The next federal election will be held on 3 May 2025
Contacting your local MP and candidates this election will help strengthen the voice for the promotion and support of breastfeeding in Australia.
These resources are designed to help you speak directly to your local MP and candidates, and let them know what is important to you as a breastfeeding advocate.
Candidates and parties are there to listen to the views of the public and if elected, represent your needs in parliament. The more people who contact politicians about the support and promotion of breastfeeding, the harder it is to ignore us.
As a voting constituent, your opinion holds a lot of weight. Candidates could win or lose the election based on the way you vote.
Our election priorities
ABA has four key priorities for the 2025 Federal Election focused upon the most important issues that need to be addressed for mums, parents and families in Australia.
- Full, 4-year funding for ABA's Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services.
- Legislation of new controls of the marketing of breastmilk substitutes in Australia that encompass the full scope of the WHO International Code and subsequent WHA resolutions.
- A repeat of the National Infant Feeding Survey in 2025.
- Improve access to continuity of care including midwifery continuity of care.
ABA Election Priorities 2025
Media release
Write to your MP and candidates
Letters and emails are one of the simplest ways to engage candidates and politicians about breastfeeding, an issue you care about.
Meet with your MP and candidates
A face-to-face meeting is an excellent way to build a relationship with your local Member of Parliament (MP) and the candidates who might become your next MP. It gives you the opportunity to discuss issues you feel strongly about locally and nationally and encourage your MP and candidates to act on your concerns. If you have young children, take them along too!
Email or call your candidate’s or MP’s office introduce yourself as a local constituent. Ask for a meeting to talk about their commitment to breastfeeding and parent support. Let them know who else will attend.
For ABA volunteers, its important to discuss your plan with your Group Leader or Regional Rep to ensure coordination.
If you don't get a response immediately, be patient. Politicians and their staff are often busy and can take time to respond. If you haven't heard anything after a week or so, you might like to follow-up with a gentle reminder.
Whilst you wait for the meeting date, spending some time researching your MP or candidate, so that you can better tailor your conversation points and anticipate their response. You can understand their policy positions, by visiting their website and other sources such as:
Meeting with your MP and candidates is an opportunity to build a relationship with them.
You can let them know who ABA is and what we do.
If your MP already supports your issue, consider them a powerful ally and work to maintain a relationship with them.
You could ask them to pose a question in parliament about progress on the election priorities.
Get a promise on what action they will take.
We have prepared a one-pager briefing note on each of ABA's election priorities.
Aim to go into your meeting prepared with:
Your key messages and a few powerful facts and figures to back them up.
A personal story or two, as appropriate.
A specific action you will ask them to take.
Bring along the Election Priorities document.
Provide your contact details for further correspondence.
Going with another ABA member or volunteer is ideal. This helps to share the experience and prepare for future contact. If you have young children, them along with you too!
Other tips include:
You will likely know more about the barriers and supports for breastfeeding mothers in your community than your representative, so do not be intimidated.
If you are going with others, have each person present a specific point or make a request, and do a rehearsal.
Whilst one person speak another can take notes.
Things to remember:
Make your case, get to the point and keep it simple. You may have less time than scheduled because MPs often change their schedule at short notice.
Even if an MP may not be personally interested in a certain policy area, it doesn't mean they won't respond to or represent your views. Show them how much it means to you and their interest may increase.
If your MP asks a question you don't know the answer to don't be afraid to say so. Offer to get back to them with the answer (which is an opportunity to re-engage).
After you have visited your MP, please let us know by filling out the Representing ABA in the community form.
