How to call your local MPMaking a phone call to your State Member of Parliament is an incredibly powerful way to support our cause. While it’s unlikely you’ll speak to the MP directly, one of their staff members will record your concerns. Not sure who your MP is? You can search an interactive map here: www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/map.

We have created the sample call script below to help guide your conversation with your MP. But remember, your call is more likely to be recorded if it doesn’t sound like it is from a script, so we strongly recommend you personalise the call. Your personal story is always more powerful than a script.

A sample script to help during your call

Hello, my name is [insert your name] and I am a voter from <suburb> in your electorate. I’d like to raise with Mr/Mrs/Ms [insert name of your state Member of Parliament] that I’m a supporter of RSPCA and passionate about animal welfare. What will win my vote for <MP> at the upcoming election is a commitment to $5 million in funding for RSPCA’s new Animal Care Campus, located at Glenthorne Farm.

This cause is very important to me. RSPCA has been fighting animal cruelty and neglect in South Australia for 142 years, while advocating for better animal welfare and caring for tens of thousands of animals each year. They have a vision to reduce animal cruelty and neglect in this state through wide-reaching education programs for schools, students and community groups – but they have one of the most outdated RSPCA shelters in the country. They are badly in need of a new facility to achieve this.

Did you know last financial year alone RSPCA in South Australia investigated over 4,200 reports of animal cruelty? RSPCA says that in most of these cases it was simply because people didn’t understand how to properly care for these animals. A new Animal Care Campus with modern facilities would not only provide a better level of care to the state’s injured, neglected and stray animals, but help to educate future generations on how to treat animals properly.

Both the Liberal and Labor parties have already announced plans for Glenthorne Farm and the RSPCA’s Animal Care Campus fits with both these visions. This is an issue I vote on and will be crucial to whether or not the Member of Parliament has my vote in the election. I strongly urge Mr/Mrs/Ms [insert name of your state Member of Parliament] to tell their party that they must support RSPCA’s Animal Care Campus Vision with $5 million in funding for benefit of children, animals and voters in this State.

Thank you for your time. Goodbye.

www.rspcasa.org.au/newdirection

Key details about our new direction

We don’t expect you to be an expert on every aspect of our vision for a new Animal Care Campus at Glenthorne Farm. So we’ve put together a list of key facts you can refer to:

• RSPCA received over 4,131 cruelty reports last year.

• Most of these animals suffered because people did not understand how to properly care for their animals.

• RSPCA’s plan for a new Animal Care Campus, with a major focus on education in schools and the community, will help reduce animal neglect in South Australia.

• RSPCA South Australia’s Lonsdale shelter is the oldest and most outdated shelter of any major state.

• Their current Lonsdale facility is not suitable for redevelopment.

• RSPCA South Australia needs 4 acres of land in new location in the southern area, that is both highly visible and accessible.

• RSPCA wants to build the new campus at Glenthorne Farm, which would fit both Labor and Liberal policies for the area.

• RSPCA needs the elected government’s support to make this $20 million project happen. RSPCA SA will commit $15 million to the project from their own reserves and fundraising. A $5 millon dollar funding commitment is needed from our elected government to make the project a reality.

• RSPCA South Australia is a 90% community-funded animal welfare charity, that cares for 10,000 animals in need every year.

• RSPCA has been operating in South Australia for 142 years.

• RSSPCA’s inspectorate is the only agency in the state dedicated to the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.

Thank you so much for helping us lobby for the animals who need us most.