Write to Australian Parliamentarians and Government Ministers calling for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
Many EveryAGE Counts supporters and organisational members have expressed a desire to voice your own support for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons. A good way to do this is to write to the Australian Government to encourage them to support the Convention and to take action to make it a reality.
To assist with this, we have drafted two letters (one for use by individuals and one that might suit organisations better). You can draw on these for ideas for your own letter. The more you are able to personalise and tailor your letter to your own ‘voice’ and concerns the better, but you might find our drafts helpful.
Here a few tips, if relevant to you.
- Add into your letter how ageism affects you, your family, your friends, your community and how you see it undermining your human rights.
- Express why you think a UN Convention would help improve the rights of older people.
- Feel free to use recent, relevant public examples and reference to media/news items if they moved you on this issue.
- Remain courteous and polite.
- Keep a focus on the politician taking action.
- Encourage a reply from them and write back again if you don’t receive one in good time – but be patient.
- If you are writing to your local member or Senator make sure to let them know you are their constituent. If that local member is not part of the Government, tailor your letter to asking them for a commitment to support Government action on a new Convention.
- Provide your own contact details.
We suggest that, in addition to writing to your local member/Senator, you write to one or some of the following Ministers in the current federal Government voicing your support for a UN Convention:
- The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
- PO Box 6022
CANBERRA ACT 2600 - [email protected]
- PO Box 6022
- The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care
- PO Box 2038 Port Adelaide, SA, 5015
- [email protected]
- The Hon Anika Wells MP, Minister for Aged Care
- PO BOX – 182 Nundah QLD 4012
- [email protected]
- Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
- PO Box 6237, Halifax Street
Adelaide, SA, 5000 - [email protected]
- PO Box 6237, Halifax Street
- The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Attorney-General
- 566 Main Street
Mordialloc, VIC, 3195 - [email protected]
- 566 Main Street