Recent reports suggest that Clive Palmer and the United Australia Party are outspending the other major political parties – combined – by a staggering ratio of 2 to 1.

But while much of the commentary in the media and advertising world has surrounded the eye-watering levels of spend, not enough attention has been placed on the creative vehicle being deployed to deliver these messages.

Cubery, a tech-based research and insights company specialising in advertising effectiveness, tested the creative performance of the major parties’ advertising using its proprietary methodology.

The goal was to understand what tone of voice works best and which party’s advertising was the most effective. The research identified four key learnings after testing six separate groups of advertising, isolating the positive and negative creative approaches being taken by the major parties.

1. Uplifting trumps fear

Labor’s hopeful and optimistic pitch promising “A Fair Go For Australia” was a galvanising call to middle Australia. It was effective because it projected a warm and family-oriented feeling, complimented by a clear and compelling vision for the future of Australia.

Viewer comment: “Family orientated, makes Bill Shorten look like a regular Australian that knows what it’s like for middle class families to experience stress in life.”

The Liberal’s attempted to tap into our psychological resistance to change, reminding Australians about the importance of maintaining positive momentum behind the economy during these uncertain times. This was seen to be lacklustre, offering a familiar and predictable narrative, absent of anything new.

Viewer comment: “They are really boring and don’t explain much.”

 

Care-mongering not scare-mongering

The Greens’ tone of voice was constructive and uplifting, with voters’ perceiving the messaging to be by far the most informative and trustworthy out of all the parties. By engaging voters in an open and transparent way, The Greens’ campaign was found considerably more interesting than advertising for the other parties.

Viewer comment: “Ads focussed on real issues, things that matter.”

 

Make it clear what you stand for

Clive Palmer’s UAP took the mantle as the most ineffective campaign of all the major political parties. The ads didn’t contain enough substance and clarity around the party’s policies and positioning, to overcome the negative filter people see Clive through. As a result, they didn’t strongly persuade people to vote for the party.

Viewer comment: “They were utterly non-specific in how they would deliver all of these jobs and ‘securing our children’s future’, making them a waste of time and money.”