Weasel Words? Engagement, Collaboration, Partnerships…
Will Our Supermarkets Advise About Tuna They Sell?
April 15, 2010Local Food Swap In Melbourne’s NE And Elswhere?
April 16, 2010For me, the expression ‘Weasel Words’ captures exactly
“the powerlessness and frustration we feel when confronted by meaningless words delivered with authority. Los Angeles Times about Don Watson’s www.weaselwords.com.au
Although we all KNOW how words become faddish we keep on NOT speaking in simple clear language and I am sad, because this practice is destroying good words that have wonderful connotations for the collaboration and efficient use of scarce resources that CAN take place between very different people/organisations in the public, the private and the voluntary sectors.
After Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden’s ‘sham community consultation’ non Victorians read here and two other recent instances I have heard reported on the ABC of major developments in the NT and WA where consultation with ALL those concerned seems to have been forgotten, I would like to share six basic points that emerged during my ten year community/small business/volunteer experience in regional tourism.
Elements of Successful Community-Based Collaboration
“1. A broad community recognition of the high inter-dependence in planning and managing a tourism destination or community-based project/partnership and the subsequent inability of one sector to effectively operate alone.
2. An indication of the individual and/or mutual benefits to flow from the collaborative process, such as, improving the destination’s competitive advantage, reduced uncertainty for private enterprise, more effective public sector management and greater resident satisfaction.
3. A perception that the collaborative process has the legitimacy and power to influence decisions affecting tourism/community development, with the power coming from the inclusion of key people, from clearly stated objectives and from evidence of adequate resources to implement projects.
4. The early inclusion of key people/groups: local government plus other public organisations that have a direct say in resource allocation:
- Chambers of Commerce, Visitor Information Centres, regional and local tourism groups, resident organisations
- Social agencies such as Community House networks, School Boards
- Special interest groups
5. A facilitator who is seen to possess legitimacy, expertise, resources and authority. He or she may be drawn from a government agency, a firm, a tourism organisation, Chamber of Commerce, Progress Association or Economic Development Group.
6. A statement expressing the community’s desired development and growth, which will be regulated through a collaborative reference organisation that helps with ongoing adjustment of strategies through monitoring and review processes.
Mt Stirling: Industry Communication And Sustainable Tourism – A Study In Optimising the Public-Private Sector Relationship In Regional Tourism”
Dialogue To Change Programs
On re-reading this it reminds me very much of Mark Brophy’s Dialogue to Change program here in Victoria and also Ian Plowman’s Queensland Cooperative Conversations.
We CAN employ experts who DO engage and DON’T use weasel words!
2 Comments
Thank you for your challenging article referring to the use of weasel words and commissioned reports from experts who often dilute the strength of analyses made of public policy proposals and the like.
We need to call a spade a spade, identify poor policy, flawed consumer protection and the root causes of ineffective market functioning that has the potential to bring the country down to its knees.
Sweeping flawed policies under the carpet, finding excuses for these and failing to effectively implement inter-body collaboration with meaningful community involvement and influence on decisions is not acceptable and reflects “weasel” approaches to governance and leadership. We need to raise the bar on what governance and leadership means and what we expect as voters and taxpayers.
The era for more effective collaboration with ALL stakeholders is here. Let us seize this with vigour and determination, ask for more effective consultation and involvement and evidence that the consultative processes are not merely sops to the concept of tokenism.
Bring it on Gov, Pigs Will Fly, and all other online initiatives that aim to air community expectations in the 21st century.
I am actively involved in the Gov2 dialogue as we await final decisions and look forward to the goals and values of inclusive effective transparency and accountability.
I invite all those interested in taking more than a spectator role in public policy to stand up now and be counted, have your say in the debate on and off line and seek world standards in engagement at all levels. Second best is not good enough.
Thank you Pigs will Fly for highlighting for my attention issues of national importance.
Madeleine Kingston
Individual Stakeholder
Thank you for adressing these issues often in tourism we hear these “weasel words “( I love this terminology) as these words often make me cringe. To me it means some one in governemnt i trying to “sell”and idea that is already been decided but they do not wnat to be seen as controlling or bullying so they use these words.
For the past 6 years or more having lived on the River Murray (Below Lock 1)and been involved with tourism, these weasel words have been used on numerous occassions( always raising my warning bells) these words are not used by Grass roots organisations many of whom are being labelled anti government because they do not believe the spin that goes with these words and the imapct that comes with them.
Give me results accountability any day.
Give me a world where people being paid to do a job actually listen to those in business, whether it be tourism or other instead of attending a miriad of meetings( to try and control what is being said.
If it doesn’t make sense I just dont buy it!No matter how it is packaged.
We need more free thinkers not afraid to voice their concerns.
What a good day.