RESULTS walks the halls of power

On Monday, February 28 and Tuesday, March 1, members of RESULTS undertook a two day lobbying trip to Canberra to highlight two pressing issues:

• Tuberculosis in the lead up to World TB Day on March 24
• Microfinance as it is since a year the new strategy was released

Taniele Gofers, a RESULTS member from Sydney, took part of the journey to the halls of power of Canberra's Parliament House, and recounts her experiences:

I arrived in Canberra on Sunday afternoon, on February 28, for my first trip to to the nation's capital as part of a RESULTS delegation. I was nervous, and excited, but knowing that I was going to be supported (in a way only RESULTS members know how to support each other!) by experienced stalwarts, like Ian Sansom and Maree Nutt, put my mind at ease.

Sunday night was spent planning and practicing our Members of Parliament introductions, and getting to know some of the RESULTS Australia members I hadn't met before. Unfortunately, Jeremy Picone, who had organised many of the meetings, wasn't able to make it after a last-minute illness. In my first year of involvement with RESULTS, I have heard much about Jeremy, and heard his voice on National Conference Calls - but am yet to actually meet him. As a budding conspiracy theorist, my imagination, when he didn't show up in Canberra, was again running wild.

Conspiracy theories aside, Monday morning arrived, and it was time to put our best 'parliamentary' clothes on, and face up to some friendly members of parliament. Walking into Parliament House, as part of a delegation - as part of a group of people who were going to be listened to by our representatives was a powerful experience. It just got better from there!

The meetings over Monday and Tuesday were, on the whole, a roaring success. Many of the parliamentarians agreed to wear a Stop TB badge on World Tuberculosis Day (March 24) and were interested in, and passionate about many of the issues we spoke to them about. Our particular focus was on securing the 0.5 per cent of GNI for international aid, and educating our MP's about a revolutionary new diagnostic tool for TB called Xpert.

The MPs were interested and enthuisastic about our issues - some even agreed to raise a motion in parliament on World TB Day. Going about this process is long and convuluted, but hopefully this will go ahead! 

Fingers crossed, on World TB Day, some members of parliament will speak in support of increased aid for tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in our region. Knowing that I played some small part in this effort is an empowering experience.

Apart from the meetings, I enjoyed attending question time and wandering around Parliament House. In the week of the debate about the carbon tax, it was endlessly amusing to see Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard go toe to toe on microscopic points of obscure parliamentary 'points of order.' I have watched question time many times on television, but it is definitely more interesting in person - and I think a real eye-opener for some members of the group who perhaps don't spend their days watching ABC Question Time from 2pm till 3pm!

All in all, going to Canberra was a wonderful experience. It was, as usual, great to have such a wonderful and supportive group of people their for my first MP visit.
Can't wait for the next one!