Bridget Archer and David Pocock honoured as political leaders of the year

Bridget Archer and David Pocock have been singled out for their leadership style, taking home the top prizes in a prestigious award.

Renegade Liberal MP Bridget Archer and independent senator David Pocock have been named as winners of a prestigious prize for political leadership, recognised for their “bravery” and collaborative approach to politics.

Ms Archer will receive the 2023 McKinnon Prize for political leader of the year, a collaboration between the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne.

The award was judged by a panel including ABC host Patricia Karvelas, former cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos and former SA premier Jay Weatherill.

Senator Pocock won the emerging political leader of the year prize for his values-driven approach to handling his position on the crossbench.

Mr Archer who has repeatedly been willing to cross the floor to vote with Labor and advocated for modernisation of her party was praised for her “long standing courage in standing up for her principles”.

Ms Archer received the top honour and was praised for her ‘courage’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She said taking home the prize was a reminder “that it is the community that I ultimately serve.”

“From the day I was elected I committed to being a genuine and authentic representative for the people of Bass,” the Tasmanian Liberal said.

“As members of the federal parliament, we are in the unique position to lead the conversation and ensure all voices are heard.”

The judges observed her collaborative approach to policy discussions and noted her leadership had impressed successive McKinnon Prize selection panels.

“It’s appropriate that she takes the top honour this year,” former top public servant Martin Parkinson and selection panel chair said.

“Ms Archer has consistently demonstrated rare courage by standing up for her principles and the interests of her constituents, even when this has put her at odds with her party and threatened her career.

Former chief scientist, and selection panel member Alan Finkel said the Liberal backbencher had shown “real bravery to pursue an alternate path of principled leadership” as “Australian political parties traditionally value discipline”.

Senator Pocock is a former Wallabies captain and is the ACT’s first independent senator. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She beat out a shortlist which included Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Price.

Senator Pocock is a former Wallabies captain and is the ACT’s first independent senator.

He described his work as an extension of the political leadership ACT residents have shown for decades: “from their support for renewable energy and strong action on climate change, to marriage equality and more recently in the Voice referendum”.

“I believe we have so much more in common than the sum of our differences and this is the approach I’ve tried to bring to my role on the crossbench,” he said.

“We are facing huge challenges as communities, as a nation and globally it’s more important than ever to find ways to work together to solve them.”

Mr Parkinson said the panel was impressed by his articulation of a new kind of collaborative politics, and his dedication to these principles in practice.

“Historically, Australia has seen Senators who hold the balance of power use that to pursue a relatively narrow set of goals, designed to satisfy a small constituency, often at the expense of the broader community,” he said.

“Senator Pocock is a great example of how that position of power can be used to pursue a broader vision for the community as a whole.”

Previous recipients of the McKinnon Prize have included two-time winner Penny Wong, former Speaker Tony Smith and Gladys Berejiklian.