QLD
By Post: MP not found
By email: MP not found
Copy the Premier and Attorney General:
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 take the time to consult with the community and fix this draft?
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 to express concerns about the new draft of the Anti Discrimination bill. The bill poses a threat to churches and other faith groups as it restricts their ability to maintain a community of faith through selective employment. Faith groups should have the freedom to employ individuals who embody their beliefs, as it is essential for the integrity and authenticity of the community. When all members live out the beliefs of their faith, it ensures a cohesive and supportive environment, and it also helps to foster a strong and united community that can effectively provide services in line with its values.
Different rules for religious organisations than for others in the draft bill create a double standard. This could result in an unjust treatment of faith-based groups. I have attached a letter signed by numerous faith leaders expressing their shared concerns about the proposed legislation.
Could you please let me know your position on this matter? Will you stand up for religious freedom and the ability for faith groups to maintain their faith identity when it comes to employment? Your assistance in rejecting this bill would be greatly appreciated.
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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