AIOFP reiterates call for combined lobbying efforts

AIOFP executive director Peter Johnston said the association wants to expand on its lobbying success and encouraged all advisers to support its Adviser Political Strategy framework.

“The AIOFP is inviting the entire advice community, whether AIOFP members or not, to consider participating in all or part of our Adviser Political Strategy (APS) framework to consolidate and accelerate our rising influence in Canberra,” Mr Johnston said.

“It is time for the advice community to put petty industry politics aside and focus on what can be achieved leading into the 2025 federal election.”

In his opening address to the AIOFP conference in July, Mr Johnston said the Fadden result and a swing back to the Liberals have done the advice community a “huge favour”, adding in a new statement that it is “only the first step of a process we all need to participate in to get desired policy outcomes over the next 18 months”.

“The most politically powerful weapon the advice community has in its armoury are their clients and the commercial/political relationship advisers have with them, that’s what all politicians now fear and underestimated leading into the 2022 election,” he said.

“It should be clearly understood that our 2022 Kooyong marginal seat strategy and outcome has unsettled Canberra, what should be noted however is it can be used in any seat and against any political party at the time of our choosing.

“This is what disturbs all sides of politics, it is therefore critical to continue with subtle posturing to remind and intimidate all stakeholders of our power.”

Mr Johnston added that while the AIOFP has been “overweight” on the Labor Party in the past few years, there was little choice.

“The Liberals had an immoveable and uncompromising adviser culling agenda against the advice community led by the Frydenberg faction. With Frydenberg’s political demise and the now realisation by senior Liberals of their past mistakes, we will seek dialogue with the Coalition leading into our November 2023 Canberra Conference,” he said.

“The AIOFP role is to develop and maintain relationships with key people in government and equally as important those in Treasury who assist and research decision-making rationale. This is the engine room of government that drives policy direction and the AIOFP has a seat at this powerful table for the first time in its 25-year history.”

In addition to his calls for adviser unity, Mr Johnston laid out the AIOFP’s APS framework, consisting of five key points.

1. The very first step is to seek direction from advisers on the five most important issues they want resolved or introduced over the next 18 months. This will be done by a survey within 30 days.
2. Once this list of demands (LOD) is agreed upon, it can then be used by all advisers to engage with their clients on how they will benefit from its direction. Keeping clients informed and engaged is critical to the overall strategy.
3. Advisers should then engage with their local federal member at their electoral office with the LOD in hand delivering a powerful consistent message around the nation backed by clients.
4. We will then use the LOD at the November AIOFP Canberra conference to put it directly to the minister and shadow spokesperson seeking their position and support on what the advice community and their clients want.
5. Advisers’ support of an “election fund” will greatly assist our political standing in Canberra, the fact that we have one (regardless of its known content) will intimidate.

“This strategic direction will put pressure on all sides of politics leading into the 2025 election to listen and act on what the advice community and their clients want or suffer the consequences,” Mr Johnston said.

“It is important our narrative emphasises advisers are consumer-centric and always acting in their best interests.”