Lobbying Members of Parliament _ Pine Gap 4

Dear friends

Lobbying Members of Parliament is an effective way to shift the political spotlight onto the secret activities of Pine Gap and its link to the war in Iraq.

If MP’s believe their constituents are concerned about a particular issue, they will sit up and take notice – particularly in marginal seats with an election coming up!

Unfortunately Australian Members of Parliament have been largely kept in the dark about Pine Gap - a reminder of this will hopefully make them uncomfortable and begin to ask questions. If they are inundated with letters from constituents, they will have no choice but to ask questions!

Letters to MPs will carry more weight when written in your own words, but we have pasted below two sample letters as examples of the kind of messages we want to get through to them. So feel free to use these ideas in your own style. Yo could also refer to our suggested “Letters to the Editor” from the previous message, see www.groups.yahoo.com/group/pinegap4supporters

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Also pasted below is the transcript of a story by SBS Dateline back in 2000 when the Joint Standing Committee on treaties was forbidden from getting information about Pine Gap when it was making a decision about whether to extend the treaty. At the same time it was noted that US members of Congress are given regular access to Pine Gap!

The transcript makes for chilling reading and should disturb all of us – especially your local MP!

You will find details of your MP’s e-mail and postal address on this site
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm
And Senators at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/index.htm

Be sure to write to the Defence Minister Brendan Nelson at:
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7800Fax: (02) 6273 4118
ministerfordefence@defence.gov.au

And Shadow Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon at:
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4404Fax: (02) 6277 8479
Email: J.Fitzgibbon.MP@aph.gov.au

And of course the Prime Minister!
PO Box 6022House of RepresentativesParliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7700Fax: (02) 6273 4100
e-mail from this link: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

and the Opposition Leader:
PO Box 6022House of Representatives<>Parliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 4022Fax: (02) 6277 8495
Email: Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au