You want something from government. A decision. A policy change. A contract. Project approval. Protection from a bad outcome. Lobbying has long been seen as a murky, insider game – dominated by big corporations, political operators and those with the loudest voices. But done properly, lobbying is neither sinister nor mysterious. It is a legitimate, ethical and often essential part of how good decisions are made. Mike Smith’s decades of experience inside government, political parties, unions and professional lobbying mean Mastering the Dark Art of Lobbying is not a book about shortcuts, secret deals or ‘who you know’. It’s a practical guide to understanding decision-makers, shaping proposals to which government can actually say yes, choosing the right timing and avoiding the mistakes that derail otherwise good ideas. Blending real-world examples, clear frameworks and hard-won insights, this book demystifies lobbying and shows you how individuals, small businesses and community organisations can advocate confidently, ethically and successfully – whether you do the lobbying yourself or engage professional help. If you’ve ever wondered how government decisions are really made, or how to give your idea the best chance of success, this book is your starting point.
Mike Smith brings more than 40 years of hands-on experience in lobbying, government relations, governance and campaigning. He has worked as a Ministerial Chief of Staff, political party executive, union negotiator, company director and adviser to businesses, industry associations and community organisations, and has delivered lobbying and governance training through workshops, universities and conferences in Australia and the United States. Mike wrote this book to make lobbying less intimidating – and to show that the skills to engage government effectively are learnable, ethical and accessible.
* Practical and demystifying: Breaks down lobbying into clear, ethical, real-world steps anyone can understand and apply – no insider jargon or mystique.
* Grounded in experience: Draws on decades of hands-on work inside and alongside government, showing what actually works (and what quietly fails).
* Strategic, not simplistic: Goes beyond ‘getting a meeting’ to explain decision-making, policy processes, timing, risk, and influence.
* Built for real advocates: Designed for businesses, NGOs and community groups who need outcomes, not theory – from shaping proposals to choosing the right ask and moment.
* Clear positioning & niche: Mastering the Dark Art of Lobbying is a practical, Australian-specific guide to lobbying, with no direct local equivalents. It targets businesses, NGOs, boards and community organisations seeking ethical, effective engagement with government.
* Credible, authoritative author: Mike Smith brings decades of real-world experience as a lobbyist, Ministerial Chief of Staff, party official and union advocate, with national reach across Queensland, NSW, WA, ACT, NT and Victoria.
* Strong use-case beyond retail: The book is a cornerstone product that feeds into paid training and advisory services, including one-day lobbying workshops and customised governance training – creating ongoing demand and bulk-purchase opportunities.
Publicity:
* Planned publication & format: Expected late 2025 / January 2026; approx. 192 pages; initial print run around 400 copies; Australian focus with broadly applicable content and case studies (‘war stories’).
* Built-in marketing activity: Author-led marketing across website relaunch, social media, blogs, email sign-ups, podcasts, media commentary, speaking engagements and organisational presentations, commencing November and ramping through launch.
* Professional outreach & credibility signals: Advance review copies to industry bodies, universities and media; encouragement of Amazon/Goodreads reviews; potential book awards entries; targeted Op-Eds and business podcast appearances.
* Sales support opportunities: Scope for bulk discounts, training-inclusive sales, direct organisational orders, webinars or events, selective bookshop engagement, and potential festival or conference appearances.
