Resources to support a meeting with your federal MP
Contacting and meeting with your federal MP helps strengthen the voice for the promotion and support of breastfeeding in Australia.
These resources are designed to help you speak directly to your federal MP, and let them know why breastfeeding support is important to you.
MPs are there to listen to the views of their constituents and 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.
ABA's advocacy priorities for Helpline
ABA is calling on the Australian Government to approve a 4-year, $14.8 million funding commitment to:
- Sustain and strengthen the National Breastfeeding Helpline and LiveChat services
- Upgrade critical telecommunications infrastructure
- Support and train ABA’s volunteers
- Expand culturally safe, multilingual access for priority communities
- Continue delivering accredited breastfeeding education to health professionals
Write to your MP
An email is one of the simplest ways to engage with your federal MP about breastfeeding, an issue you care about.
Watch our quick video on meeting your MP
Meet with your MP
A face-to-face meeting is an excellent way to build a relationship with your federal MP. It gives you the opportunity to discuss issues you feel strongly about locally and nationally and encourage your MP to act on your concerns. If you have young children, take them along too!
The email in DoGooder includes a request to meet with your MP. If you don't hear from their office in 7-10 days, a polite follow-up can work well.
'Leave behind' campaign handout for federal MPs
Email or call your federal 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, spend some time researching your MP, 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 federal MP 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 two-page briefing note for your MP on the Helpline campaign which you can leave behind after the meeting. You only need a few basic facts to advocate for ongoing Helpline funding:
ABA Helpline and LiveChat reach more than 57,000 families each year.
Since the May election the Australian Government has offered ABA 12-months funding through to 30 June 2026 only.
The current funding of $2.4 million per year no longer covers rising costs, nor the cost of upgrading the telecommunications system, which is at end-of-life.
ABA is asking the Government for a 4-year commitment of $14.8 million to support the future of the Helpline and LiveChat services.
Bring along the document for MPs (see link further up this page) and leave it behind.
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.
