Meeting with your federal or state MP to chat with them about Indigenous issues will have a huge impact. A face-to-face meeting with your politician will have much more impact that just about anything else.

If you don't know who your local politician is, we suggest you go to the Open Australia website. There you can type in your postcode to find your politician and the latest speeches they have given in parliament.

Tips for your meeting

Now that you have the contact details of your MPs, here's some tips for your meeting with them:

1. Prepare beforehand. Know your subject, know your audience and find points of connection. It will help if you know about the record of the politician and their party as well as their current priorities. If you know who they listen to, you can also ask these people to support you.
2. Decide on what you want to achieve beforehand and stick to it during the meeting. This has to be achievable and consistent with initiatives the particular politician can be persuaded to support.
3. As far as possible link what you are trying to achieve to the public interest, rather than just the interests of your own group. For example, why should government properly consult with Aboriginal community leaders? Because they have information that will be valuable in ensuring government programs are successful.
4. Prepare briefing notes (no more than two pages long) that clearly outline your position and what you are seeking. Give copies of these to the politician and his/her staff. You need to make it as easy and straightforward as possible for them to agree with your position and support what you are trying to achieve.
5. Dress neatly and if possible wear a suit or smart casual clothing. Whether we like it or not appearances count. The politician will most likely be wearing a suit so if you have one you should think about wearing it too.
6. Provide a business card or contact details. If you have business cards, take some along and give them to the politician and his/her staff. If not, make sure you leave your name and contact details with them.
7. Don't ask for more than one or two things. If you ask for too much, they'll pick the easiest to achieve and could throw the most important into the too hard basket.
8. Be brief and to the point. Break the ice, tell them why you wanted to see them and then move on to what you are seeking. Don't wander off on tangents or allow yourself to be diverted.
9. Treat them with courtesy and respect even if their views are hostile to yours. If you come across as professional and likeable they'll be more inclined to help.
10. Listen if they offer advice. Often they will have valuable advice that can assist you. Listen when they offer this, carefully weigh it up and thank them for it.
11. Provide an incentive for them to do the right thing. Acknowledge when they help you. Give credit when it is due.
12. Don't ignore their staff and public servants. These people are valuable to the process, often have considerable influence over the politician and can make your task easier or more difficult.
13. Make sure you follow up the meeting with a letter, stick to your side of any agreement and do anything you commit to. For example, if you say you're going to provide information, make a submission or invite them to your talk to your organisation, make sure you do it.

How did your meeting go?

If you recently met with your MP to discuss Indigenous rights, please leave a comment below to let us all know who you spoke with and how it went. It might help others who want to meet with the same MP.