GetUp members have really stepped up for the first hectic week of election campaigning. Well done on:
- dozens of media hits, and more than 2 millionAustralians hearing about our enrolment campaign in the papers and on radio,
- a winon anti-discrimination laws,
- more time to save the Reeffrom dredging, and
- great news on education reform - just weeks after GetUp members crowd-funded targeted radio ads.
We know it's Friday afternoon - so without further ado, here's a quick update on the bright spots, and some reasons to keep fighting, from the past week:
Three days left to enrol!
With just three days until the rolls close, there are still almost half a million young people around Australia who aren't enrolled to vote. So where do we find them?
Our enrolment campaign has already been featured in Courier-Mail, The Herald Sun, Fairfax Media as well as dozens of regional newspapers and radio stations. From today we'll also be running radio ads in the Northern Territories, NSW and Victoria specifically targeting Indigenous youth - the most underrepresented demographic on the rolls.
8pm Monday is the deadline to enrol or update enrolment. Think of anyone whose housewarming, 18th or 21st birthday party you attended in the last three years, and share these links with them: aec.gov.au/enrol and enrolforgold.org.au.
Use this link to recruit your friends on Facebook: http://www.getup.org.au/recruit-your-friends
Brief on the Reef
Today, Environment Minister Mark Butler postponed his decision to dredge 3 million cubic metres of seabed in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. A few weeks ago, approval looked like a forgone conclusion. Now, it's game on and anything could happen.
GetUp members have put in an incredible campaigning effort on this decision. Environment Minister Mark Butler's inbox, voicemail and letterbox has been quite literally overflowing with messages from GetUp members. Now we know he is listening, and what we're doing is working -- and we need to keep building the pressure.
On Sunday 25 August, we'll be teaming up with AMCS, Greenpeace, AYCC, 350.org, Friends of the Earth and Lock the Gate to hold a giant rally in Brisbane. RSVP or pass this link on to friends & family in Brisbane: www.getup.org.au/rallyforthereef
A win on anti-discrimination
This could be the best news you didn't hear this week.
Earlier this year, more than 35,000 GetUp members took action in support of stronger anti-discrimination protections -- and last week, we had win on one of our five policy outcomes. You mightn't have heard about the amendment to the Sex Discrimination Act, but it's a landmark step that will ensure Federal protections from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. Read more about the news here.
Better education for every child
Great news. Last week, the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine joined his NSW, ACT, SA and Tasmanian counterparts in signing on to the reforms -- and in a very welcome retreat, the Coalition has announced they'll commit to more funding for schools.
GetUp members have pushed for a fairer funding system for Australian schools by signing petitions, running creative social media campaigns, funding targeted radio ads in QLD and VIC and turning out to education rallies around the country. Now, not only have a majority of states and territories around the country have signed on, but the reforms for fairer funding for schools have been locked in to last into the future, regardless of what happens on September 7.
Find out more about the reforms & join the campaign here: http://www.getup.org.au/everychild
Tassie Devils and the Tarkine
Last month, ten thousand GetUp members emailed the new Environment Minister Mark Butler calling on him to protect the Tasmanian Devil and put a stop to a controversial mine in the Tarkine region of Tasmania. Despite our best efforts, the mine was approved again – but not without new conditions to protect the Tassie devil. Read more about the conditions here, and what next on this campaign.
Keen to get more involved this election?
In the lead-up to the election, we've started GetUp Live! - live-streamed, interactive discussions on what's happening this Election season and what we can do to make a difference to the state of play. We'll be live on your screen each Monday at 6.30PM. Tune in, catch up or register for a reminder when we're about to kick off at getup.org.au/live
Apply to become a local Election leader in your community: getup.org.au/volunteer
The best, worst and downright wacky bits of election season so far
Want to keep up to date with the latest, without checking your emails? Whether it's the absurdly partisan front page of the Telegraph, the little legend who photobombed Kevin Rudd, or the painfully awkward candidate interviews -- we'll be sharing updates on the best bits of the campaigns day and night.
If you prefer your news with a side of laughs, click here to follow GetUp on Twitter or click here to follow GetUp on Facebook.
If this is what can happen in just one week, we have a lot to look forward to over the next 29 days!
Thanks for everything,
The GetUp team
PS - "It made me think about how important my vote is." If you missed it, here's the inspirational election launch ad that GetUp members Barry, John, Sarah, Barbara, Joe, Amanda, Aaron and Jane star in, talking about the issues that will determine their vote this election: www.getup.org.au/your-vision
