Pub test

In Australian politics, the pub test is a standard for judging policies, proposals and decisions. Something which "passes the pub test" is something the ordinary patron in an Australian pub would understand and accept to be fair, were it to come up in conversation.[1] The test may also be applied to individual people; a politician "passes the pub test" if the average Australian drinker would perceive them as authentic and likeable.[2]

Not to be confused with pub quiz.
Something "passes the pub test" if ordinary Australian drinkers would deem it to be fair.

History

The phrase is primarily used in Australia, although there is some evidence of it being used in the United Kingdom as well. The term is thought to have been coined by Prime Minister John Howard.[3] Mark Glynn, a researcher at the Australian National Dictionary Centre, cited Howard as having frequently used the phrase in the 1990s.[4]

Although the pub test is usually raised as a hypothetical, it has been invoked to describe real-life events. Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman held meet-and-greets at hospitality venues in his state under the name of "The Pub Test".[5] The final leaders' debate at the 2022 Australian federal election, conducted by Seven News, was judged by a panel of 150 undecided voters watching from pubs in marginal seats.[6]

Reception

The test has been compared to reasonable person standards in law;[7] Politico described the test as "Britain's man on the Clapham omnibus but three beers in".[8] Katherine Firth, a lecturer at La Trobe University, compared the pub test to the hypothetical person on "a Bourke Street Tram" referenced in legal decisions in Melbourne.[9]

Despite its widespread use, commentators have criticised the pub test on several grounds. One argument is that pub patrons do not actually represent public opinion;[10][11] another dismisses pubs as unreliable places for productive intellectual discussion.[12] A different line is that requiring policies to reflect ordinary voters' preferences ensures mediocrity,[13][14] or that assessing some proposals in the first place requires detailed technical knowledge these voters lack.[15][16]

See also

References
  1. Drennan, Jonathan (21 July 2023). "Can Anthony Albanese pass the pub test?". The Irish Times. ISSN 0791-5144. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. Norman, Jane (23 April 2019). "Scott Morrison's re-election strategy relies on him passing the 'pub test'". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. Richards, Kel; 2022 - 12:51pm (3 May 2022). "The Federal Election lingo you need to know ahead of polling day". skynews. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  4. Burnside, Niki (30 April 2022). "We use them all the time during election campaigns, but these words and phrases have meanings many of us aren't aware of". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  5. Whitson, Rhianna (23 November 2017). "Premier Will Hodgman's 'The Pub Test' questioned by Electoral Commissioner". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  6. Meade, Amanda (11 May 2022). "Mark Riley wants Seven's election debate to be better than Nine's Sunday night 'spectacle'". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  7. Roe, Brian (19 August 2020). "'Pub test' not well understood as a concept". The Examiner. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. Sheftalovich, Zoya; Walker, Ali (13 January 2022). "Why Australia is paralyzed over deporting Novak Djokovic". Politico. Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. Firth, Katherine (20 June 2017). "What's wrong with the 'pub test'? (Katherine Firth)". Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. Quiggin, John (5 October 2021). "The twentieth century still has us in its grip". Inside Story. ISSN 1837-0497. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. Aly, Waleed (4 September 2015). "Dyson Heydon: the pub test is a tool in the politics of cynicism". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. ISSN 0312-6315. OCLC 226369741. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  12. Aston, Joe (19 April 2021). "After Christine Holgate, can we please retire the pub test?". Australian Financial Review. Nine Entertainment Co. ISSN 1444-9900. OCLC 1131035760. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. Shmigel, Pete (10 December 2020). "We are shackling ourselves to the safe and mediocre with lazy talk of 'the pub test'". The Spectator Australia. Press Holdings. ISSN 0038-6952. OCLC 1766325. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. Frenkel, Dean (9 May 2023). "The pub test: Australian parliamentarians have the worst public speaking skills". The Spectator Australia. Press Holdings. ISSN 0038-6952. OCLC 1766325. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  15. Street, Andrew (24 August 2016). "Why Scott Morrison's 'pub test' is a stupid way to decide research priorities". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. ISSN 0312-6315. OCLC 226369741. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  16. Francis, Andrew; Sims, Aidan (1 February 2022). "Why we resigned from the ARC College of Experts after minister vetoed research grants". The Conversation. ISSN 2201-5639. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
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