Having Your Voice Heard - Contact Your MP about Issues That Concern You

DealsBoy on 01/10/2018 - 10:10

Hi sorry this is a bit political but I think this is important.
In this day and age I think we find it hard to have our voice heard. When there are things going on in Canberra, politicians seem to be more concerned about policies/party than about you. We need to have MPs listening to what concerns you.

I think Ozbargainers are a sensible lot and I think we should be expressing our voices to our local MPs about issues that are affecting ourselves, our family and friends.

Remember that MPs REPRESENT YOU so you need to tell them what you care about and how they should be representing you; otherwise they'll carry on doing what they think is best or by who they receive donations from which can take up to 19 months to be made public- https://theconversation.com/time-for-the-federal-government-…

This is how to find your local MP https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Guidelines_for_C…

I found this useful pack online about how to contact your MP http://www.caritas.org.au/docs/default-source/campaigns/mp-k…

You can also sign online petitions here https://www.change.org/en-AU

Hope you find this useful and make your voice be heard.

Education & Work

Comments

  • mysterytal on 01/10/2018 - 10:15
    +12

    My federal MP has the opposite view than I and many others in the community do and is not helpful.

    • orangetrain on 02/10/2018 - 08:14
      +3

      Tony Abbott is even disliked by his family.

      I bet you that most people in your community vote for the party despite being against their interests. Instead of using critical thinking or care.

      Edit: bring up issues that you think that they care about but the party they usually vote for is against it.

      • billy77 on 02/10/2018 - 14:04

        It's the fault of our (Western) system - you have to vote for the party.
        If we were to vote for the issue, that would be different.

        • orangetrain on 02/10/2018 - 14:20
          +3

          The system is set that people vote for individuals. That's how reps can split off from party and say they're independent. How do you have to vote for the party?

          • resisting the urge on 02/10/2018 - 17:37
            +2

            @orangetrain: You don't have to, but most still do. Few even know the candidate most aligned with their own viewpoints.

            And the fact is that reps do not abandon their parties- this is most rare. They barely ever cross the floor in any House. Party whip's only need one or two things on each rep to be sure of their loyalty. Even in the absence of any dirt, if they cross the floor, or leave the party, they can really only do it in certain, (very lucky) circumstances, as they risk being relentlessly targeted and ousted by their 'colleagues'

            Reality now is that when you talk to your local member, be it a minister or shadow minister, they may well be part of a party that will not change and work against the issues you want addressed (in your lifetime, if ever), so contacting them can be the worst thing you can do.

            It is most likely to help them enhance their efforts to avoid scrutiny around current activities you disagree with, and/or more effectively distribute misinformation to you and other constituents as you will now be tagged and known to have these concepts as part of your profile.

            They are all recording and targeting constituents based on what you tell them. One needs to take great care to avoid this kind of active surveillance. It is actually so bad that even the reps on your side can't be trusted with the information you tell them- as the data leaks and gets traded with increasing vigour.

            It's all a matter of balance for your local rep. Thinking you can change their views on all but the most meaningless of subjects risks being counter-productive because of our adversarial system of politics. Giving the other side good ideas or insight is likely to help them overcome the other side (and/or you and what you care about). Listening to you and telling you what you want to hear (and then doing the exact opposite) is a the most common outcome by far.

            This is how they get away with being so out of touch. They elite quickly get used to all the people who come along to enlighten them against the very things that sustain their party and most of what they really stand for.

            Ours is a partisan and compromised existence- and democracy is dead. We are controlled by vested interests and machines far more than we are equipped to understand.

    • abb on 02/10/2018 - 14:39

      You may still be able to raise your issue with the appropriate minister, or shadow minister.

      They sometimes use feedback to adjust party policies.

    • Geekomatic on 02/10/2018 - 17:47
      +2

      "My federal MP has the opposite view than I and many others in the community do and is not helpful."

      Same ^

      I've written to ours, a few times. Might as well send a note to a brick wall. He pens any sort of reply as to "school" you on how mistaken you are &, instead of answering what's asked about, goes on to say whatever "sales pitch" du-jour has been recorded in his head….

  • GG57 on 01/10/2018 - 10:37
    +3

    Some useful links in this post.

    I too find the level of ignorance and apathy by some people to be amazing, and also those people that are the biggest complainers (but they expect others to actually do something about it).

    Emails are very easy to send to politicians, get your point across, tell them what you get annoyed about and how they can change something for the better.

    But, let democracy work at the ballot box.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 10:39
      +11

      "Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber." - Plato

      This was stuck outside the door of my Prof. who was Surgeon General at the time. He retired from practice and pursued an administrative role.

    • try2bhelpful on 01/10/2018 - 18:54
      +1

      I see the point but, I bet, most of the emails don’t get past the assistant; especially for the MPs who have aspirations and sit in safe seats. You need to have power and influence, yourself, to get something done. As shown by some of the “mates” stories coming out at the moment. I agree you have to make your voice heard but don’t get too despondent if you can’t influence the outcome, the world is just depressing at the moment.

      • poboy on 01/10/2018 - 21:20
        +5

        I am in a safe liberal seat. I exchanged emails with my local member and they definately weren't boiler plate. He addressed my concerns and agreed with my frustration. He gave me the details of another department to talk to, and made enquiries in the background. Impressed.

  • BuyoTheCat on 01/10/2018 - 10:39
    +7

    people usually just post on OZB

    • MathNerd on 01/10/2018 - 12:39
      +3

      With badly drawn MS paint diagrams, as well as cries for help saying "I've got no insurance".

  • retiredfeline on 01/10/2018 - 11:06
    +15

    Someone I knew did a very subversive thing one election. He wrote a letter politely disagreeing with all the MP's stances but seeing as it was a safe seat, he would donate an amount towards the unseating of one of the MP's colleagues in a marginal seat. That generated an apoplectic reply from the MP, how it was un-Australian blah blah blah. Personally I thought it was a very larrikin thing to do, hahaha.

    Unfortunately these days it's likely that an office aide will read the email, but still it's worth registering your disagreement, if only for the counts.

    • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 10:15
      +1

      You're getting a lot of positive response - I wonder if people would be as thrilled if it turns out the 'person you knew' was say, Clive Palmer threatening the seat held by a female Labor MP.

      • retiredfeline on 02/10/2018 - 17:21

        Don't worry, Clive will offer you a bribe instead of an angry letter. :P But he'll squirrel away his assets when it comes time to pay.

  • Diji1 on 01/10/2018 - 11:33
    +16

    I think you're a fool if you write to a Labour or a Liberal MP.

    They've both clearly demonstrated via their actions are determined by corporate interests and that they're interested in transferring as much of your money to those interests as possible.

    They've demonstrated via their actions that they are both war criminals.

    They've repeatedly attacked your human rights supposedly to protect us from enraged people that we committed war crimes against even as we commit human rights violations by incarcerating immigrants - but unlike even the USA we allow no media in to see our concentration camps.

    Your local member of Parliament has been attacking you and removing your money to give to corporate interests for about 40 years and you want to write a letter as though you are dealing with someone whose got you back. Just hilarious.

    You can see why nothing changes, let's write some letters as though we aren't living in a failed system.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 11:34
      +5

      There we go. Was waiting for this comment.

      First one in after tinfoilhatman.

      • fantombloo on 01/10/2018 - 11:49
        +2

        Digi1 is spot on, just that they never offer an alternative (of which there may be many, of various qualities) so completely impotent and coming across as nothing more than a whinge.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 12:25

          never offer an alternative

          I wouldn't say he is spot on but you are. Sometimes, there are no better alternatives. We'd like all criminals to face justice but we inevitably let some loose to prevent incorrectly prosecuting the innocent.

          Utopia doesn't exist.

          • EightImmortals on 01/10/2018 - 12:29

            @[Deactivated]: Doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't try to make things better does it?

            • fantombloo on 01/10/2018 - 12:38

              @EightImmortals: Of course not. But talking about government/state incompetence and corruption without call to alternatives is useless since most people wouldn't even think alternatives exist.

              • EightImmortals on 01/10/2018 - 12:44
                +5

                @fantombloo: True enough.

                The other problem I've noticed is that when alternatives are talked about the media machine is quick to ridicule them into oblivion again. I mean, how many people actually go to party's website and read their policies? Not many, most people are simply hypnotised at the level of 'personality politics' and simply vote with whoever smells the best on the day…again according to the media machine. So there's 2 avenues of change right there, stop watching the 'news' and go and read some policies and see which ones you agree or don't agree with.

                If that's too much effort then simply vote for ANYONE different that what you usually do.

            • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 12:49

              @EightImmortals: It doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

              It means offering a half baked observation with no alternatives is worse than useless.

          • fantombloo on 01/10/2018 - 12:46
            +2

            @[Deactivated]: There are plenty of alternatives. Like most "new" ideas they'll be mocked by most at first but that's to be expected.

            IMO anything without a call to (nonviolent) direct action is useless. If just one person now googles "direct action" that might be a single seed for moving to an alternative.

    • whooah1979 on 01/10/2018 - 12:33
      -2

      The alp and the lib are the only parties that may hold a majority government. The other parties are waste of time.

      • GG57 on 01/10/2018 - 13:04
        +5

        Whilst those are the two major parties, they do not always hold the majority (even less so in recent years).

        Some may bemoan the fact that small parties and independents can hold the balance of power, but I view it as representative of the voting population's wishes. I get really annoyed when either of the two major parties say they were elected on a certain mandate or whatever, when they usually were not.

        I like to think that Parliament is like a share-house. The people there should work together for the benefit of the majority, but seem to be too selfish to do that.

    • chumlee on 01/10/2018 - 12:48

      Have to agree with you on all points

    • moggott on 02/10/2018 - 09:40
      -2

      Bet you call people that disagree with you nazis right?

  • awaddell on 01/10/2018 - 11:59
    +8

    I think many people would be surprised how few people actually bother to contact their local MP and how influential personal contact can be. Online petitions and organised campaigns are less effective as they are often puffed up by people outside the electorate or represent nothing more than an angry click.

    Digi1's position amounts to nothing, just a whinge that they are all the same and offers nothing by way of a solution. The fact is we live in a democracy and so WE are responsible for maintaining it. That means actively participating. Hoping that someone else will do the work and perfectly represent your position when you do nothing to express that position is simply lazy and wishful thinking.

    • EightImmortals on 01/10/2018 - 12:28
      -1

      So please tell us how we can 'actively participate' in this alleged 'democracy'? Where is the formal mechanism whereby 'we the people' can order government to one thing or abstain from doing another? Simply picking which gang of crooks gets to unaccountably lord it over us for 4 years at a time is not democracy. The old furphy that if you want to change the country for the better then you have to go into politics and spend a huge amount of money in what is essentially a rigged system and then, if you are lucky enough to get elected you won't be able to affect that change anyway is beyond pathetic.

      AT the very least we should have a system of citizens-initiated referendums as they do in some other countries where 'we the people' CAN actually engage in how the country is run. Until then we have nothing better than shadow-puppetry. Though going from past binding referendums (ahem 2 local government referendums) the crooks simply ignore the will of the people and push their agenda forward anyway. Unlawfully.

      Digi1 is COMPLETELY CORRECT, it may not be a 'solution' but it is a very valid observation nonetheless. And there's no point in looking for solutions unless you have defined what the problem actually is.

    • kamlem on 03/10/2018 - 04:33
      +2

      Read Digi1's position again. Both the ALP and LNP have the same disgraceful policies regarding things like offsore detention. There is no reason to prevent media exposure to these places, just as there was no reason for the Australian government to take a woman that was gang raped inside our offshore detention centre by staff while having an epileptic fit, and try to ship her to a country where abortion is illegal for a back alley procedure until the high court forced them to bring her to Australia.

      There are other parties that better reflect basic human decency. Voting for them is a better use of your time, and sends a clearer message.

  • chumlee on 01/10/2018 - 12:49
    +1

    Bring the sex party back and I will contact them.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 12:56

      It will end up being called a sausage party.

    • try2bhelpful on 01/10/2018 - 19:04
      +4

      They are still there, it is now called the “Reason” party.

    • Domingo on 02/10/2018 - 10:41

      contract them? like a STI?

  • BuyoTheCat on 01/10/2018 - 15:22

    I think OZB will make a political party that is better than what we currently have.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 18:07
      +1

      That would actually be true for government spending.

      Transparency, efficiency and free market.

      Dole bludgers are not going to be happy though.

      • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 22:36
        +1

        There would just be kids without computers and tenants without ovens while the top dogs drove about in investment vehicles. May as well keep the LNP in.

        • BuyoTheCat on 02/10/2018 - 08:51

          In this current situation, I think almost anyone can do a better job.

          • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2018 - 09:54
            +1

            @BuyoTheCat: Lets all chip in and make a party then, if Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump can get elected, then politics really is any mugs game. I dibs being the inaugural Minister for Recreational Marijuana. Using legalise it as our campaign platform and we are a shoe-in!

            • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 10:03
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: I think the problem is people are more interested in being entertained than governed well. Let's vote him/her in, this should be a bit of a laugh; then the midden hits the windmill.

              I call dibs on Minister for "Food and Entertainment". Laissez les bons temps rouler

              • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 16:02

                @try2bhelpful: Not just that - but politics is such a thankless job only those either really really passionate or those who pathologically enjoy the feeling of power, will go into it. The second group has its obvious problems, the first group won't be very good at "representing" because they'll have their own views on everything.

                It's an unsolvable issue until you pay politicians enough that the money (or something else, 7 virgins in heaven?) and NOT the feeling of power, can be the primary goal for doing it.

                • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 16:15
                  +1

                  @HighAndDry: thete are already people who see politics as a career choice itself. Not sure if the pay is the issue, even a back bencher gets a reasonable wage. The problem I have is the lack of accountability to the electorate. It is only when we get an expose in the press we see the sausage making revealed. The politicians should never have power that is not transparent, we are seeing way too many “mates rates” incidents at the moment. There are many jobs that are thankless, e.g. nurses in old people’s homes, etc and the pay is nowhere near as good.

            • abb on 02/10/2018 - 14:43
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: I'm on board if I can I be Minister for Fast Internet.

  • DemocracyManifest on 01/10/2018 - 19:03

    When you contact an MP, all contact has to be filed under the constituents name electronically and they normally get a generic email back if its a mass spam/forum thing. Its worth doing if you are real annoyed about something

  • Indomietable on 01/10/2018 - 21:14

    I've heard my voice and I don't like it

  • Chewy Chunks on 01/10/2018 - 21:29

    Individuals don't count. If you can get a whole bunch of people to complain about something then maybe the politician will take note. It is the same reason U.S. politicians are scared of the NRA and guns rights advocates: they are often single issue voters or they always come out in force at even the slightest hint of gun restrictions.

    It's also not worth complaining about any issue that is too politically or socially sensitive. Ethnic gang crime is the obvious example here. It's been pretty disturbing to watch just how deeply everyone has buried their head in the sand over the issue.

  • DealsBoy on 01/10/2018 - 21:50
    +2

    Thanks everyone for your comments.

    I can see people's frustration with the current political situation and it appears as if no one listens to you but I have noticed that if your MP has a facebook page these comments are there for everyone to see and can easily be shared. I think it is a general lack of knowing what to do that has led us to this situation. It doesn't have to be a long letter but just a comment on their twitter or facebook feed. As some have said it would be even better to see the MP in person but few have the time for that and I think they have their "surgery's" only during the day when working people can't get to talk to them.

    As thevofa said you just have to get a few of your friends to sow a seed and join you in a similar correspondence and they talk to their friends and then you have a movement. Social media has made it is easier than ever before to get people to put pressure on your MPs especially if you all live in the same seat.

    Even in a safe seat if people aren't happy and see others aren't happy it can make a change for the better.

    Hope people make their voice heard and I encourage you to put it on their Facebook page if they have one so others have the opportunity to see your comments and agree or disagree.

    If one person always waited for someone else to do something then we would never do anything. So go out and be heard.

  • DealsBoy on 01/10/2018 - 21:55

    Has anyone seen this video about how to start a movement it's pretty funny

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74AxCqOTvg

  • [Deactivated] on 01/10/2018 - 22:33
    +1

    I write to Sydney mayor Clover Moore all the time, she responds promptly and has taken appropriate action or forwarded me to the right person everytime. I owe her a lot, as does Sydney, that's why we keep voting her in (longest running mayor in Sydneys history). If only more politicians were as proactive for their constituents. I have only come across one politician that did not even acknowledge my communication, and that was Peter Garret, the poor fellow had no idea what he was in for when he got himself elected.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2018 - 06:58
    +1

    Salim for PM. Oh wait..

  • orangetrain on 02/10/2018 - 08:50
    +2

    Tackling some government myths:

    1. This is not a pure democracy. It's parliamentary representative that's being slowly gamed to a duopoly like USA (see Labor/Liberal attempts to make it harder for new representatives to appear via doubling registration costs: http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-21/antonygreen---nomin…

    Greens are supporting changes against micro parties with Senate change: http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-27/matthewson-the-gree…

    1. Voting for minor parties won't waste the vote. In fact, a primary vote means 'electoral funding' or money to that party of your choice. https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/public_fu…

    2. Living in a marginal seat means a huge amount of services in your area. Because, competition. So, a vote for the second closest party (if you like the incumbent) will mean they will throw more money in the area.

    • EightImmortals on 02/10/2018 - 10:38
      -1

      Of course the greens (marxists) would be supporting and changes towards a better democracy, they pretty much hold the balance of power in the senate and labour has all but sold out to 'green' philosophy (again going by their policies and not by the media. Any new players would be a threat to that. There are parties like the Aussie conservatives who will be trying to break the green stranglehold on government come the next election so I hope they (or other centrist-minded parties) get at least some candidates elected.

  • Windows98 on 02/10/2018 - 10:57

    Good post.

    The number of people who complain about big government and don't do anything to get in contact with them or have a discussion about the issues that matter is staggering.

    Instead they fall victim to wedge politics and are attracted to independents who make a big deal about single issues that help them get attention.
    Completely failing to check if the big parties have similar stances on the same issues, which they do. It's just hidden with all the other thousands of policies they also manage.

    • EightImmortals on 02/10/2018 - 11:23

      That might be true, but it begs the question that if a major party DID have the same policy as a new party then why have not implemented in while they are in power? I have not yet seen a party with 'thousands of policies' :)

  • haemolysis on 02/10/2018 - 11:19

    Don't you basically just get a "thanks for your letter" sent back by a staffer? I doubt many MPs read the junk they get from old crones. Certainly very few of them are changing their opinions. When they do, they get ostracised for "backflipping."

    • EightImmortals on 02/10/2018 - 11:22

      Most of the time yes. Sometimes you will get a proper reply. The last one I got was from our former local candidate (labour). Basically he said that he had received hundreds of correspondences similar to mine and only 2-3 of the opposite view. He voted with the opposite view AGAINST the majority because his party told him to. So much for representation. :)

  • rompastompa on 02/10/2018 - 11:24

    I wrote to my local MP a few years ago, and received a reply saying that my issue is 'under consideration'.

    I suspect that it was ignored and that was a standard reply. Now, I could harass them, create a petition etc, or I can 'vote for the other guy/gal', and not lose sleep over it.

    • EightImmortals on 02/10/2018 - 11:35

      Or we could (I have a dream) have a citizens-initiated referendum on the issue and make the decision ourselves..you know..like big boys and girls.

      • GG57 on 02/10/2018 - 11:54

        I think the point of this discussion is that, if we (the voting public) were 'heard' by our elected leaders, there would be no need for a referendum on most issues.

        I found it very frustrating that we had to go through that process for the same-sex marriage vote, when each member of parliament should have already known what their electorate wanted. But we had 'conscience votes' and abstentions by some because they didn't agree with their own electorate's wishes.

        • EightImmortals on 02/10/2018 - 11:59

          I know what you are saying, but the fact is that we are not heard (well, at least not listened to) by politicians, well maybe that might vary around election times and other crises. :) And because they are more interested in playing games and holding onto power (and raising funds) as opposed to making the country a better place then the idea of a citizens-initiated referenda seem (to me) to be a logical step forward. Want same-sex marriage? Lets vote in a way that is legally binding on government (it could have simply been another slip of paper at the previous election) or any other issue that 'we the people' feel we are not being listened to.

      • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 16:06

        All ideals and zero pragmatism. Would a direct democracy be better than a representative democracy? Maybe (actually probably no - have you watched shows like Survivor or Australian Idol or Big Brother or anything else where everyone gets to vote on everything? People are idiots - you let them vote and they'll still be idiots.)

        But maybe not - and more importantly you'll burn millions of dollars every time. Also take a few months to make any kind of decision. Good luck with that.

  • DiscoJango on 02/10/2018 - 11:59
    +1

    Op: politicians are just in it for a high base salary + lifetime pension, free food, hotels and transport, nothing else!

    • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 16:07

      Ha I wish! If it was just that, we'd get a lot more competent, less polarized people.

      No - politics attract those people with a pathological need to feel power and lord over others. The field literally self-selects for psychopaths - and not even good ones because the good ones go into C-level positions (because they get power and money, politicians get power and only a little money).

  • kale chips suck on 02/10/2018 - 13:01
    +9

    Lots of interesting views in this thread.

    Here's my contribution; I find the voting record of my local member far more informative them the spam he puts in my letterbox.

    theyvoteforyou.org.au

    • GG57 on 02/10/2018 - 13:12
      +1

      Thanks for that link; extremely interesting.

      • kale chips suck on 02/10/2018 - 13:20

        Yep. I got gerrymandered recently, so it was very useful to see exactly what they had voted on, and how.

        Needless to say the "welcome to my electorate" guff conveniently overlooked some aspects of their worldview.

    • DealsBoy on 02/10/2018 - 23:38

      Hi thanks so much for sharing this link. Didn't know this site existed that tells you how your MP voted on major issues in parliament. I will share with my friends. Cheers

    • haemolysis on 03/10/2018 - 11:20

      This is very helpful and I refer to it all the time when I'm having to read about an MP I've never heard of, but one thing to keep in mind is that Labor MPs are not really allowed to "cross the floor" so you have to take the voting with some grain of salt in that respect. They very rarely do so because they face consequence. LNP is where it gets more telling.

  • goodbuy on 02/10/2018 - 14:22
    1. If politicians are disgusting, it's only because the people they have been voted to represent are disgusting. Never forget that, nor allow yourselves to be deceived on this point. Democracy works, and ultimate responsibility for whatever happens in it will always have to rest with the people.
    • [Deactivated] on 02/10/2018 - 15:46
      -3

      leftie spotted

      • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 15:51

        Righty spotted.

        • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 16:08

          Spotted leopard.

          • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 16:17

            @HighAndDry: Spotted quoll.

            • HighAndDry on 02/10/2018 - 16:53

              @try2bhelpful: Troll spotted! (not you not you =P)

              edit: also, for chrissakes why am i limited to 41 upvotes now?

              • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 16:56

                @HighAndDry: Billy goat and bridge spotted.

                Yeah, why the upvote limit, I can understand the downvote limit but aren’t we meant to be supporting each other.

    • DiscoJango on 02/10/2018 - 16:16

      Democracy means i have the power to buy a cat, and post pictures of it online.

      • try2bhelpful on 02/10/2018 - 16:18

        That isn’t democracy that is supply and demand.

  • Seraphin7 on 02/10/2018 - 16:04

    Do you think my local MP will be able to bag me a great bargain?

  • vr4indian on 03/10/2018 - 08:42

    Best alternative is “self”

    Why don’t we as OZB community offers an alternative as general mentality is to get best out of a single cent.

    I believe we would have at least one person from OZB for each electorate

    Name : OZB
    Goal : Wise spend of money for whole country.

    Thanks

  • McMoots on 07/10/2018 - 21:12

    Great post, and something I've been thinking about for a while!

    I'd like to do something in an attempt to help my Filipino barber, whom I believe has just had his application for Permanent Residency denied.

    His English isn't 100%, and my Tagalog is barely even 1%, so I don't completely understand what has happened, but I know he has appealed the decision.

    Is this the sort of thing I could write to my local MP about, and if so what information would I require from my barber?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers!

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