Dear Mr Leeser,

Congratulations on being re-elected to the federal seat of Berowra.

As the representative of my family in the Federal Government there are several issues of concern that we would like you to know about and act on in parliament and with your colleagues in the government.

Our three main concerns are: the avoidance of armed conflict, the progress of reconciliation and improvement of the lot of Indigenous Australians, and positive action on climate change and species loss.

Successive Australian governments have made rash, ill-informed and negligent choices in their response to the alliance with the United States through committing the lives of Australian soldiers and innocent civilians in other countries to death, physical and psychological injury and loss of livelihood. As our representative we demand that you use your influence, common-sense and moral power to help your colleagues avoid these decisions and their awful consequences.

We commend you for your work with the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. We were disappointed by the former Prime Minister’s response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, but we note that positive action is being taken by government in progressing these issues. We encourage you to help your colleagues to speak in more positive and constructive language about their plans to make practical changes to the administration of Indigenous affairs in this country. Please do not be afraid to insist that Prime Minister Scott Morrison change his rhetoric of self-int
erest and help him to develop a more compassionate form of public discourse. It is essential that Government seeks advice from Aboriginal Australians and avoids adopting uniform measures that cannot be applied effectively in each community.

The Federal Government must stop attempting to second-guess opinion polls and start taking responsibility for the environmental impact of fossil fuels. Our family expects leadership from our leaders. This must include both a positive and constructive public discourse and firm and decisive action to support the development of a post-carbon economy.

We wish you the best of luck in taking our concerns forward and using your influence over your fellow parliamentarians. Please be a voice for compassion and reason amongst the less wise members of the federal coalition. For our children’s sake help us to be proud of our Australian Government.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Stevenson