Great businesses know how to anticipate consumers’ desires. Smart businesses can predict which way they are going to vote, too. Although nothing is certain in politics, the business community is pragmatically preparing in case there is a change in government at the federal election. New hires in sensitive jobs are being chosen with an eye to who will be sitting around the cabinet table later this month.

Investors and business managers are scouring Labor policies for information about how their industries will be affected. Corporate leaders and lobbyists are war-gaming how a Shorten government would operate and how long it would be likely to last.