QLD
Call your MP
Look up your local MP in the form below for a detailed guide
to writing to them with targeted talking points
MP not found. Please search again
MP not found MP not found MP not found MP not found
Making your call
Prepare
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.
Introduction
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
Point out that:
- It prevents churches and faith based schools from requiring their employees to believe and live out their faith.
- It requires any selection of staff based on faith to be “reasonable”. This means that judges will have the ability to decide what is “reasonable” for faiths to believe and say.
- Sexuality is completely excluded which means that a church cannot require their staff to live out their faith in their sexuality, regardless of whether it is “reasonable”.
- The law allows politicians to require their employees to hold the same political beliefs, so faith groups should be able to do the same.
Your request
Ask the MP to respect religious freedom and reject the bill unless it is fixed.
Authorised by Mike Southon, Freedom for Faith, 168 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW