• Who is your local MP and how to find them
    • Find your Federal Electorate using your postcode:  Australian Electoral Commission
      • Remember you may be in two electorates – one where you live (and vote) and one where your practice is located
    • Use your Electorate to find your Federal Member: Parliament of Australia
    • –There are contact details on the webpage on the Parliament House website, there may also be links to their Party site
    • Want to know how safe the seat is – you can see the last election results at Tally Room Archive
  • What are their interests?
    • Look at their first speech and later speeches using the links on their APH webpage.
  • Making an appointment
    • Write a letter, make an appointment.
    • Letters are logged and answered, emails may not be.
  • Meeting with them
    • Tell them the topics you want to discuss and summarise your talking points points – there is no need to ambush them.
    • Connect with the individual – build a relationship of mutual respect
      • They are more likely to help you if they think your relationship is genuine
      • Use anecdotes – politicians are socio-political people – they understand anecdotes
    • Convince them the issue is important and that you are an important constituent.
      • GPs are respected community members with influence – we can influence their future
      • Mention our reach – 5 to 10 000 patients is a lot in a standard electorate of ~ 100 000 voters
      • Mention the strength of our relationship with our patients – intimacy and meaning
      • Mention the goodwill the practice has built over the years it has been operating – ie 75 years vs their 3 years
      • Mention your monthly patient email/newsletter and how you are sharing your policy concerns with them.
    • Commit to checking back in with them. Ask for their personal contact details if not offered. “Can you let me know what the Minister/Shadow Minister said?”