QLD
By Post: MP not found
By email: MP not found
An effective email is polite, friendly and short.
Emails are first read by the MP’s staff, who are extremely busy and are usually dealing with a very full inbox. If they can quickly scan the email and understand your point, they are able to convey your concerns to the MP – especially if dozens of other people have also written expressing the same issues.
Introduce
Address them as “Dear MP not found”, or “Dear MP not found”
Introduce yourself and say where you live, something about your family, community, or church/mosque/temple etc.
Concerns
Say that you are writing about the draft Anti-Discrimination bill.
Say that you are concerned that the bill will undermine religious organisations (or religious freedom) in Queensland. You could mention:
Attach the letter
Say that you have attached a letter from heads of faith explaining their concerns (see more details below)
Your request
Ask the MP for a response – will they oppose this legislation?
Conclude
Thank the MP for their attention and their service to the electorate.
Ensure you include your name and address. This is so the MP’s staff can confirm that you are a member of their electorate. Letters without an address are often ignored
This letter has been written by faith leaders to all MPs to point out concerns with the draft legislation.
We recommend you don’t simply put the link in your email, but make it an attachment. Attachments to emails are usually taken more seriously than links.
This letter is provided as an example. It is always best to write your own letter, however this example is based on a few of the discussion points above and is provided to help you start.
If you are basing your letter off this template, make sure you replace the sections in **[brackets]**
Dear MP not found,
or Dear MP not found,
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[write a paragraph about yourself, include what suburb you live in or how you are connected to the MP’s electorate. You might mention your family, your cultural background, your faith, what church or place of worship you attend]
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I am writing about the new draft of the Anti-Discrimination Bill that is currently being considered. This bill poses a significant threat to churches and other faith groups. It restricts the ability of religious organisations to select staff who share and live out the beliefs of their faith.
Faith groups should be allowed to employ individuals who act consistently with their faith's teachings and values. This ensures that the organisation can maintain a genuine community of faith. The bill presents a contrast by allowing politicians to hire staff who align with their political beliefs; this same right should extend to faith groups for their religious beliefs.
Enclosed with this letter is a document signed by various faith leaders who have raised their concerns about this bill. I request your response on this critical matter. Will you commit to safeguarding religious freedom and ensure faith groups can retain their faith identity when hiring staff? I urge you to consider rejecting this bill.
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[enter your name, address and phone number. Your address is needed so MPs know you are legitimately from their electorate.]
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Authorised by Mike Southon, Freedom for Faith, 168 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW