New Direction is Set

Julia Gillard’s speech on asylum seekers and refugees

Julia Gillard’s speech on July 6th at the Lowy Institute was an important occasion to set out her government’s policy on refugees and asylum seekers. She powerfully and clearly articulated a new policy on this topic. However for me it was the delivery and construction of the speech that captured my attention. Incorporating a variety of persuasive speaking techniques she delivered a new perspective on this area. Using excerpts from her speech, I note some of the techniques that her speech writers have incorporated in this speech.

"Thank you very much to the Lowy Institute for hosting me today.
The Lowy Institute has established a reputation for independent, robust and forceful analysis of Australia's place in the world. It is exactly the right place to make today's address: Moving Australia Forward.

I first would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution of the institute's founding benefactor, Frank Lowy. Frank Lowy is a great Australian. He was a refugee who escaped to Israel after World War Two in a crowded boat full of asylum seekers."

• Notice the opening link to the title of the speech , the place of presentation and Frank Lowy who has carved out a successful career since coming as a refugee to Australia all those years ago.

• Notice the triplet-- independent, robust and forceful
• Note the catchphrase---moving forward which she has used in earlier speeches

"I arrived in Australia as a little girl with my family in 1966 – since then Australia's population has doubled from 11 to 22 million people, reflecting both immigration and natural population growth."

• Note the use of personal story to link her to the topic.

"It is truly the mismatch of modern Australia: communities with too many people and not enough jobs and then other communities with too many jobs and not enough people."

• Note the alliteration in mismatch of modern...
• Note the juxtaposition in –too many –not enough

"I am for frank, open, honest national conversations, so let's have..."

• Note the use of triplet

"On the first point Mr Burnside is very, very right and I'm happy to oblige. He is right because in the context of our migration program, the number of asylum seekers arriving by boat to Australia is very, very minor. ...On the second point he is very, very wrong."
• Note the use of repetition and juxtaposition ---very very...right and wrong

"It is a shallow slogan."
• Note the use of alliteration

"The Howard government's actions changed because of a change in the practical reality, and the reality that confronted prime minister Howard confronts us today."
• Note the clever word usage –change—reality—confront

"The facts are the boat will be scuttled and start to sink."
• Note the use of emotive language and alliteration

"If you are hard-headed you're dismissed as hard-hearted. If you are open-hearted you are marginalised as supporting open borders."

• Note the clever word usage –hard headed juxtaposed with hard hearted and open-hearted used with open borders

"The other way, the path less travelled in recent times, is the path to move us forward together."

• Note the use of a catchphrase in –the path less travelled-
• Note the repetition of move forward

"fleeing genocide, torture, and persecution,"

• Note the use of triplet

In conclusion our new PM has enhanced her message by including many of the techniques that any good speaker would use in delivering a powerful message.