Meeting with your MP about the Duty of Care Bill

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The Duty of Care bill only has a chance of passing if the government sees that there is a wide base of support for the bill from people all around the country. You can help us achieve this by talking to your MP about it, through a phone call or an email, or even by having a meeting.

BEFORE TALKING TO YOUR MP

1. First you have to find out who your MP is and get their email address! Pop your postcode into this website https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members and look for your Federal MP.

2. Do your research on your MP. Know which party they’re from, and what their party’s climate policies are, so that you can be prepared for any counterarguments they might throw your way. Know what they’ve said about climate change, and pull any good quotes that you might be able to use to leverage their support.

3. If your MP hasn’t signed the pledge to support a Duty of Care, print out a copy and have it ready to take to your MP’s office if you’re meeting with them in person.

4. Do your research on the bill! Read the one pager, and read the how-to guide, specifically the part about the function of the bill, so you know what you’re arguing for.

5. It’s also a good idea to research your electorate. Is it climate vulnerable? Is there a high demographic of young people? Did it swing or change hands during the last election, potentially due to climate change?

CALLING OR EMAILING YOUR MP

If you’re calling your MP, find their office number and give them a call. You’ll most likely reach one of their staff.
If you’re emailing your MP, their email will be listed on the Australian Parliament House website. Make sure you include your address and phone number in the email. You’re much more likely to secure a meeting if your MP is aware that you live in their electorate.

EXAMPLE CALLING SCRIPT OR EMAIL TEMPLATE

Hi, my name is [ INSERT NAME ] and

I’m from your electorate of [ INSERT ELECTORATE / STATE ].

I’m calling to express my support as your constituent for the Duty of Care bill tabled by Senator David Pocock. Currently, there is no policy mechanism that compels the government to take into account the interests of young people in the context of climate change, and I don’t think this is good enough.

Talk about why you care. Are you a young person that suffers from climate anxiety? Are you a parent or grandparent who wants to see their child enjoy a safe and healthy environment like you did?
Talk about why this bill is the right policy mechanism to protect the rights of young people. Draw on some of the talking points listed below!

I would appreciate it if you could pass on my concerns to (name of your MP).

After the call/email:

Celebrate! Thank you for doing your part to give this bill the best chance it has to pass.
Email [email protected] and let us know how it went!

MEETING WITH YOUR MP

Send your Federal MP an email and ask them for a time to meet to discuss the Duty of Care bill. You can use the template meeting request below, or write your own!
Include why you care about the issue: are you a young person who feels climate anxiety? Have you lived through climate disaster? Are you a parent/grandparent who wants to ensure a safe future for your children?
Make sure you include your address and phone number in the email. You’re much more likely to secure a meeting if your MP is aware that you live in their electorate.

EXAMPLE MEETING REQUEST

Dear [ INSERT NAME ],

My name is [ INSERT NAME ] and I’m a [ INSERT ELECTORATE / STATE ] constituent. I’m writing to request a meeting to discuss the Duty of Care Bill currently before the Senate. As a [ young person / parent / grandparent / etc. ], I’m incredibly concerned about the increasing severity of climate change and the impact on our community.

As a politician the decisions you make today will set the course for our future. We ask that you consider the duty of care that you have to future generations.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the benefits of this bill for our community and to hear your views on legislative mechanisms that can safeguard our world from the most drastic effects of climate change for current and future generations.

Please contact me on (email) or (phone number) to arrange a suitable time for a meeting.

Kind regards,

[ INSERT NAME ]

[ YOUR ADDRESS ]

IN THE MEETING...

1. Breathe!! Remember, MPs are responsible to us, not the other way around.

2. Be brief and to the point - if you have something to ask for, just ask for it! Don’t feel scared to ask.

3. Share your story and why you care. Make it as emotive as possible. If you voted for your MP, make sure you emphasise that as their voter base, you expect them to help pass this bill.

4. If they’re hesitant to make commitments, make sure you ask them why, and take notes!

5. If you’re asked specific or technical questions that you don’t know, take them on notice and offer to email them once you have an answer -- this is not a bad thing! You are not expected to know everything, you are just expected to be passionate <3

6. Ask them to vote in favour of the bill. Ask them to sign the pledge to support a duty of care.

KEY TALKING POINTS

If meeting with a Liberal politician:

The Liberal party experienced a significant swing against it at the 2022 election. It lost votes around the country in spades because of its failure to take climate change seriously.
Climate Compass revealed that 47% of voters who swung independent and 42% of voters who swung Labor did so because of their concern for climate change. You have been given a very clear mandate to take the issue seriously.
Climate change will impact property and damage critical infrastructure, leaving many families living in food and water insecurity, income insecurity.

If meeting with a Labor politician:

Climate compass revealed that concern about climate change was a major reason that people at the 2022 election switched their vote to Labor - 42% of voters who swung independent did so primarily due to concern over the issue, and this is not counting the people for whom climate change was their second or third most important issue! Your voter base wants to see this bill go through!
The Labor party has implemented their Measuring What Matters framework, which is a wellbeing framework to track the country’s progress key wellbeing indicators. Although the party has implemented an annual “Measuring What Matters” statement, this framework is not protected in legislation in any way. And the treasurer has conceded that Australia risks missing its climate targets, meaning that favourable progress will likely not be made towards the Measuring What Matters climate indicator. This Duty of Care bill is complementary to already existing Labor policy and is a way to enshrine the Measuring What Matters framework and aims in law - we are providing you with a greater opportunity to honour your commitments and uphold your wellbeing framework.
The Labor party was very supportive of the court case of Sharma v Environment Minister, which gave rise to this bill, where 8 teenagers fought for their rights to be safeguarded from the impacts of climate change. Politicians from the Labor party provided words of affirmation and support, but support cannot exist only in back rooms and private forums. Words are empty if not matched with action.
The Liberal government fought tooth and nail to argue that they had no duty of care to young children. Will the Labor party do the same, or take this golden opportunity to show that they are, in fact, different?

If meeting with a Greens/Independent politician:

According to a study done by ABC’s Vote Compass in the 2022 Federal Election, the biggest issue was climate change, with 29% of Australians citing it as their number one issue for which their vote was decided
Climate compass revealed that concern about climate change was the primary reason that people at the 2022 election switched their vote to Independents/Greens - 47% of voters who swung independent did so primarily due to concern over the issue - your voter base wants to see this bill go through!

After the meeting:

Celebrate! Thank you for doing your part to give this bill the best chance it has to pass.
Email [email protected] and let us know how it went!