The second step to becoming a spokesperson for Australian Parents for Climate Action is understanding why Australian Parents for Climate Action is non-partisan.

Non-partisan means not biased or for or against any particular politician or political group. So AP4CA does not support or oppose any party or politician. We do support and oppose policies. 

In short: we talk about policies, not politics.

We want a safe climate for our children. So we support effective policies that deliver climate action. And we strongly believe that climate action should not be a political football. Rather, in other countries like the UK, all sides of politics are working together to take ambitious climate action.

Most (72%) Australians believe that climate change is something we need to act on now. But powerful vested interests seek to divide the electorate, to obfuscate and delay, so as to protect fossil fuel profits. That’s why we need to find common ground. Because the only thing capable of overcoming the power of organised money is the power of organised people. And that means everyone who is here. And even more, people who aren’t.

We are choosing to build a broad base of support for climate action by including all sides of politics in the discussion. Our theory of change is that by engaging and empowering a strong constituency of parents to advocate for climate action, our pressure will increase sustained political and corporate will to implement the solutions required to ensure a safe future for all our children. And by shifting support towards climate action, we decrease support for our opposition at the same time.

Some things just shouldn't be partisan issues. Just like how governments responded to COVID-19, we need climate policies based on scientific evidence. Not politics. That’s why we are proudly non-partisan.

So let’s depoliticise climate change. Let’s find common ground. Let’s make climate action inclusive of all sides of politics. And let’s replace the handful of fossil-fuelled power brokers with the political will we need to see this through.

• We applaud the efforts of all representatives pushing for more climate ambition.

• We call on more representatives to support more climate ambition.

• We celebrate steps in the right direction, especially ambitious policies.

• We thank politicians who make their support for climate action known, whilst calling on them to go further.

• We scrutinise the strength of climate policies against independent scientific advice.

• We distribute approved election policy scorecards from independent sources.

• We amplify independent, non-partisan, and constructive voices.

• We do refer to the government by the leaders' name when appropriate: e.g. the Albanese Government.

For example: when we got a breakthrough for Solar Our Schools in the Tasmanian election, we did not hold a joint press conference with the Tasmanian opposition or government, but we sent our a press release announcing it as a win for parents and future generations and asked the Federal Government to step us and also adopt the policy.

• We don't support or oppose a party or politician.

• We don't insult, deride, make fun of, make caricatures of, or misquote parties or politicians.

• We don't overdo it on criticism. Saying something plainly and clearly is enough.

• We don't get involved in political contests.

• We don't amplify partisan groups or political groups backing particular candidates.

• We don't target one political party or group in our communications.

• We don't tell people how to vote.

If you're working on or with anything that may be construed as partisan, then please do it separately from and independent of AP4CA. And please let the staff team know if you think it may concern AP4CA - especially if you hold a position of responsibility with AP4CA, such as an AP4CA media spokesperson.

The third step in this spokes training program is to take the Parent's Pledge for Climate Action (part 4 of our spokesperson training course).