Key points:
- Meeting with local MPs is the most potent thing that individual hunters can do
- Take some time to prepare and be prepared to listen
- Follow up on the meeting
Why meeting with your MP is important
Engagement works. Perhaps the most common ‘complaint’ we hear from our allies in Spring St is that, when it comes to the issues that affect us, emails and visits from our opponents outnumber those from shooters and hunters by a significant margin. It’s not necessarily that more people oppose our interests than support them, but that is the impression that our elected MPs are left with.
For every person who writes to, calls, or meets with their MP about an issue, there’s an assumption that many more feel the same way. Your MP cares about what the people who can vote for (or against) them think.
For the most part, MPs are accessible and interested in engaging with their local constituents.
Long-term shooting and hunting interests need as many supporters as possible across political parties and interests.
How to organise a meeting
You can find your local MPs by entering your address on the Parliament of Victoria website. CLICK HERE TO SEARCH
Every Victorian has one Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and five Legislative Council (Upper House) MPs representing them.
Depending on the issue, SSAA Victoria might ask you to prioritise which MPs you wish to meet with. For discussions about the current enquiry into Native Bird Hunting in Victoria, we ask members to prioritise Australian Labor Party MPs.
You should email the MPs office requesting a meeting stating the following
- Who you are
- What you do in your community (e.g. active in clubs, School, Church etc.)
- What would you like to meet with them about
- What is your availability
- Who will be in the meeting, e.g. are you bringing a like-minded friend? (we recommend bringing someone with you for several reasons. It shows the MP that you are not a ‘lone voice’ and gives another perspective to draw on.)
If you don’t hear back within a couple of weeks, it is appropriate to send a gentle reminder.
The MP might come back saying they are unavailable for a meeting. This is not unusual. If this occurs, don’t take it personally, MPs are busy people, so you should ask to meet with a member of their staff.
Prepare for your meeting
It’s essential to plan for your meeting to ensure that you get your main points across – you may only have 15-30 minutes or so, and you want it to count.
What three points do you want the MP (or their staff) to remember from the meeting?
With the Select Committee on Native Bird Hunting enquiry, you might want to think about points like
- What does the ability to go hunting mean to you and your family
- You are concerned that this year’s seasonal decision ignored the independent expert advice
- You are concerned that the Select Committee Enquiry has been set up to provide an excuse for the Government to ban duck hunting
- You understand that hunting is not everyone’s cup of tea, but other people not liking it is not a good reason to stop you from doing it if you are responsible and well regulated
- What do you do with the game meat? What’s your favourite recipe? Who do you share it with
Your organisations are putting the factual and political arguments for duck hunting – it needs individual hunters to put the human arguments – to make MPs understand that this is personal for you and your friends and family.
Try to listen as much as you speak. Using the opportunity just to make sure you are heard can be tempting, but this is letting your representative off the hook! Make time to ask what they think about the issue and what they will do about it.
You don’t have to be an expert! If they ask you technical or very specific questions, it’s okay to say you don’t know – but you can follow up with the resources later (we can help).
Follow up
After your meeting, email the MP (or their staff) again, thank them for their time and re-iterate the main points made in the meeting.
It is also valuable for SSAA Victoria’s advocacy efforts to know who you met with and what you learned. You can send SSAA Victoria a brief email about your meeting at comms@ssaavic.com.au
