The 2022 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership has recognised the power of sustained commitment to collaboration and relationship-building in advancing a political vision, with leaders Senator the Hon Penny Wong and Dr Helen Haines MP named recipients of the Prize.<\/p>\n
In a year of seismic change in Australia\u2019s politics, the two recipients\u2019 dedication to achieving genuine impact in their roles stood out among exceptionally strong shortlists.
\nMinister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Independent Federal Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines were able to navigate the electoral changes brought by voters that affected Australian politics last year, while remaining resolute in their commitment to their respective agendas.<\/p>\n
The 2022 Prize recipients were determined by a Selection Panel of distinguished Australian leaders, with both recipients recognised for building connection, respect and trust at a local, national, and in the case of Minister Wong, global level, to deliver positive outcomes.<\/p>\n
Minister Wong has been awarded the 2022 McKinnon Political Leader of the Year for her swift and demonstrable progress in re-setting Australia\u2019s foreign policy agenda and in working respectfully to enhance important bilateral relationships in a challenging geopolitical environment.<\/p>\n
The Selection Panel recognised Minister Wong\u2019s strong transition from the Shadow Ministry to her role as Minister for Foreign Affairs over the course of 2022, as her \u201clisten first, talk second\u201d approach helped to restore Australia\u2019s diplomatic relationships \u2013 and standing as a nation \u2013 in the region.<\/p>\n
The shift in tone of Australia\u2019s foreign policy doctrine towards strong regional engagement was exemplified by Minister Wong\u2019s efforts to make four trips to the Pacific and three trips to Southeast Asia \u2013 and the first visit by an Australian Minister to China in three years \u2013 all in the first hundred days of governance. Minister Wong said she was honoured to receive the McKinnon Prize, and to be recognised for her work as a political leader. \u201cThe Albanese Government faces the world as it is, and we seek to shape it for the better,\u201d Minister Wong said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Foreign Minister this means using all elements of o ur power strategic, economic, social and diplomatic to advance our interests and values. I\u2019ve placed a priority on reengaging with our region and renewing our relationships. \u201cI thank the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne for the work they do to advocate for democracy and encourage strong political leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n
Selection Panellist and former Victorian Premier, the Hon John Brumby AO, said: \u201cPenny Wong is a true statesperson and has consistently represented Australia\u2019s best interests through her calm yet commanding diplomacy. She is highly effective internationally and displays the values Australian\u2019s respect in their political leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cPenny has shifted the tone of Australia\u2019s international dialogues and relationships for the better. She\u2019s been engaging but firm building genuine relationships in the Pacific, as well as refreshing and restarting our relationship with China and we\u2019re seeing the benefits of that now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Haines has been awarded the 2022 McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year for her commitment to integrity in politics and her dedication to serving her electorate and connecting her constituency to her national policy work, as demonstrated through the Beechworth Principles and subsequent consensus building over time.<\/p>\n
The Selection Panel recognised Dr Haines\u2019 considerable impact as a \u201ccommunity-driven\u201d and collaborative leader on the national stage. Dr Haines\u2019 courageous long-term vision, commitment and ability to build consensus across the Parliament has defined the national discussion on integrity in politics over many years, culminating in the Parliament legislating a national integrity commission in 2022.<\/p>\n
In accepting the Prize, Dr Haines expressed gratitude to her constituents for their ongoing support of her representation. \u201cIt is the honour of a lifetime to represent the people of Indi in the Federal Parliament, and it is the people of Indi who have spurred me on in my work to improve integrity, accountability and transparency in federal politics,\u201d Dr Haines said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission is the most significant integrity reform at a federal level in more than 40 years and I am incredibly proud to have played a role in that, and look forward to continuing to work to improve integrity and transparency in politics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also look forward to continuing working to improve healthcare in regional and rural Australia, tackling the local housing crisis and implementing action on climate change that benefits regional Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI pay tribute to the Susan McKinnon Foundation and their work to improve Australia\u2019s democracy and to all of the Prize nominees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member of the Selection Panel, Chancellor of Macquarie University and former senior public servant, Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, said: \u201cHelen wasn\u2019t the only one to have made integrity an issue, but what was truly outstanding was the way in which she gradually built support across her community and across the broader parliamentary community.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitics is the art of the possible, and that’s something that you can be dismissive of, but what she did was to find a way to walk a path through all the competing groups and ended up with a policy position that everybody could come in behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelen did something unusual in that she engaged her local community on the integrity principles. It showed proper grassroots democracy. She took up an issue \u2013 that for many people was probably distant \u2013 and gave them a mechanism whereby they could contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recipients of the McKinnon Prize for Political Leader of the Year and Emerging Political Leader of the Year are determined by a panel of distinguished Australians, which this year included Chair Catherine Livingstone AO FAA FTSE, Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Tom Calma AO, Chancellor of the University of Canberra and Kungarakan Elder, and the Hon Kelly O\u2019Dwyer, former Cabinet Minister and member of the Australian Parliament, amongst others.<\/p>\n
Previous recipients of the McKinnon Prize include the Hon Tony Smith MP, Mayor Teresa Harding, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Dr Anne Aly MP. Minister Wong is the only recipient to have been recognised twice, having been named McKinnon Political Leader of the Year in 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The 2022 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership has recognised the power of sustained commitment to collaboration and relationship-building in advancing a political vision, with leaders Senator the Hon Penny Wong and Dr Helen Haines MP named recipients of the Prize. In a year of seismic change in Australia\u2019s politics, the two recipients\u2019 dedication to achieving […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2103,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n