Why advocate with your local MP?
To put it simply, your local member is the gateway to government. They represent an important voice in parliament, and they have a vote when it comes to laws, policies and budgets. They may hold a key position, such as a party secretary, minister, or a member of a committee. Most importantly, they may hold influence with key decision-makers we are trying to shift due to their knowledge, experience and relationships.
As a member of your community, you have the right to be heard, and that is what your politician is here for.
Ready to find out more? Keep on reading!
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Make your letter stand out
Why do you care about this issue?
If you have a compelling reason why your MP should hear from you, such as the fact that you live in their electorate or because you are the official spokesperson for an organisation, make this clear. This is especially relevant if you have lived experience of drug use and dependency- if you feel comfortable, your story can be incredibly impactful.
Your letter should be concise and straightforward, ideally limited to one or two pages. It’s best if it is typed or written clearly and signed by hand- our experiences have shown that these are more likely to be across a parliamentarian’s desk.
Being polite and respectful in your letter is far more likely to achieve positive results than being insulting or abusive. If you disagree with a stance your MP has taken, or some comments they have made, say so, but in a reasoned, forthright way. Lead with your values!
And most importantly- provide all your contact details and ask the MPs office to get back to you.
It can be useful to:
- Include a personal experience that made you want to speak up on the issue
- Include relevant facts and figures
- Refer to a recent news item about the issue
- Highlight a local connection to the issue
Know your MP
Why would they care?
If you don’t already know, make sure you find out which party your MP belongs to, whether they hold any position in that party, how long they have been in Parliament and whether they are a member of parliamentary committees.
It is important to work out what action you will ask your MP to take. This requires a bit of thinking about your local member and their potential for change. For example- are they close with the Premier? Ask them to discuss the matter with him.
No matter who your MP is, tell them you’d like to see them at the Drug Summit and engaging with this issue.
Top Tip:
Try to find out what your MP’s views are on your issue and what the policy of their party is. Your MP may have their own website that has information on their positions!
Know your issue
What change do you want to see?
When writing a letter. you don’t need to know everything about the nitty gritty details of policy, but keep tabs on any recent updates or news stories.
The most important thing about these meetings is connecting the issues to your personal values- so have a good think about why the issue of drug law reform connects to you.
If you want to learn more about decriminalisation- you can read our discussion paper here.
Know what you want
Call to action: What do you want your MP to do?
Simply telling your MP how you feel about an issue is unlikely to bring about change – you need to tell them what you want them to do about it. This could include any number of actions from voting for or against something in Parliament to attending a local event. For the Fair Treatment campaign, this would be asking them to advocate for our key aims- Drug Decriminalisation, and increased funding to treatment.
This requires a bit of thinking about your local member and their potential for changing the people around them. Are they close with the premier? Ask them to discuss the matter with him.
Your MP may try to refer your concern to another MP who has greater responsibility in the area. If this occurs, gently, but firmly, remind your MP that, as a member of their electorate, you would like their involvement.
Be patient
But make sure to follow up!
Members of Parliament handle many letters with limited staff, leading to possible delays in responses. It may take up to a month to hear back from your MP.
If you have not received a response after one month, telephone the MPs office to remind them about your letter and check when you are likely to receive a response. If you do not receive a response within a fortnight of your call, try again. And keep trying until you succeed.
Want more support?
We know this process can be daunting- but our team is here to help.
Contact us at advocacy@uniting.org
Email your Local MP via our Form!
Whilst a handwritten or personally sent email is always more effective and impactful- we know that that can be a big ask.
You can contact your local MP via our form below!
Don’t know your electorate? Find it here
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