Late 2017, Joan Staples first wrote of threats to democratic advocacy from three foreign interference Bills. Then in November 2018, the final most controversial Bill, the Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform Bill, was passed with the support of civil society. The story of this transformation from horrified opposition to support for the Bill is a story of Australian civil society working together to influence legislation in a way rarely seen. It opens the way for future collaboration to proactively promote the strengthening of our democracy. [Joan Staples coordinates the mentoring program in the Change Agency’s Community Organising Fellowship]
Visit LinkPosts Tagged: lobbying - (15 found)

The unicorn activity: Political lobbying role play
This role play activity, developed by the Centre for Australian Progress, is an interactive workshop to help people experience a political lobbying meeting in a light-hearted way. The role play involves people being from either the Minister for Magical Creatures, or the NGO “Unicorn Revive”. People have the experience of planning a delegation meeting (if from the NGO) or of planning how to handle an NGO delegation (if from the Minister’s office).
Visit Link
Public health advocacy: 10 pieces of advice
Together, these tips focus on the importance of preserving public confidence in the evidence base underscoring public policy; being clear and concrete about the policy reforms you support; emphasising the values on which policy is based; understanding the structure, conventions and subtextual features of news reporting; developing ‘killer facts’ with ‘earworm’ potential; appreciating that the advocacy process leading to policy change almost always takes a long time; and growing a rhinoceros hide to assist in the inevitable attacks you will face.
Visit Link
Using shadow reports for advocacy: New Tactics
The New Tactics online dialogue “Using Shadow Reports for Advocacy” explored the various tactics in using shadow reports for supporting democracy and promoting government accountability in human rights. In the beginning of the dialogue, participants defined what constitutes a shadow/alternative report and identified the pros and cons of its use. After establishing a common understanding of shadow reports, the participants transitioned into discussing some of the deeper topics and challenges: issues of credibility, effective process of writing a report, using reports for advocacy, and addressing non-state actor torture by shadow reports.
Visit Link
PETA’s guide to becoming an activist
If you’re shy, uncomfortable with public speaking, or new at activism, you may feel like you are all alone. But it only takes one individual to reach hundreds of people and influence their often-unwittingly exploitative attitudes and lifestyles. Perhaps there are no animal rights groups in your area, but there is at least one animal rights activist … you. Anyone can be an activist. It doesn’t take special skills or superhuman abilities. You just need to care enough about animals to want to help them.
Visit Link
Getting politicians’ attention
Tips and resources for lobbying, including meeting and contact elected representatives, writing letters, sending emails, phone calls, contacting newspapers, etc.
Visit Link
Bernard Keane’s advice on writing to politicians
Standard words are worked up by bureaucrats and edited and signed off by the Minister’s staff when they’re happy the words are risk-free or convey the desired message. In most departments, they are then loaded into electronic ministerial correspondence systems. This means a bureaucrat doesn’t even need to cut-and-paste into a Word document, merely tell the system to use a particular set of standard words under the name, address, salutation and opening paragraph, which have all been electronically entered already…
Visit Link
How to write a letter to a politician
Sitting down and writing an original letter to a politician isn’t as convenient as sending a form letter or email composed by someone else, but it is much more effective and much more likely to receive a personalised response.
Visit Link
Lobbywatch
Lobbywatch helps track deceptive public relations and features a list of think tanks, front groups, PR operators and industry friendly experts.
Visit Link
Centre for Lobbying and Public Interest
The Centre promotes supports and protects non- government organisations participating in the public policy process. Information and resources on how to lobby.
Visit Link