Canberra Greats - Kelvin Alley

Our man in Canberra

For five years until early 2016, Major Kelvin Alley was The Salvation Army's link to Parliament House in Canberra. In a revealing Q&A, Pipeline's BILL SIMPSON asked Major Alley to take us behind the scenes of political life in the national capital and how the Army's voice is heard at federal level

1. In your Canberra-based role, what involvement do you have with federal politicians and public servants?
My role in Canberra is to represent The Salvation Army to Federal Government. I like the idea that my role is to facilitate a greater involvement of The Salvation Army in the political process by building meaningful relationships of trust. This includes not only having contact with politicians but also senior public servants. In addition, I represent The Salvation Army to peak bodies and embassies. My primary function, however, is building and maintaining good relationships with politicians on behalf of The Salvation Army; being an advocate for our policies and being a representative voice for the poor and the marginalised. I do this by seeking meetings with politicians as often as is reasonably possible and also being available to meet them in places where they or there staffers may find themselves, such as coffee shops, informal gatherings, launches, etc.

2. Are you able to share with any in a more personal way (than the official meetings, etc)?
Yes, building networks with politicians is really about building relationships of trust and mutual respect. While I cannot say that I have met every sitting politician, there are many with whom I have had multiple opportunities to engage and some where I have come to feel that a relationship of trust has been established. Personal conversations do occur, but emerge from a relationship of trust that is developed naturally over a period of time. I am finding it very natural now to be able to engage personally with politicians in hallways, elevators, cafes, footpaths, car parks, etc. I delight in responding to comments such as 'drop in to see me sometime'. I am also finding that I have opportunities to engage personally with politicians by email and sms, which all rests on the importance of building natural relationships based on trust.

3. What are some ways in which you have been able to get closer to politicians?
For some eight years now, I have cycled the annual 'Pollie Pedal' which is a 1000km bike ride for charity and also intended to maximise the personal involvement of federal politicians. It has been organised by the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, for 15 years, and has raised millions of dollars for charity. We sleep in tents, have communal meals and ride for most of the day together. This has been a priceless way of getting to know politicians over the years. It is surprising the number of politicians who are keen cyclists. I have also been rising at 4.30am on parliamentary sitting days at the invitation of a cycling politician to join him on his early morning ride. I have also been accepted into the midweek politicians’ bike ride, which involves many of the cyclists in Parliament House and from all sides of politics. We ride together for an hour and finish at the local coffee shop. Politics is absent from conversations. Riding in pairs is a great way to engage in personal conversations. I have learned to respect these privileges and to not use them for the wrong reasons, but to establish good relationships based on trust and respect. As a member of the Press Club, I frequent Press Club occasions, which is a gathering place for politicians, their staffers and a wide range of people whose lives are involved with political engagement.

4. Are politicians and public servants interested in what The Salvation Army, as a single social entity, thinks about a particular issue?
Yes, most definitely. Ministers, in particular, value the 'grass roots' perspective. The Salvation Army name is well respected at Government level. While it isn't easy to get meetings with Ministers, I have found that Ministers and Members generally are very happy (and sometimes keen) to maintain a regular communication. Many show keen interest in our occasional reports. Although it doesn't happen often, I have received calls from Ministers to seek advice or information, or just an opinion. In one case, a Parliamentary Secretary rang me late on Budget night to ask how The Salvation Army felt about the Budget; and at a later date she called to see if the Army needed anything in our response to the Queensland flood situation. This led to extra funding coming to us for financial counselling services.

5. Have you had the opportunity to share yourself or pray with politicians and public servants?
These opportunities have occurred. It is important for people to understand that I am not a chaplain to Parliament House. I am a voice on behalf of The Salvation Army in representing our policy positions and advocating on behalf of the poor and marginalised in a place where the voice of the poor is too often overshadowed by business and political priorities. However, as a Salvation Army Officer, my antenna's for ministry opportunities are always finely tuned. To share at a deeper, more personal level with politicians will always come from a relationship established on trust, which, in itself, is something that doesn't happen overnight. To share prayer with politicians is rare, but a privilege when permitted the opportunity.

6. Do you think politicians – election candidates, in general – will be impacted by knowing that Christian communities like The Salvation Army are praying about the election?
The life of a politician is very demanding. They can sometimes feel lonely despite being surrounded by people. I think that politicians of all persuasions seek encouragement and would be warmed by the knowledge that the churches are praying for them and for the election generally. When I cycle with politicians, I usually like to do a final lap of the Parliament House precinct, which I call my 'prayer lap'. I pray for the fresh breath of God to be breathed into the House that day, to touch the lives of our political leaders, and for Government to govern with wisdom and compassion especially for those whose lives are lived on the social and economic margins of our communities. I don't make a secret of this and I get the impression that politicians hearts are only warmed when they realise that they are being supported in the prayers of praying people.