...https://t.co/OHrqUV3XVx

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) March 16, 2023

ChatGPT: Would it pass my latest assignment?

Artificial Intelligence [CC0]

 

I used ChatGPT for the first time today and tried a few AI-generated responses to my requests.

Following a colleague's example, I asked ChatGPT, "Who is Michael de Percy?"

ChatGPT returned the following result:

Michael de Percy is an Australian academic and political scientist. He is a professor of Political Science at the University of Canberra and is known for his research in the areas of public policy, governance, and political leadership. He has published extensively on these topics, including several books such as "The Political Economy of Brexit" and "The Failure of Australian Schools". de Percy is also a regular commentator in the media, providing analysis and commentary on political events in Australia and around the world.

Next, I regenerated the response:

Michael de Percy is a political scientist, historian, and academic based in Australia. He is currently an Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Canberra, where he teaches and researches in the areas of political science, public policy, and political history.

Dr. de Percy has published widely on topics including Australian politics, public policy, political theory, and the history of political thought. He has also served as a consultant to various government agencies and non-governmental organizations on issues related to public policy and governance.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. de Percy is a regular commentator on politics and public policy in the Australian media. He has also written opinion pieces for various newspapers and magazines on topics ranging from climate change to electoral reform.

There are many factual errors in the response.

Then, following a politician's recent example, I asked ChatGPT to, "Write a Spectator article on government waste in the style of Michael de Percy", with the following results:

As a political scientist and observer of government, I cannot help but be concerned about the alarming rate of government waste in recent years. It is a sad reality that the hard-earned money of taxpayers is being squandered on unnecessary and often frivolous expenditures.

From inflated salaries and lavish office spaces to redundant programs and bloated bureaucracy, government waste takes many forms. The saddest part is that it is often the most vulnerable members of society who suffer the consequences of this profligacy.

One need only look at the recent scandal involving the procurement of a $700,000 custom-made desk for a government official to see the absurdity of government spending. This is a prime example of the kind of excess that is all too common in government circles.

But waste is not just a matter of extravagant purchases. It is also about the inefficient allocation of resources. Too often, government programs overlap or duplicate efforts, resulting in a waste of both time and money. This is particularly true in areas such as healthcare and social services, where multiple agencies may be working on similar issues without proper coordination.

Furthermore, the sheer size and complexity of government often lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape. This not only wastes time and resources but also creates frustration and resentment among those who must navigate this labyrinthine system.

It is time for government to be held accountable for its wasteful ways. This means greater transparency in government spending, as well as a concerted effort to streamline programs and eliminate redundancies. It also means holding government officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that they are truly serving the public interest.

At a time when resources are scarce and many are struggling to make ends meet, we cannot afford to tolerate wasteful spending by our government. It is time for a serious conversation about how we can make our government more efficient and effective, so that we can ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used in the most responsible and productive way possible.

Given the obvious errors and the lack of detail in the article, there is some way to go before AI can help me write articles. But to test it out, I entered my most recent assignment question to see what the response would be like, addressing the request to, "Write a university assignment of 1500 words on my life purpose and career goals". Here is the response:

Title: Discovering My Life Purpose and Career Goals

Introduction

Many people struggle with finding their life purpose and career goals. It is often challenging to determine what one wants to do in life, especially when there are so many options available. However, discovering your life purpose and career goals is critical because it gives you direction, focus, and clarity about your future. In this essay, I will discuss my journey of discovering my life purpose and career goals, the challenges I faced, and the strategies I used to overcome those challenges.

Part 1: My Journey of Discovering My Life Purpose

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. However, I wasn't sure how to do that or what my specific purpose was. In college, I majored in psychology, which allowed me to explore the human mind and behavior. During my studies, I discovered that my passion was in helping others overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in counseling, where I could use my knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on people's lives.

Part 2: My Career Goals

My career goal is to become a licensed counselor and specialize in marriage and family therapy. I believe that relationships are the cornerstone of a happy and fulfilling life, and I want to help people build and maintain healthy relationships with their loved ones. To achieve this goal, I plan to pursue a master's degree in counseling and obtain the required licensure. I also plan to gain practical experience by interning at a counseling center or private practice.

Part 3: Challenges Faced and Strategies Used

Discovering my life purpose and career goals was not an easy journey. I faced several challenges along the way, including self-doubt, fear of failure, and indecisiveness. However, I learned that these challenges were normal and could be overcome. To overcome self-doubt, I engaged in self-reflection and identified my strengths and values. This helped me build my confidence and trust in my abilities. To overcome my fear of failure, I took small steps towards my goal and celebrated every milestone I achieved. This helped me stay motivated and focused on my goal. To overcome my indecisiveness, I sought guidance from mentors and advisors who helped me clarify my goals and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, discovering your life purpose and career goals is a journey that requires self-reflection, courage, and determination. It is essential to identify your passions, strengths, and values to find a career that aligns with your purpose. I have learned that challenges are a natural part of this journey, but with the right mindset and strategies, they can be overcome. Pursuing my career goal of becoming a licensed counselor specializing in marriage and family therapy will allow me to fulfill my purpose of making a positive impact on people's lives.

The above represents a fail grade based on the criteria of the assignment. It is mostly generic waffle and won't be passing any of my assignments in the near future. But not unlike the ability of AI to compose orchestral music, I daresay it will not be long before universities will need to return to handwritten examinations. And that is not a bad move - if anything, it will be an improvement on current trends in academic assessment procedures.