HowTo: Make your views on Tas climate policy known

📢 Take action

Minister Details

Minister for Climate Change - Guy Barnett

Shadow Minister for Climate Change - Janie Finlay

Find phone numbers and emails of your local MP here

Tasmanian Climate Collective

How to make your views on Tas climate policy known - where it counts

Script options for inspiration:

Got 5 mins? Short email or letter

Dear/To [MP's Name],

I'm writing as a constituent who is genuinely worried about what climate change is already costing me and my community - financially and emotionally.

The government's response to the Independent Review of the Climate Change Act was a missed opportunity. It lacked urgency, left major gaps in adaptation planning, and leaned on short-term offsets instead of real, lasting cuts to climate pollution.

This isn't abstract for me. [Insert one or two sentences based on your own experience - e.g. rising insurance or living costs, damage from extreme weather, anxiety about future summers, or impacts on your work.] It's a weight I carry, and I don't think that toll gets talked about enough in these conversations.

I welcomed the reinstatement of a Climate Change Minister, but these tokens aren't a plan. I'm asking you directly: will you push for a stronger government response, real reductions in climate pollution, and genuine urgency in managing these risks?

Thank you for representing our community.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your suburb or electorate]

Optional [Your phone number]

Got 5 - 10 mins? Longer email or letter

Dear/To [MP's Name],

I'm writing to you as a constituent, not as an activist or an expert - just someone who is genuinely worried about what climate change is already costing me, my family, and my community.

I was hopeful when the Independent Review of the Climate Change Act was announced. I thought it might finally lead to a government response that matched the scale of what we're facing. Instead, what came back felt like a missed opportunity - one more example of process being prioritised over action, at a time when the impacts are no longer theoretical.

I want to be honest with you about what this looks like from where I sit. [Insert a specific example: e.g. rising insurance premiums, damage from extreme weather, increased cost of living tied to climate impacts, anxiety about future summers/bushfire seasons, impacts on your work or industry, etc.] It's not abstract to me - it's a monthly stress, and honestly, it takes a toll I don't think gets talked about enough. There's a real emotional weight to watching a problem get bigger while the government response stays small.

What frustrates me most is that this isn't only about paperwork. It's about whether the people making decisions are willing to act with the urgency this moment demands - for health care, for local communities, for the infrastructure we all rely on, for the natural places that make Tasmania what it is.

I understand there have been some positive steps - reinstating a Climate Change Minister, as parliament requested. But this token action isn't the same as a genuine plan. We're asking for honesty about the scale of the problem, and for decisions to reflect that.

So I'm asking you, directly: will you push for a stronger government response to this review? Will you advocate for real, lasting reductions in climate pollution rather than continued reliance on short-term offsets? And will you help make sure that the management of these risks reflects the urgency this moment demands?

[If you'd like to speak more add in: I'd genuinely welcome the chance to talk with you about this further, if you're open to it.]

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for the work you do representing our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your suburb or electorate]
Optional [Your phone number]

Got 10 mins? Make a phone call

Before you call - a few quick tips:

If you haven't called a MP before, don't worry! Staffers take these calls every day and are used to them.
You don't need to sound like an expert - just a voter.
Even saying one or two lines is a valid, valuable call.
If you freeze or lose your place, it's fine to say: "Sorry, let me just check my notes."
You're allowed to be firm and polite at the same time. You don't need to soften your ask or apologise for calling.
There is a quick call reference card at the end for a shorter call.

Example script - to help you write your own

1. Opening

(You'll likely speak to a staffer first, not the MP directly - that's normal and still counts.)

"Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I'm a constituent in [electorate/suburb]. I'm calling about the government's response to the Climate Change Act review - do you have a moment, or is there a better time to call back?"

2. State why you're calling

"I'm calling because I'm concerned the government's response to the Independent Review of the Climate Change Act doesn't go far enough. It lacks urgency, leaves major gaps in climate adaptation planning, and keeps relying on short-term forest offsets instead of real, lasting cuts to climate pollution."

(If they ask you to clarify or slow down, that's fine - repeat or simplify as needed.)

3. Make it personal

(This is the most powerful part of the call. One or two sentences is enough.)

"This isn't just a policy issue for me - it's personal. [Insert your own experience: e.g. rising insurance or living costs, damage from extreme weather, worry about future summers, impacts on your work or industry.] It's a real weight to carry, and I don't think that gets talked about enough."

4. Acknowledge the positive, briefly - then pivot back

"I do welcome the reinstatement of a Climate Change Minister, as parliament asked for. But token actions aren't the same as a real plan."

5. Make your ask - clearly and directly

(Pick one or two, whichever matters most to you.)

"I'd like [MP's Name] to push for a stronger government response - one that includes real, lasting reductions in climate pollution, closes the gaps in adaptation planning, and treats this with the urgency it deserves."

"Can I ask where [MP's Name] stands on this, and whether they'll be raising it in parliament?"

6. If you get pushback, deflection, or a generic response

If they say "we'll pass on your feedback":

"Thank you - I'd appreciate that. Could I also ask that this call be logged, and whether I can expect any follow-up?"

If they downplay the issue or disagree:

"I understand there are different views on this, but I want to be clear this is a priority for me as a constituent, and I'd like that reflected in how [MP's Name] represents us."

(You don't need to argue the science or debate policy detail. You're not there to win an argument - you're there to be counted. It's okay to stay calm, brief, and firm.)

If they try to end the call quickly:

"I appreciate your time - just to confirm, is my call being recorded as a contact on this issue?"

7. Closing

"Thank you for your time today. I'd really appreciate a response from [MP's Name] on this, and I'll be watching how the government follows through. Have a good day."

Quick-reference card (if you get an answering machine or you're nervous)

Here's the shortest version that still counts:

"Hi, I'm [Your Name], a constituent in [electorate]. I'm calling to ask [MP's Name] to push for stronger action on the government's Climate Change Act review response - it doesn't go far enough, and it's affecting me personally. Thank you."

That's it. That's a complete, valid call.

Remember: You are not being difficult by calling. You're doing exactly what representative democracy asks of you. Staffers log these calls, and numbers matter - every call adds to a count that MPs and ministers pay attention to.