Political Lobbying: The CCL Way
A lobby meeting in progress
Introduction
This guide is appropriate for lobby meetings with MPs and with grasstops influencers. At CCL, we want to develop a long-term relationship with the person we are meeting. We would like to influence their views or even become a trusted advisor. Here are some tips for achieving this.
When we meet, we convey our position, our goals and our asks, while operating with respect, appreciation and gratitude. We exercise our values in the following ways: -
We are optimistic so our lobbying is about solutions, not about protest
We show integrity by being prepared, knowing what is important to our guest, what we might have in common, respecting their time and following up as promised
We are non-partisan; we believe we can find common ground with people of all political stripes
Common ground in a lobby meeting might be:
Shared values, such as children and grandchildren’s futures
Shared social interests such as clubs, schools, hobbies
Shared places such as the local electorate etc.
Recognition and appreciation of things that our guest has achieved
Preparation
There is some general preparation to be done before you meet with your MP.
Research Your MP
Find out about your Member’s stance on party issues, what leadership they have in the party, what committees they serve on, what causes or policies they champion, etc. Use a search engine to check their campaign website, social media accounts, and any other relevant sources of information.
Helpful resources:
Open Politics Australia - specifically under the ‘Memberships/Office holder or donor’ section of your MP’s profile page
APH: Search for Members
The website aph.gov.au contains contact information, biographies, voting history, transcripts of speeches and committee memberships.
Research CCL’s Current Policy Positions
The best way of doing this is to follow our Policy Playbook and our blog Wisps of Clarity.
Research CCL’s Current Asks
They say a week is a long time in politics. This means that what we ask our politicians for is changing constantly. It is important to check in with our National Lobbying Team to make sure you stay up-to-date. In November 2022, these are our asks:
The primary ask is made to a Senator or MP to legislate for a price on carbon using the Australian Climate Dividend (ACD) method.
A supporting ask can be for a review of ways in which emissions could be reduced in one or more of the following sectors: the four energy sectors and the industrial emissions sector.
CCL asks for the removal of all explicit subsidies that support the continued use of fossil fuels as well as the implicit subsidies which flow from the unpriced ‘negative externalities’ that impact climate, environment, health and the economy.
To enable net zero to be more easily achieved, CCL supports the calls from the IEA, the IPCC and climate scientists and we ask for a halt to all new coal and gas development.
CCL asks that the methods used to determine fugitive emissions released during fossil fuel production and distribution be reviewed and revised.
CCL supports the planned infrastructure improvements in the electricity sector and asks that a carbon price be implemented to further incentivise private investment and reduce the burden on taxpayer funds.
CCL asks for a levy to be raised on windfall profits from energy (coal/gas) exports and the revenue returned to businesses and households to help meet rising costs of energy and climate related disasters.
CCL asks that reinvestment of the fuel excise be used to assist the decarbonisation of the transport sector, especially heavy transport.
This varied list should enable you to select a topic that you can approach with your MP. Use the research you have done to help you find a path.
The Team Roles – who does what
We operate as a team, assigning different roles to each other, so the load is shared. If you are part of a small group, some team members may have to take on more than one role. We allocate these roles to one another, as part of our preparation, before the meeting.
The team roles are as follows:
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undertakes all or most of the communication with the MP/MP’s office
helps cultivate the relationship
organises the meeting and forwards documents as needed
may also be the one to ask how long the person can meet with us
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Has some experience and understanding of the CCL approach
oversees any research that is required
prepares the meeting agenda
makes sure the agenda is sent to all concerned, including the MP
decides on the allocation of team roles
acts as the MC during the meeting
makes sure we stay on topic during the meeting
conducts the debrief afterwards
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Takes notes on
key points made
questions raised
others’ observations discussed in the debrief
records notes on file, and logs them in Hubspot
Helps prepare a thank you and feedback email
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- monitors the time
- records the approximate percentage that the guest spoke versus the CCL volunteers
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shows genuine appreciation for something that the guest has said or done recently
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Says a few words about CCL’s purpose
States our request for a climate dividend policy and invites the person to share their thoughts about climate solutions
May be the one to make to make a supporting ask, if needed
Group photo
The Meeting
A CCL meeting typically goes like this:
Open with a thank you and a brief description of CCL if it has been a while since you met or it's the first time you have
We briefly introduce ourselves. Each CCL volunteer gives a 20 second introduction which helps to create a personal connection. There are some sample introductions at the end of this guide from members of the CCL training team.
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At the start of the meeting, when you introduce yourself, you need to state:
● Your name
● Which area you live in
● What you do/did for work
● What concerns you about climate change
● Why you volunteer with CCL
You want your guest to remember you and your cause. One way to do this is to tell your own personal story - why you worry about climate change - it can be a powerful message.
It can be quite challenging to keep your introduction to 20 seconds or less! It is a good idea to practise your introduction a few times so that it rolls off your tongue, and feels authentic, easy and natural to say.
The timekeeper asks how much time is available. Meetings typically run for 30 minutes but vary from 20 minutes to 1 hour
The appreciations, which can also be given during the round of 20-second introductions
Then we ask our first question - the dialogue begins with their response to our ask
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Rod Mitchell, who founded the Australian arm of CCL, describes being in a meeting like this.
Once we have asked a question, we listen – we pay close attention so we can hear their response as clearly as possible. We then respond to what they have said in whatever way makes sense to us at the time and has a chance of moving them towards supporting our request. Our planning and research may give us a good idea of their position on climate and carbon pricing and prepare us to some extent but there is no way of knowing how they will actually respond to our ask. They will range from interested questioning to outright dismissal.
Thorough reading and discussion of our Policy Playbook equips us with sound knowledge that will enable us to respond flexibly and constructively to wherever the conversation takes us. But it is important to remember that knowledge and information may not carry much weight in the highly contested and emotional area of climate and energy policy. It's important to be logical and rational in our thinking but it’s equally important to be aware that there are strong emotional and identity-based components of people’s positions on climate and energy, including our own! This requires significant empathy and understanding of the person we are meeting with, and awareness of our own emotional drivers.
By building and maintaining a genuine connection and open communication we are more likely to achieve breakthroughs than an exchange of differing positions that might lead to defensiveness and a closing of minds.
Our meetings are dynamic and depend on the dynamic of the group’s interaction with our guest. Anything can happen!
The leader will use their experience to guide the process and keep to our values
The timekeeper indicates when there's five minutes remaining. Sometimes the person is happy to go longer
Wrapping up the meeting:
Answer any final questions raised. Undertake to send information or materials to clarify our asks
Leave a one-page ask and other materials we have brought
Take a group photo - MPs often put the photo on their official channels and, with permission, CCL may use it in their publications
Thank them for the meeting.
Remember the importance of starting and ending with appreciation! Try to organise another contact whether it be a follow up from the discussion (e.g. supplying material) or organising another meeting. It is a good idea to have some follow-up activities as they help you to keep in touch.
How to Conduct Yourself in the Meeting
Listening
Listening is the most important skill. When you ask a question, listen carefully to the response. Listen for the values, interests and concerns behind the guest’s responses so that following questions can build on this understanding and help to find the common ground that can strengthen your relationship.
To encourage discussion, use active listening:
Reflect back what the person has said e.g. “Oh, so you mean that …….” to show that you are listening and have understood
Use vocal prompts to encourage the speaker e.g. “Oh, yes”, “OK” “I see”
Be conscious of body language, have an open posture, with your body facing theirs, your arms uncrossed, your head inclined towards them
Keep eye contact
Actually listen to what the person is saying, maintain your focus, rather than planning what your next comment is going to be
Your guest should speak for the majority of the meeting.
Open Questions
Open questions are also very important in any discussion. They will draw out more responses. Closed questions elicit only a very short response such as Yes/No:
‘Do you support climate action?’ is a closed question
‘What are your thoughts on addressing climate change?’ is an open question
Respect, generosity and appreciation
These 3 principles will help to build a long-term relationship with our guest.
Respect will help us to avoid:
arguing with our guest, making them wrong, trying to push our opinions
interrupting (except to politely bring the discussion back on topic)
talking over the top of our guest
What if the Guest isn’t Prepared to Engage?
People can sabotage lobby meetings by deliberately not answering the question, by talking about other issues, by waffling on to fill up the allotted time. You can guide the dialogue back on track; e.g. “Yes, I’d like to get back to …..”
Sometimes you will meet with a guest who is totally opposed to any sort of climate action. In these situations, once you recognise their opposition, draw the meeting to a close, thank them politely - and focus your efforts elsewhere. It is better to try to choose a guest where there is some likelihood of them taking some action as a result of the meeting.
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My name is Bill Shute. I am a retired CEO. I live in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in the Mackellar electorate. It seems to me that our way of life is slowly destroying us, all the material things like electricity, cars, big houses, central heating, etc. It is an immense challenge to fix this, and I feel compelled to engage.
I am Tony Wright, citizen of Wentworth electorate NSW. I recently became a grandfather rather surprisingly. I am concerned about the legacy that I leave behind. I have joined CCL to support those who care to lead sustainable lives. I believe that it is the most important existential issue of our times and I owe it to my grandchildren to do what I can for them.
My name is Pam Pitt, I live in the Flinders Electorate, and have been a small business owner for many years. I am passionately concerned about climate change - I believe that we are custodians for the future and have a duty to protect what we have inherited. I want my 3 young grandchildren to have as good a life as I have had, but with climate change, I worry about this being possible.
My name is Sue Weser. I am a Public Speaking coach/trainer. I live in the Macnamara Electorate. The Climate Emergency is an issue that has been consuming me for many years, and it still does! The future of life on earth is at stake, unless we can come together and solve this problem. I joined CCL because I love CCL's proposed solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, via the introduction of the Australian Climate Dividend.
Resources:
Take the opportunity to practise your lobbying skills by enrolling in our Climate Action Workshop.
https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/search/climate (Excellent information about climate change and how to talk about it)
