Below is a template letter to send/email to your newly elected candidate to connect with them and express your prayers and calls for action in key justice areas as this new parliament begins.
This is a suggested letter/email message which you are welcome to edit. Let us know how you go!
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Dear <<MP/Senator>>
(for MP: “Title (e.g Mr, Ms, Dr) Surname MP” for Senator: “Senator Surname”),
Congratulations on your recent election/re-election as <<Senator for STATE or MP for ELECTORATE>>.
As one of your constituents, I wanted to reach out and make contact. My name is <<XYZ>>, I am a member of << local church/local group>>.
Common Grace is a movement of more than 56,000 people passionate about Jesus and justice. Together we speak out for justice for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters, for our asylum-seeker friends looking for welcome on our shores, for those suffering and surviving domestic and family violence, and for God's creation, and the effects of climate change. We pray for a nation, parliament, and policies, that seek the good of others, and move us toward a broader vision for justice - one that cares for the poor, the struggling, and the marginalised in our nation.
I am particularly concerned about our nation’s treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and feel that truth telling and Treaty are long overdue. I welcome the news that the newly elected government embraces the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full. I call on our nation’s leaders to listen to the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and prioritise true self-determination. I want to see real investment to Close the Gap, Raise the Age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, and see all the 1991 Royal Commission recommendations implemented to prevent any more Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
I am also particularly concerned about climate change, with the widespread and worsening ecological and climate harms visible in Australia and beyond. I welcome the renewed and strong focus on climate action with the election of this government and pray our nation’s leaders will work together to accelerate urgent action on climate change - including significant new investment made in renewables and the end of coal. *Please see below for a further invite to be added here
I am particularly concerned about our nation’s treatment of people seeking asylum on our shores. I welcome the government’s commitment to increase Australia's refugee intake, to provide mainstream social services to all people seeking asylum and bring an end to arbitrary and indefinite detention. I pray that through this leadership and action, our nation and communities will be places of healing, welcome, compassion and care for refugees and people seeking asylum.
I am also particularly concerned about our nation’s domestic and family violence crisis. Every three minutes a woman is hospitalised due to Australia's domestic violence crisis. Every week a woman dies. I welcome the government's commitment to women and pray our nation's leaders will work together to ensure better funding and policies to address this urgent national issue to protect lives and support safer communities.
I’ll be praying for you as you serve our nation - for wisdom, for compassion, and for a concern for people who need our support the most:
Loving God, as a new Parliament commences, I pray for <<insert name of MP>>, my elected representative. Bless <<insert name of MP>>: give them love, wisdom, and compassion. Challenge <<insert name of MP>>: give them courage and a thirst for justice. May <<insert name of MP>> be reminded by the followers of Jesus that we remain united in love, finding common ground as we work for the common good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for the work and personal sacrifice you make to serve our community. I look forward to having the opportunity to connect with you to help you in your efforts to improve the lives of your constituents, support people on the margins, listen to the voices of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and take urgent climate action and lead Australia.
Grace and peace,
<<Your name>>
<<Address>>
<<Postcode>>
<<Phone number>>
*An extra note: if you are passionate about seeing urgent climate action could you please add an invitation and encouragement for your MP or Senator to wear their Common Grace Knit for Climate Action scarf on #ShowYourStripes Day, 21 June?
If your MP and Senator has been re-elected please add the following invite:
Thank you for receiving the gift of a Common Grace Knit for Climate Action scarf. To show your support for urgent, ambitious climate action I invite you to wear your Knit for Climate Action scarf on #ShowYourStripes Day, 21 June. Please #WearTheScarf and take a photo to share across social media, tagging @CommonGraceAus, on 21 June to show your support and commitment for Australia to take urgent, ambitious climate action.
OR If your MP and Senator has been newly elected please add the following invite:
Common Grace is in the process of seeking meetings with all newly elected MPs and Senators to gift you a Knit for Climate Action scarf. These scarves have been generously and beautifully crafted for each of our nation's leaders as a gentle yet firm reminder and clear call for Australia to take urgent, ambitious climate action. Please reach out to Common Grace to arrange a time to meet if you have not yet organised a meeting as we would love to meet with you to welcome, connect and gift you a scarf. You can contact Common Grace’s Creation and Climate Justice Coordinator, Jane Kelly, at [email protected]
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To confirm your electoral details visit the Australian Electoral Commission website here.
Contact details for re-elected MPs and Senators are available here www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members
To find the contact details of newly elected MPs, type “contact (name)” into your internet search engine. (These details are still in the process of being updated on the APH website)