In politics, nothing is more important than numbers. If yours don’t count, then neither do you.in politics that emerged 18 months ago – the teal independents – have disappeared from this year’s Power list. The teals remain powerful insofar that as long as they hold their seats, they keep the Coalition out of government.
Last year’s overt Power list featured one business representative – Atlassian’s Mike Cannon-Brookes – who at the time was mounting an assault on the board of AGL Energy. He’s disappeared this year and the panel was in broad agreement that there are no business figures who earned a spot on the overt power list.
This year’s covert power list features four new entrants from the business sector – Macquarie Group’s chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake, the Commonwealth Bank’s Matt Comyn, Gina Rinehart and Lachlan Murdoch. “If it really is this government is sucking up all the power, then that’s an interesting story,” noted Allen. She did, however, agree Chalmers had done more than enough to consolidate second spot on the overt power list, contending that he has eroded the Coalition’s natural advantage as economic managers. “He has a real authority,” she said. “He’s extremely sensible. I’ll bring in [Finance Minister] Katy Gallagher there as well; I think they’re a really good team.
Panellist Annie O’Rourke says McManus’ effectiveness comes from a willingness to ebb and flow. “If she needs to amplify her volume, she does. If she needs to go under [the radar] and deal, she does. That’s a very effective power play. She doesn’t always have to be the big person in the room or the person who’s doing the media,” O’Rourke said. “Any politician who meets with her and any business leader, they won’t go away ever thinking she’s a lightweight.
Moving back into the Power list is Jacqui Lambie, after a four-year hiatus. The Tasmanian senator is one of the crossbenchers who, along with her colleague Tammy Tyrrell, holds a balance of power role. Lambie gets the nod over rookie David Pocock because her influence extends beyond her numerical presence in the Senate. Fitzgibbon said she had the ability to influence public debate. Fellow panellist and SEC Newgate managing director for research Sue Vercoe agreed.