Lobbying is about influencing decision makers and, as
a voter, your concerns matter. Your federal parliamentary
representatives can play a role in making sure that Australia’s
biodiversity crisis becomes a politically important issue.
One of your MP’s main tasks is to keep in touch with
the concerns of constituents and feed this back to the
party. When community members care enough about an issue
to visit their MP, it is a clear indication that an issue
is gaining currency in the community.
Holding a meeting with your federal parliamentary representative(s)
is probably the most effective way of seeking their active
support for the Boobook Declaration. Face-to-face contact
with the opportunity for interaction is more valuable
than phone calls, letters or emails.
A step-by-step guide to arranging a visit is provided
below.
1. Identify your relevant MP
On Federal issues, it is best to identify your relevant
Federal MP. You are represented in the Australian Parliament
by a lower house Member (in the House of Representatives)
and twelve State-wide Senators (two Senators each for
the ACT and Northern Territory).
To find out what Federal Electorate you live in and identify
your elected Member in the House of Representatives,
go to the Australian Electoral Commission website http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/ and
search using your postcode or locality name. Then click
on the link to the Parliament of Australia website for
current Member details. Alternatively, call the Australian
Electoral Commission on 13 2326. Note down the telephone
number for the MP’s Electorate office, and its location.
While your primary target is your House of Reps Member,
you could also visit one or more of your State’s Senators.
For information about them, go to http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/ and
click on your State on the map. Find the Senator/s with
an Electorate office that is convenient for you to visit.
Check whether the MP or Senator is a member of the Government
(ALP) or an Opposition party or independent (Liberal,
National, Greens, independents), as your approach may
be different with each.
If you want to find out more about your MP, information
on their background, first speech, photograph, etc is
available on the Parliament of Australia website http://www.aph.gov.au .
For state specific issues its best to contact your state
MP. And for local issues, contact your local council:
it is most effective to write to your relevant Councillors
– they are counting on your vote to stay on Council. You
are likely to find out the area they represent and their
contact details via the website of your local council.
2. Write to your MP about your issue
Identify the postal address for
the Member of Parliament’s Electorate Office. Write them a letter introducing
yourself/your group and the issue that you are concerned
about, ie the Boobook Declaration and your local conservation
issue where relevant. Ask them to forward your
concerns to the appropriate minister and request a response. Note
in your letter that you would like to meet and discuss
the issue (see link for tips on writing a letter - below).
3. Make an appointment to see them
Contact the Member of Parliament’s Electorate Office
by phone. Introduce yourself and explain that you live
in the electorate and would like to discuss the Boobook
Declaration and local biodiversity conservation issues
with the MP. If you have previously sent a letter on
the issue, let them know.
You will normally speak to a receptionist or the Electorate
Officer. Electorate Officers work very closely with the
MP and their support can be very helpful to you. So be
polite and try to enlist their support! They should make
an appointment for a meeting at a suitable time.
Tell the office how many people will be coming (two or
three is best) and what group or groups they are from.
Ask how long you will have for the meeting - expect
about twenty to thirty minutes.
Send an email to info@boobook.org.au to
tell us that you have arranged the meeting.
4. Prepare for the meeting
Organising your delegation
Identify who will attend the meeting with you. It is
best to have two or three people. The more diverse, the
better – so if possible, have women and men, younger
and older, etc.
Arrange a pre-meeting with the others in your delegation
and your wider support group to discuss what you want
to present, the roles each will play (main presenter,
note-taker etc), and what information you want to take
along (briefing note to leave with the MP, photographs,
etc).
Make sure the others in your delegation know where the
Electorate office is, and arrange to meet outside or
nearby, 15 minutes early.
Preparing the presentation
Think through and discuss with the other attendees what
you each want to say and what you are asking the MP to
do. Aim to focus on a few clear points rather than cover
every aspect of the biodiversity crisis. Write down what
you want to say in point form, so you can check it during
the meeting.
Don’t assume that the MP knows much about biodiversity
and its importance, the decline of native species and
ecosystems, or the Boobook Declaration. Plan how you
will explain to them:
The issue of biodiversity
decline, and why it is a concern nationally and locally.
The Boobook website has more information under ‘About
the biodiversity crisis’.
The Boobook Declaration’s
request for four areas of action by the Australian
Government. See the website for more information on
each of these: Climate change, Investment, Research,
Education.
A relevant local biodiversity
issue, such as the decline of a threatened species,
loss of habitat, opportunities for action. An example
of a biodiversity issue from the MP’s electorate can
drive your message home. This could relate to the activities
of your group, if you are representing a local organisation.
What you specifically
want the MP to do, that is:
- sign up to the Boobook Declaration via the website
- ask their party to adopt the Boobook Declaration
and make an election commitment to its implementation
- (if relevant) support a specific local initiative
to protect biodiversity.
You could also invite
the MP to visit a place that is important to your group
and/or illustrates significant biodiversity values
or issues.
Remember that you do not need to be an expert. Your power
in this discussion is your concern and your passion.
You will probably know more about the issue than most
politicians. (See ‘Biodiversity in brief’ on the website
for information.)
Prepare a one-page briefing note to leave with
the MP, summarising the importance of the actions in
the Bookbook Declaration and spelling out what you are
asking the MP to do. Make sure you include your contact
details and attach a copy of the Boobook Declaration.
Countering objections
It is good to have a grasp not only of the issues and
the Boobook requests, but also possible counter-arguments
(or excuses for inaction) and ways to rebut them. Note
that on 13 February 2010, the Government and the Opposition
in the Senate voted against the Greens’ motion on the
Boobook Declaration. Senator Ludwig stated “The government
does not support this motion as it already has in place
a range of policies and programs to protect and conserve
biodiversity.”
Here are some suggestions for countering objections and
excuses for not supporting the Boobook Declaration:
If the MP says…
You can respond…
The
Government is already taking action for biodiversity.
Our native species
and ecological communities are continuing to decline,
so the current level of Government programs and
funding is clearly inadequate. Caring for our Country
funding is spread very thinly for biodiversity.
For more info go to Biodiversity in Brief
Increasing
expenditure on biodiversity will mean reducing
other expenditure in the Environment Department/
or on other important matters like health, education,
aged care.
We are asking for an
increased allocation to the Environment Department
budget, to tackle the crisis we are facing across
the continent. $2 billion extra each year is less
than 0.6% of the Federal Budget, equivalent to
two-thirds of a new submarine or approximately
47 km of new freeway [1],
and far less than government subsidies to the coal
industry. This is not a lot to pay to retrieve
our natural heritage.
Action
by all sectors needed, not just the Australian
Government – State/local governments, landowners,
NGOs, business all need to play their part.
The Federal Government
needs to lead the way and initiate action that
will support efforts by other sectors.
5. Conduct the meeting
Make sure you introduce yourselves, shake hands, and
explain exactly why you have requested the meeting. The
meeting will probably start with greetings and small
talk, and then you will have the opportunity to speak
and make your pitch.
Present your case calmly and concisely. Don’t get sidetracked
or stray ‘off-message’. Be polite and respectful. Answer
any questions or objections in a pleasant, rational manner.
If you are unsure about how much your MP knows about
the biodiversity crisis and the Boobook Declaration,
establish this early in the meeting so you don’t waste
time telling them what they already know. Aim to give
the politician enough understanding of the issues and
desired actions to make an intelligent decision to support
your request.
It is vital that you are very clear and up-front about
what you want them to do after the meeting.
Remember though, you want to hear from your MP as much
as you speak yourself. Listen carefully to what
they say right from the beginning. This will give
you important clues about where to pitch your information,
how much s/he already knows, and about any misunderstandings
s/he might have that you need to correct.
Listen very carefully to what your MP agrees to do. Often
MPs make statements that sound agreeable, but which really
have no substance. If this is happening, you might
like to try diplomatically suggesting some firmer action
on their part.
Make sure your delegation’s note-taker keeps good notes
of the conversation.
Be sure to thank your MP for whatever action they agree
to take. Arrange for them to get back to you within
an agreed timeframe about the outcome of their actions.
If they have not made any commitments, ask if you can
talk to them again soon, or suggest another opportunity
to meet them and discuss the issue, perhaps at a site
visit.
6. Follow up your meeting
Straight after the meeting:
· Keep the delegation together
to check impressions – do a quick debrief, review and
evaluation of the meeting. Discuss what you each thought
of the meeting, how it went, impressions of the MP and
their attitude to your requests, your understandings
of what the MP said they would do.
· Decide what you are going
to do next, as a result of the meeting. Have you offered
to send additional information? Have you invited the
MP on a local site visit that needs to be arranged? Ensure
that the people responsible for follow-up tasks are clear
on what they are to do, and a timeframe agreed.
A brief follow-up letter immediately after the meeting
is a good idea, thanking the MP for their time and interest,
and politely thanking them (in advance) for any action
they agreed to undertake.
Send an email to info@boobook.org.au to
tell us that you have had the meeting, and what the outcome
was. If the MP mentioned any information that you think
might be useful for the Boobook campaign, please let
us know.
If you don’t hear from the MP for two or three weeks
about the action they have taken, it is worth calling
or emailing the Electorate Office to ask how things are
going. Ask if any other information might be needed,
or if there are any issues that have arisen.
Don’t assume that the MP will be persuaded after talking
to you just once. Think about other ways to engage them
in the issues facing biodiversity and nature in their
electorate. Invite them to an event or activity of your
group, or a special guided walk just for them through
a natural area that illustrates some of the issues.
If your MP is helpful on this issue, make sure you thank
them (publicly, if possible).
7. Writing letters to politicians
Writing a letter or email to the Prime Minister, the
Minister for the Environment, the Leader of the Opposition
and your federal parliamentary representatives (in the
House of Representatives and the Senate) is a direct
way of expressing your concern.
The most important thing politicians need to hear is
that you care about biodiversity and you want action
on the Boobook Declaration’s four requests of the Australian
Government. The letter should be one page or less in
length, and provide some arguments for why the politician
should support the Declaration. You might be able
to illustrate this with a story from your own experience
or observations of biodiversity decline and the inadequate
actions to tackle this.
Addresses:
The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP
Prime Minister of Australia
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The Hon. Peter Garrett, MP
Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
The Hon. Tony Abbott, MP
Leader of the Opposition
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
To find out what Federal Electorate you live in and identify
your elected Member in the House of Representatives,
go to the Australian Electoral Commission website http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/ and
search using your postcode or locality name. Then click
on the link to the Parliament of Australia website for
current Member details. Alternatively, call the Australian
Electoral Commission on 13 2326.
For information about your State’s Senators, go to http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/
[1] The 40km Hunter
Expressway in NSW has been allocated $1.5 billion in
the 2009-10 Federal Budget; total cost is $1.7billion.
