CBM Election Toolkit

You wouldn’t ask a builder to build you a house without telling them what you want.

So don’t go to the polls without letting your voice be heard.   Make your voice count for the world’s poorest people – people with disabilities in developing countries.

This Federal Election, consider asking your Local Member or your preferred party for their stance on disability within Australia’s international development program.


Questions to ask:

• Are they committed to making poverty history?
  
  
• Do they include people with disabilities in their foreign aid plan?
  
  
• Are they even interested?

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THE FAST FACTS

People with disabilities are the poorest of the poor and are often excluded from development activities.

Disability is both a cause and consequence of poverty.

10% of the worlds population live with a disability.

80% of these people live in the poorest places.

In the poorest countries disability and poverty are linked together. 

It’s a cycle that’s hard to break.  Read about the Cycle

MAKING POVERTY HISTORY?

We all agree that we need to eradicate poverty in the poorest places.

But did you know that people with disabilities in these countries make up 20% of the population?

So, if we’re truly going to make poverty history and achieve the benchmarks in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a few things are essential:

• Australia must commit to increase its international aid.
  The agreed goal is 0.7% of Gross National Income, but Australia is only moving towards 0.5% by 2015. This won’t be enough to achieve the MDGs.  Learn More
• Australia should create the position of Minister for International Development within Government.
  
  This will show greater commitment to tackle global poverty and will improve the quality and focus of the aid program.  (CBM welcomes the Coalition announcement to create this position, and now urges Labor to make a similar commitment.)
  
  The MDGs won’t be achieved if people with disabilities continue to be excluded.
  
  
• Disability must be on the political agenda.
• AusAID, the government aid agency, has a disability policy.
  This is a great start but it needs ongoing political commitment from both sides of politics and to be backed up with full funding.

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WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

In the lead up to this election, ask your Local Member or your preferred party these 2 simple questions:

• What is your party’s policy on increasing funding for international development?
• How are people with disabilities included in your party’s plans for international aid?
• If you're speaking with a Labor candidate, don't forget to ask if they will match the Coalition commitment to create the position of Minister for International Development
  

1.	Contact your Local MP Click here to find your electorate and all candidates from that electorate.  You can call, write or email their office with the questions above.
2.	Write a Letter Click here for a sample letter to send to your local member. You need to put their name in, and add your own name and address details.  The letter can then be printed and posted, or emailed
3.	Attend a Forum Click here to find a Make Poverty History electoral forum happening near you.  You can attend a forum and ask these questions, keeping disability on the agenda

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