Plan what you want to say before dialing. Write some notes or dot points to keep yourself on track. You may wish to use the discussion points below.
Be yourself
Don’t worry about having a highly polished message. Just relax, be polite and speak from the heart.
Politicians genuinely want to hear from their consituents. Political staff and politicians are nice to people professionally. Even if they disagree, they will listen politely.
Introduce Yourself
Your opening line might go along the lines of ‘Hello, I am [name] and I live in this electorate. I would like to talk to [MP]. Would he/she be available for a call, or are you able to pass on a message for me?’
If your MP is a Minister, Shadow Minister or Parliamentary Secretary, then they are very unlikely to be able to take a call. However, a non-minister (or “back-bencher”) might be free and willing to talk.
The staff member might ask you for your name and address. They need this to verify that you are a legitimate member of the electorate. They will treat your details confidentially.
Leaving a message
If they ask you to leave a message, just say the main points you want to talk about. Check with the staffer that they got it all down.
Answer any clarifying questions from the staff member, this will help them pass on the message effectively.
Ask if the MP is likely to get back to you. Leave a number or an email address where they can respond.
Be polite at all times. You are talking to a staff member, not the MP. They are just doing their job.
Finishing the call
Make sure you thank the MP or staff member for their time and for taking the call.
Emphasise that this is an important issue to you, and it could affect your vote.
Discussion Points
Concerns
This bill will have massive effects on faith communities, women and children.
Sex Self-ID
Allows young people from 16 years old to change their sex on their birth certificate whenever they want, regardless of biology or surgery.
Forces schools, prisons, places of worship, and other women’s spaces to treat people as their newly-declared sex regardless of how it impacts other people in those places.
Religious Freedom
Will open up faith-based institutions to constant complaints of discrimination and allow judges to decide what is “reasonable” faith.
Removes protections for faith-based schools and many other religious institutions.
Your request
Ask the MP to reject the bill completely, and not try to cut it up or pass bits of it.