2011 Canberra Lobbying Trip
Ten eager RESULTS members from around Australia spent two weeks preparing for an intense few days meeting with various MPs, Senators and advisors that were held on February 28 – March 1, 2011.
The key issues for our meetings were:
- Across the board commitment to have overseas aid reach 0.5 per cent of gross national income by 2015
- Further support for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria within the next year
- The scale and impact of tuberculosis (and World TB Day on March 24)
- Support for the roll-out of a breakthrough diagnostic test to combat TB in Indonesia, called Xpert
- Establish progress implementing AusAID’s Financial Services for the Poor Strategy
Christine, a RESULTS member, recently spoke about the trip:
“This was the first time that I had met with any MP so I felt really inspired that they were focused and aware of the Millennium Development Goals. They were interested in what the RESULTS team had to say, especially about tuberculosis, and the new Xpert diagnostic tool. (I was surprised how much I knew as well!)
We had many MPs and Senators keen to speak in parliament on these issues and also raise them directly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I was so pleased to have the chance to discuss these issues with those who represent us in this wealthy and lucky country!”
RESULTS members sitting with the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP. (Member for Mackellar, Sydney)
2010 Microfinance – a new aid strategy released
Microfinance (which includes small loans for self employment, plus savings and insurance products) has proven to be a powerful way for the world’s poorest people to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.
RESULTS continually calls on the Australian Government to significantly increase aid funding for microfinance.
As a consequence of RESULTS’ strong advocating, funding has increased from just AUD$250,000 in 1990/91 to a record-high AUD$18 million in 2009/10.
In March 2010, the Australian Government also released its first-ever aid strategy on microfinance, Financial Services for the Poor: A strategy for the Australian aid program 2010-15 . It is hoped that this strategy will help some of most disadvantaged and marginalised people improve their standard of living and achieve their dreams.
2008 Parliamentary Visits
RESULTS members meeting with Tony Abbott MHR, Federal Member for Warringah and Leader of the Opposition.
In March 2008 15 members of RESULTS from around Australia conducted 19 parliamentary meetings at Parliament House in Canberra.
Meetings were held with Members and Senators from the Government and Opposition. RESULTS members sought two commitments:
- Implementation of the Government’s pre-election promise of a Debt2Health Swap with Indonesia through The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
- High-level Government representation at the Asia Pacific Microcredit Summit being held in July 2008.
A range of Parliamentarians agreed to make personal representations to the relevant Minister on RESULTS’ behalf, ask questions on notice and move Motions in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
2008 RESULTS hosts groundbreaking exhibition at Parliament House
The Hon. Bob McMullan MP at the launch event.
The Shack and Dialogues – Understanding Tuberculosis by South African Damien Schumann, is an intimate and personal photographic exhibition housed inside an authentically furnished shack of the type found in a Cape Town township.
The exhibition was brought to Parliament House in Canberra by RESULTS Australia with support from the Australian Government aid agency AusAID, and installed from March 12-19, 2008.
The aim was to immerse politicians and visitors in the lives of people with TB as well as draw the attention to the facts around the disease in the lead up to World TB Day on March 24.
It is estimated that over 1000 members of the public viewed this unique and moving exhibition as well as parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and various government departments. Some of the comments included:
“My kids were so quite. They saw and read what they will never live. Thank you!”
“As a medical student it’s fantastic to see this issue presented in such an interesting and emotive way. Thank you!”
“Powerful and confronting. This is how to get RESULTS.”
The Shack Exhibition was officially launched by the Hon. Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, and helped to generate print, radio and TV media, including:
The 7.30 Report’s Tuberculosis Comeback
Click here for AusAIDS media release on The Shack
