Facing off the members

I have to agree that I’ve never encountered an ACT MLA who hasn’t been willing to see me when I’ve asked.

If the issue is important enough, it’s useful for them to know and they probably appreciate you getting in touch. If it’s not important enough for you to raise with them, why waste their time?

which is precisely why i love this website.

And let that be a reminder that the local MLA’s actually do read, and take notice of, Riotact!

HIGHlarious. no door knocking required. well joel, can you facilitate my participation at the next cross-sectoral priority setting workshop? presumably led by the commitee for inter-sectoral collaboration who is working hard to ‘join up’ service delivery.

Hi star anise

To answer a couple of your questions –

“I wonder how local pollies are reaching out and involving the sort of people who would have no idea that RiotACT exists?”

Here are a few examples:

– As mentioned above, MLAs such as Mary Porter and Joy undertake regular shopping centre stalls across their electorates.

– Send mail outs inviting local residents to get in touch to discuss their concerns.

– Regularly attend local community council meetings.

“Besides ‘consulting’ with advocacy organisations, does anyone know about how local government involves people from more deprived demographics in policy making and planning? Does anyone know of ‘vertical slice’ planning meetings that include both bureaucrats and service users? And if we can’t actually participate in planning meetings, are they at least advertised and open to public observation?”

This website is a good place to start:

http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/your_say/be_involved/consultation_information

Anyway, if you’d like to contact me on 6205 0110 or at burch@act.gov.au, I’d be happy to facilitate a meeting with Joy or your relevant local member / help answer any other questions you have.

Cheers

Joel at Joy Burch’s office

While I am pleased I can personally make the effort to get in touch with my local pollie (while feeeling like I’m being slapped senseless by a detached bleeding arm), I wonder how local pollies are reaching out and involving the sort of people who would have no idea that RiotACT exists? Besides ‘consulting’ with advocacy organisations, does anyone know about how local government involves people from more deprived demographics in policy making and planning? Does anyone know of ‘vertical slice’ planning meetings that include both bureaucrats and service users? And if we can’t actually participate in planning meetings, are they at least advertised and open to public observation?

Their email addresses are an easy way to get in touch too. It’s always firstname.lastname@parliament.act.gov.au. You do get the ‘door bitch’ this way, but they’re nice bitches, mostly. Just ask for their time for a coffee.

It isn’t hard to get a meeting with you’re local MLA. Just ring up and ask for a meeting telling them you are in their electorate.

If you have a bigger issue you wish to tackle, ring up the office of the relevant Minister (or their Opposition number) and ask for an appointment. I recently had a joint meeting with Steve Doszpot and Brendan Smyth on a particular issue and have been invited back to meet with them again tomorrow. I’m also meeting with Amanda and Meredith from the Greens earlier in the day. All it takes is the time to call them and explain what you want to discuss…

Good luck…

Star anise’s private citizen post demonstrates an extraordinary synchronicity with a discussion in Stanhope’s information hub about the UK government’s social marketing techniques yesterday.

ie, Mary Porter…