Gillard launches ALP’s social media platform

The Australian Labor is strengthening ties to the community by providing the first social media platform purpose built for an Australian political party. The social networking and community engagement platform, called Campaign iQ, will enhance the existing alp.org.au portal, allowing Australian Labor to form direct relationships with its members and supporters, facilitate online conversations and foster community advocacy.

Australian Labor National Secretary Karl Bitar said: “This platform will enable the public to be at the centre of the political debate through increased participation, collaboration and a deeper level of engagement with the Party.” 

The new platform includes: 

• An interactive website designed to build and strengthen the Party’s relationship 

with the community (www.alp.org.au) 

• LaborConnect – A grassroots social network tool that assists supporters to 

organise their local campaign.  Like Facebook, users can form a profile, add 

friends, join or start a group and participate in discussion. 

• ThinkTank – An ideas incubator where the community can participate in policy 

formulation, consultation and debate 

“This is not about social gimmicks but about genuine engagement and lowering the 

barrier to participation in the Labor Party and Labor movement,” Bitar said. 

An Australian innovation, Campaign iQ was developed by Campaigns & Communications Group (C&C Group) and Community Engine, the two Australian firms charged with engineering online social networking for Australian Labor. The website brings together C&C Group’s strategic political thinking and Community Engine’s leading-edge social networking and community engagement technology platform to deliver an i
nnovative and effective communication resource for the Australian 

electorate. 

C&C Group Managing Director Michael Allen said: “The power of social media as a way to communicate in political campaigns was unrivalled, as evidenced by Barack Obama’s successful presidential campaign. The rise of social media as a political communications tool is on a par with the advent of television and the telephone – it has forever changed the way political parties connect 

with voters and is an important component of effective campaigning. Campaign iQ offers a dynamic online presence that moves beyond tradition digital boundaries to allow the ALP to more effectively engage with voters and to act.” 

Community Engine Managing Director Piers Hogarth-Scott added that Community Engine’s commitment to the medium of social networking was all about enhancing the way people connect and interact with their communities, be that a community of place, profession or of personal interest. 

“Ultimately, our objective is to facilitate deeper community engagement through the delivery of powerful communication tools. We believe in the power of communities and we aim to add value to them by making communication with, and among, all their members easier. The Federal Labor Party, through this initiative, is acutely aware of how important that communication is,” he said.