How to write to Aussie politicians

Picked this up from a facebook group...

Hi all,

Ever written to your federal politician, to your local Member, to a Senator or to a Member of Parliament?

Got an answer? Did it take three or four months? Did the answer come from someone entirely different, like a government department? Did it really respond to your letter or did you - rudely - get a truckload of spin and smoke and mirrors and party policy?

Writing your letter is the easy part. But it will be very likely that the person you're writing to will never personally read your letter. The days of personal contact with politicians are slowly vanishing behind a gigantic bureaucratic maze of accountability structures. Here are some tips that will make your letter stand out and ensure it's being read by the person you're writing.

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• Your politicians
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All contact details for politicians are on the Parliamentary website at aph.gov.au.

The first link is the overview with link to lists by party, by State etc. The second link is the alphabetical list:

House of Representatives Members:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm

Alphabetical List:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-alpha.asp

Senate, Senators:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/index.htm

Alphabetical List:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/homepages/index.asp

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• Parliamentary address or Electorate address?
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Don't use the Parliamentary office address for your letter, ALWAYS send it to the Electorate Office for all Members of Parliament or Senators. In Parliament your letter will end up on a giant pile and gets less attention - and the "tricks" explained below won't work.

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• Envelope and address: the important start
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First, make sure the address and postal details are in the BOTTOM RIGHT QUARTER of the envelope. Too many people chalk the address all over the front of the envelope, and it won't look good. The professional outside helps our trick and gives a credible impression. If you can type the address on the envelope, that's even better!
_____________________________________________
your name
address


Name
Address
Town
State and PCode
_____________________________________________

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• Now add: PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
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Envelope all done? Then it's time for your RED pen and to add "the personal touch" above the address. This will ensure your letter gets the importance it deserves - almost, not entirely. For that to happen we have one more trick below.

Make sure the pen is RED and use clear block letters:
_____________________________________________
your name
address

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Name
Address
Town
State and PCode
______________________________________________

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• That extra mile: Use Registered Mail
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By sending your letter as Registered Mail, you will considerably increase its importance: the recipient will have to sign for its delivery - it becomes a "person-to-person" letter, even if it's a staffer in the politician's office who signs for its receipt. Registered Mail will cost you an extra $2.30, but it's worth the weight it adds to your writing.

Details: http://auspost.com.au/personal/registered-post.html

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• I Write To You And I Vote: using pressure
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Feel free to tell your politician that your vote counts, and that they need to earn it. This year it's the biggest pressure point on politicians, and you are in your right mind to demand just policies - whether that's in relation to the ghastly treatment of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, in relation to the undermining of United Nations Conventions, in relation to the massive concern we all share about the environment, in relation to the treatment of asylum seekers who have arrived by boat, in relation to mandatory detention of boat arrivals, or what have you.

Remind them. Tell them. Urge them. Scold them. Cajole them - and tell them your vote to them is at risk. You write to them AND you vote!

==== >>>> Spread the word about our Facebook group

1. Go to the group's front page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8746831615

2. Note the five TABS [ | Wall | Info | Discussions | Photos | + | ]

3. Choose the "Info" TAB, and find the how to's of "inviting others", your friends, in the "Recent News" section.

best regards
Jack