Meeting with Your MP
If you’ve never visited a Parliamentarian before, or feel you need a refresher, this fact sheet aims to serve as a primer. Our objective in meetings held between now and November is to secure a bipartisan and federally legislated target of Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (and preferably sooner), with a clearly documented process for achieving it presented by the government at the UN climate conference in Glasgow this November.
Federal Politics and Climate Change
The Morrison Coalition Government has a majority of 1 in the House of Representatives and falls short of a majority in the Senate by 3. This means that the Senate has the potential to vote down or amend government legislation on a wide range of issues, including climate change. Senators are an important target for us in our lobbying efforts, although Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Representatives can be more susceptible to pressure, particularly if they occupy a marginal seat. Therefore, our focus tends to fall on MP’s.
Every MP and Senator is important, regardless of party, electorate or State, because of the internal machinations that take place behind closed doors. The wider our influence the better. Tabulated below are the key players in the current Parliament from a climate policy perspective (source Parliament of Australia).
Who’s who in Canberra
The Government: Liberal-National Coalition
| Prime Minister The Hon Scott Morrison MP |
| Deputy Prime Minister The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP |
| Minister for Agriculture The Hon David Littleproud MP |
| Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction The Hon Angus Taylor MP |
| Minister for Resources and Water The Hon Keith Pitt MP |
| Minister for the Environment The Hon Sussan Ley MP |
| Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment The Hon Dan Tehan MP |
| Minister for Industry, Science and Technology The Hon Christian Porter MP |
Opposition Shadow Cabinet: Labor Party
| Leader of the Opposition Hon Anthony Albanese MP |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition Hon Richard Marles MP |
| Shadow Minister for Trade and Resources Madeleine King MP |
| Shadow Minister for the Environment Terri Butler MP |
| Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Hon Chris Bowen MP |
| Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Dev. Hon Catherine King MP |
| Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Hon Ed Husic MP |
| Shadow Minister for Agriculture Hon Julie Collins MP |
Other parliamentarians who are particularly significant are the ‘modern Liberals’, those in marginal seats, members of the Crossbench, and those who take a reactionary position on climate policy.
We are in the process of writing to them all now to ask for meetings during the recess in September and October.
We need volunteers who live in the electorates and States of the MP’s and senators we meet with, to represent Citizens Climate Lobby Australia.
If you decide to get involved, you will be supported every step of the way. Listed below are some of the many resources that are available.
Resources for CCL Volunteer Lobbyists
- Most importantly other CCL volunteers, who will give you every assistance you need
- Our conference on 12th September 2021 has an emphasis on MP meetings and features three significant keynote speakers
- Live training sessions will be held during September and October (details to be announced soon)
- A 20-minute video and accompanying slides explaining the nuts and bolts of our lobbying method
- 5 short videos of around 7 minutes, each explaining how to talk to your MP.
To express your interest in working with us to meet with your MP, please send an email to conference@ccl.org.au.
You can download a PDF version of this fact sheet here