SAVING AUSSIE BOOKS

MAKING A SUBMISSION – WHAT TO INCLUDE….

What should be in a submission?

There is no prescribed form for a submission to a parliamentary committee. Submissions may be in the form of a letter, a short document or a substantial paper. They may include appendices and other supporting documents.

Submissions should be prepared solely for the inquiry and should be relevant to the terms of reference. They may address all or a selection of the points outlined in the terms of reference. Submissions may contain facts, opinions, arguments and recommendations for action.

It is helpful if submissions are prefaced by a brief summary of the main points.

Supplementary submissions may be lodged during the course of an inquiry to provide additional information or comments on other evidence.

FINAL SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Submission checklist

Before lodging your submission you may find it helpful to consider the following checklist:

• Have I commented on some or all of the terms of reference?
• Have I provided a summary of the submission at the front (for lengthy submissions)?
• Have I provided my return address and contact details with the submission?
• If the submission contains confidential information, have I made this clear at the front?
• Have I provided an electronic version of the submission (if possible)?

SAMPLE PROTEST LETTER FROM THE HUB CAMPAIGN blog site

This is a sample protest letter from The Hub Campaign group for concerned parents/citizens to use – it could also provide the basis for writing a submission.

These are the specific Ministers who are dealing with this issue:
The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

The Hon Julia Gillard
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Education; Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations; Minister for Social Inclusion
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Also contact the minority parties who hold the balance of power in the Federal Government.

If you want a lot more information … See  ‘How to get Politicians’ Attention‘  – from Electronic Frontiers Australia.

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WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

NEED HELP WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR?

To help get publication:

• Keep your letter less than 250 words – even less is better.
• Remember to add your name, address and contact number.
• Write to local papers as well.Get the editor’s interest.
• Present your argument clearly. Don’t cover too many points in one letter.
• Address your letter as Letter to the editor.
• If you are responding to another letter, or article or the editorial, state what, where and when it was published.
• Strike while the iron is hot – no later than one or two days.
• End with a good solid punch line.
• Don’t overlook your local paper. You can reach a lot of people that way – especially your local Member of Parliament.

Email addresses:

NATIONAL PAPERS
The Australian -  letters@theaustralian.com.au
The Financial Review  -  edletters@afr.com.au

BRISBANE
Courier Mail -  cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au

MELBOURNE
The Age  -  letters@theage.com.au
The Herald Sun – hsletters@heraldsun.com.au

SYDNEY
Sydney Morning Herald – letters@smh.com.au
Daily Telegraph  -  letters@dailytelegraph.com.au

ADELAIDE
Advertiser – advedit@adv.newsltd.com.au

TASMANIA
The Mercury – mercuryedletter@dbl.newsltd.com.au
The Examiner – editor@examiner.com.au
The Advocate – letters@theadvocate.com.au

CANBERRA
The Canberra Times – letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

DARWIN
Northern Territory News – ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au

PERTH
West Australian  – letters@wanews.com.au