It's easy to build a constructive relationship with your political representatives - just follow these steps.

The most effective method to get on the radar of your Member of Parliament (MP) is to meet with them. It is part of their job to meet with constituents (you!) and take your concerns to the government. You have every right to simply phone their office and ask for an appointment.

Your Number #1 Goal - is to develop a positive and constructive long term relationship with your local MP. Play the long game. Change is created through constant, consistent actions over time!

Organising the Meeting

• Phone, email or drop in to your MP’s office and ask to make an appointment to meet with them. State what you want to discuss.
  • If you keep getting knock backs, ask to speak with their advisor.
  • To find your MP’s details, use the official links, or if in doubt, use google.
• If at first you don’t succeed, politely persist, persist, persist, persist and persist.
• Once you get an appointment (it may be some time away), find one or more fellow constituents to join you and increase the perception that “we are many”.
• Please update the Parents for Climate staff team about your appointment and any requests for support - [email protected]

Preparation

• Prepare a few dot points about what you want to say just so you feel more confident. You don’t need to do lots of research and be an expert!
  • Have clear messages and asks
  • Cover 2-3 issues max. Assume you have 30 minutes - time goes fast!
  • Research the background of the MP: what bills/policies have they supported or blocked (https://theyvoteforyou.org.au )? What do they stand for? Do they have children? What are their interests?
  • Prepare a 1-2 page summary (include graphs/ photos if relevant)
    
    • Add talking notes for your reference.
  • Ensure to include a key ask of your MP. Examples include:
    • Speak to a minister on your behalf.
    • Ask a question in parliament at question time.
    • Make a speech in parliament.
    • Lobby their colleagues in caucus.
    • Organise an electorate town hall with a minister.
    • Introduce you to someone who can help.
    • Pledge to support a policy.
    • Get their local party branch to support a policy.
• Share the essential points of your proposed agenda with your MP or their contact person to let them know you have a constructive and focussed agenda they can prepare for.

In the Meeting

• When you attend the meeting, be polite, courteous and calm. Strong disagreement can embed opposition and undermine long-term constructive potential for relationships to develop, and for politicians to shift their position. Getting upset can alienate them to your cause. Speak from the heart about your children’s future and your concerns about climate change. If the MP has children you could connect with them about this.
• Make notes of what he or she tells you - this is useful to share with others and to hold them accountable for what they say.
• Make notes of what they ask of you, or what support they are looking for in terms of information or their areas of special interest. Make sure you then follow up with them to provide useful information. This increases our impact on their thinking.
• Ask for permission to take and share a photo (or screenshot) with the MP.
• Send your photo to the staff team at Parents for Climate to promote on national channels, like our Facebook page after the meeting! facebook.com/parentsforclimate
• Share the image with the MP or their team for their own use in promoting your meeting (and your agenda)

Post Meeting

• Inform the Parents for Climate staff team about the meeting, topics covered and any outcomes that may be of interest to our national political strategy. Your feedback can help us improve our strategy and help us map our impact. [email protected]
• Follow up with an email summary of the meeting including the discussion and ask. Agree on a timeline for them to respond or action your ‘Meeting Ask’
• Work with the staff team at Parents for Climate to follow up on any areas of special interest or requests for support, or further information that we can provide the MP or their team, to further develop support for our agenda

Check out our How to Lobby Your MP page here for more resources