Wins

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome warnings on alcohol

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome warnings on alcohol are a testament to the power of persistence and advocacy. For decades, a national woman’s organisation championed a Votergram campaign to address the devastating impact of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Despite the apparent indifference of alcohol industry executives, who prioritised profits and salaries over the well-being of unborn babies and their families, the organisation relentlessly pushed to warn young mums-to-be of the dangers of drinking whilst pregnant.

Votergrams sent to Federal and State MPs maintained pressure on policymakers, challenging the tobacco industry as in a fiercely contested Grand Slam campaign. Their efforts paid off, making warning labels regarding Foetal Alcohol Syndrome mandatory on all alcohol cans, casks, and bottles, marking a significant Votergram victory for public health and awareness.

Regulation of vaping

The same women, some of whom had also used Votergrams to have smoking banned on commercial airliners, was concerned about vaping. Smoking rates had declined and with that, Tobacco industry profits. Tobacco companies aimed to create a new generation of addicts. They began targeting uninformed young people who did not understand the health damage it caused.

The organisation drew parallels between vaping and the painful and often fatal smoking consequences of lung cancer. They highlighted the immense financial burden placed on taxpayers to treat those suffering from tobacco-related diseases, the costs of medical care and long-term support.

Through the strategic Votergram Service, they were able to present compelling arguments to parliamentarians, stressing the need for action. The pressure and persistence of the Votergram public health advocacy campaign ultimately convinced Parliament to regulate vaping.

Telehealth

During the COVID lockdown, with Telehealth becoming the primary means for medical consultations, a man from a psychiatry practice in southern Sydney contacted the Votergrams office. He explained that because their fees exceeded the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) rates, their patients, often suffering from severe psychiatric illnesses, were denied the Telehealth rebate. While the practice wasn’t asking for higher rebates, they felt it was unfair that patients weren’t receiving any rebate at all, especially with the added strain of COVID-19 exacerbating mental health issues.

That same day, the psychiatrist sent a Votergram to each of the 226 Federal Parliamentarians, requesting the same Telehealth rebate for their patients. Just days later, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced a change to Telehealth that granted the requested rebate. His swift action, once informed of the issue, was a testament to the power of Votergram advocacy and the importance of reaching out to all MPs to create meaningful change.

This success shows how one voice when amplified through the right channels, can bring about significant policy shifts. It also demonstrates the crucial role of active communication in addressing issues that affect vulnerable communities.

Local community pharmacies

Today, we can all walk into our local pharmacies to obtain the prescriptions and other medicines we rely on. However, about 30 years ago, local pharmacies were in serious trouble, struggling with losses and many facing closure. In response, a pharmacy association representing about 5,500 local community pharmacists reached out to Votergrams for help.

Votergrams had previously been used by Tasmanian pharmacists after they heared on the local radio about how Votergrams could influence government. Votergrams accepted a brief to run a political persuasion campaign, which was a significant success for the Tasmanians.

This led to a larger campaign involving 1,700 pharmacists all over Australia, with the Votergrams team conducting thorough research and applying the right strategy in each Votergram sent. The outcome was the long-term Community Pharmacy Agreements, which continue to deliver $1.5 billion or more annually to pharmacies across Australia.

Thwart government plans to close Hornsby and Neringah hospitals

One evening, a church friend of Votergram founder Greg Bloomfield, phoned him to ask if he would help save Hornsby Hospital, that the State Government planned to close. It was difficult to understand why a government would shut down a well-established public hospital in Northern Sydney. The decision likely stemmed from a desire to reallocate resources for political gain rather than to the fundamental needs of the community.

Under leadership of a clever Hornsby local, Peter Waite, Votergrams coordinated a widespread campaign, even printing a “Save Hornsby Hospital Votergram form” for residents to use.

The campaign succeeded. Hornsby Hospital not only remained open but has expanded to three to four times its original size, rebranding to serve a broader community. This outcome highlighted the importance of the people using their Voter-Power muscles to voice their concerns effectively by Votergram. It demonstrated how grassroots efforts, with strategic and skilled advocacy, could reverse even the most challenging political decisions. The hospital now stands as a reminder of what can be achieved when a community unites for a shared purpose, using the Power of Parliament .

Roadwatch campaign reduced the road toll

Concerned about the road toll Greg launched the Roadwatch Votergram campaign which has saved 30,000 lives so far.

Firstly, after every fatal crash a Votergram went to all MPs asking them to rectify the cause. Secondly, Votergrams organised Roadwatch drivers to report all dangerous vehicles on the highways to the police, who then had them watched by the highway patrol further on to detect illegal behaviour. Thirdly, Roadwatch had stickers on bumper bars and UHF radios in cars to talk to truckies.

Truckies became great allies, eventually revealing their deadlines they were given. Gradually the Votergram campaign drove the death toll down to 4.5 per 100,000. by tackling all aspect from learner training to the roads and vehicles themselves and truck speeds were carefully monitored.

Ski fields

A large, well funded and well-connected corporate organization sought to gain total control of community ski lodges in Perisher Valley. These had been built, maintained and used by their members for skiing holidays. Their Peak Body, SLOPES, was concerned at the implications for lodge owners and their skiing. A high intensity campaign by lodge members was managed by Votergrams over quite a period. Using Votergrams the lodge owners won three separate battles to protect their interests against some high-profile lawyers.

Votergrams worked hard with the community lodges to point out the absurdity of handing control of one of Australia’s premier snowfield resorts in a famous national park to a publicly listed commercial enterprise which could easily on-sell control to foreign interests.

These snowfields have now been heritage-listed, something that would never have happened had it not been for the enormous effort put in by private individuals whose love of the snow country enabled them to use the Votergram service to have a good grasp of the legal direction in which the government was headed, and persuade parliament against the takeover.

Lodge members were delighted at their victory as enthusiastic skiers participating in the political process.

Ban smoking on commercial airlines

A very astute Seventh Day Adventist leader asked if Votergrams would run a campaign to ban smoking on commercial airlines. When told how inexpensive Votergrams were he replied “ I can’t see how anything that cheap could do this”. His group provided the persuasive medical reasons for such a ban. These included non-smoking travellers not having smoke exhaled all over them from the smoker in the next seat and the huge health savings that would be made, freeing up funds for other health care.

Votergrams ensured that all politicians had the opportunity to understand and debate the issues. The Federal Government agreed to ban smoking on Australian airlines. Today the campaign started by this healthy lifestyle group has spread. America followed suit two years later and now smoking is banned on most airlines in the world and in many public places.

Banking Royal Commission

After bank deregulation, bank customers were being stitched up with unsuitable and frequently unaffordable loans. The banks then bled them dry until the debts reached too high a proportion of the security property value. Then the banks sold the customers up and they lost their life’s savings.

We moved quickly with Votergrams to explain to parliament what was happening and call for a Royal Commission into banking. Many others joined in the call. After weeks of media coverage the Prime Minister announced that the Government would not be holding a Royal Commission into banking. Immediately another Votergram went into Federal Parliament explaining why a Royal Commission was needed and the likely consequences of one not being held. Within a couple of days a Royal Commission into Banking was announced.

Aboriginal Flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge

Aboriginal Flag flies high

There was a suggestion to proclaim our vitally important Aboriginal community and heritage for all to see. It was that the Aboriginal flag should be flown on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge where it could be seen every day by millions of Aussies, immigrants and visitors.

After much consideration by the government the Premier made announced that the government would not be flying the Aboriginal flag from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Two NSW voters took exception to the logic behind the decision and promptly sent Votergrams to all NSW state MPs explaining exactly why they believed that the government should reverse its decision and fly the flag from the bridge.

Within days the Premier kindly reversed his decision. The Aboriginal flag now proudly flies atop the Harbour Bridge proclaiming how important our Aboriginal community, culture and heritage are to us Aussies.

Generic Medicines

A pharmacy owner from the mid north coast of NSW phoned Votergrams to see if we could help him have generic medicines dispensed in place of the more expensive brand names by which most doctors identified the medicines.

Greg said we certainly could. The pharmacist sent one Votergram explaining why it would be sensible for people to have the choice of the known brand or a generic version. The generic would cost considerably less. The government grabbed the suggestion with both hands and within very short time generic medicines were being dispensed around Australia. That saved patients and the government money.

Those with permanent issues like asthma, dermatitis, stroke or heart problems have been big beneficiaries of that pharmacist.

Change the route of Parramatta light rail

One day, a person contacted Votergrams to report slight issues with the proposed route of Parramatta Light Rail, one of which affected a relative with physical disabilities. A member of the Votergrams team visited Parramatta to investigate the route and the concerns raised. Upon reviewing the details, they discovered that a minor adjustment could benefit a large number of users while also addressing the needs of the disabled individual and their carer who had reached out. The suggestion was forwarded to all NSW MPs. After careful examination, the proposed change was recognized as beneficial, and the route was altered accordingly. This change was made possible thanks to the dedication of a carer, the Votergrams team, and the responsive NSW MPs who acted on that single Votergram, demonstrating the power of advocacy in creating positive change.

Apples and pears

The Australian Apple and Pear Growers Industry body first approached Votergrams when threatened with the importation of apples and pears from New Zealand where Fire Blight causes significant problems for the industry. The Australian Industry Association marshalled the voting power of its membership using Votergrams to every single Member of Federal Parliament explaining the tragedy that could easily befall the Australian industry if imports brought Fire Blight into Australia.

In both cases Votergrams helped the producers to achieve their objectives. The key to our success in those food cases was that a high number of politicians were convinced that Australian industries and consumers deserved to be protected from damaging foreign diseases. This could not have been done with only a small number of politicians on side.

Protect chickens and breeders from foreign diseases

The Chicken Growers Association approached Votergrams first in relation to obtaining fairer treatment from Processors. Votergrams assisted the association to significantly increase its influence by activating the voting power of its national membership to send Votergrams in relation to an industry inquiry and achieved the changes they sought to improve their profitability and protection from processor dominance. A successfully managed industry Votergram campaign to prevent imports of chicken from Thailand followed. Growers sent Votergrams to Federal Parliament from all over Australia pointing out the massive damage that could decimate the industry if diseases were introduced from overseas. Australia is unique in being surrounded by water and thus diseases do not spread naturally as they do with countries on the same land mass. The pleasing outcome of the campaign was that very high temperature cooking is required before chicken can be imported into Australia.

Obtain city and regional school facilities

In September 1998 the headmaster of Yeoval Central School where Votergrams had previously secured air conditioning for classrooms, rang Greg to say “We have no assembly hall or outdoor covered area for assemblies and we are wondering, given the Votergram success of getting our air-conditioning a while back, whether we might make some progress with a Votergram. Currently we are told that we are on a waiting list of around 20 years.” Votergrams were duly sent to MPs in the NSW Parliament and about 3 weeks later the headmaster phoned Greg to gleefully announce, “The Department is here measuring up for a hall right now.” Greg’s replied, “That’s because you thanked them the last time you needed help and received it.”

The next Votergram came from the SSP Broderick school citizens committee to prevent the proposed sale and closure of Broderick School Lakemba by the trustees and government decision to cease enrolments. The Votergram explained how the school was supporting the physical and educational needs of about 70 handicapped students attending from preschool to year 12 with its close-knit family of staff students and parents. They highlighted the school’s ability to attend the needs of these students to give them the best chance to get ahead before they leave school and compete in the adult world. A similar Votergram was sent to State Parliament by a student representative explaining why the school was important to him and asked if the government might purchase the school and fund it as the Northcott society was not able to. As a result, the Lakemba school has continued to flourish.

When Turramurra High wanted a school hall the local community swung into gear with major activities aimed at making it happen. One of these was a very effective Votergram campaign by parents pointing out to the Government the tremendous advantages of having a hall that could be used for Assemblies and other events. The outcome was successful with the broad support of the Premier. Today the hall is used for a variety of functions involving students, parents and community.

A Votergram in January2025 to “Please ask the Federal Government to provide NSW with a massive multi-billion dollar additional funding package to cope with the extra schools, hospitals police transport housing and family services required by the higher population forced on NSW by Federal MPs.” has been answered by New South Wales public schools to receive a $5b funding boost.

Voters have kept up their Votergram campaign to see Australian Public High Schools delivering the best outcomes in Australia in terms of education, careers and social responsibility. Given the number of schools who can share teachers via technology this should be readily possible. As with all things it is up to the voters themselves to drive government. If voters do not care enough to act they can be sure that government will not c are to act either.

Obtain previously refused government respite care for seriously disabled

A south Sydney lady trying to find respite care for her son so she could have a short break, phoned Votergrams on the suggestion from a friend. She was having no luck at all after having searched and phoned all the bodies she thought could help her. A carefully worded Votergram from her asking for help was sent to all NSW MPs. Within half an hour she rang back thanking us for putting her in touch with MPs, because one of the MPs, not from her electorate had found respite care for her close to her home and she had booked her son in.

Another man living in a small NSW town near the border with ACT phoned us. His 30-year-old disabled son, not wanting to continue to be dependent on his parents for his every need, wanted to be in residential care in Canberra where his friends were. But the ACT would not take him as he was a NSW resident. The NSW government would not pay for his care in Canberra. Instead it suggested he go to Yass, in the opposite direction where he knew nobody. His parents embarked on a Votergram campaign. Eventually the NSW Government agreed to pay for his care in ACT for 1 year. The ACT Government agreed to take him on that basis and after the first year they would consider him an ACT resident and fund his care. His parents thanked Votergrams saying how it made a huge difference to his life. It also set a precedent for cross border care around Australia.

Better bushfire management around residential areas

After NSW suffered some punishing bushfires in which the police demonstrated a lack of skill in fire management, not really their field, FairGO held community consultations to find better solutions. They filed reports on what the community wanted. It was unfair to expect metropolitan police, trained in fighting crime, to know anything about people management in a bushfire situation. In the fires of which I write now, residents who were quite skilled in protecting their homes from previous bushfires within very safe parameters, were forced by the police to take extra risks in order to hose down spot fires on lawns. The consultations we ran provided government with vital information that led to a change in the way the police and emergency services work with communities in relation to bushfires.

Deter domestic & family violence by supporting and protecting victims and survivors

A Votergram was sent asking for the punishment for breach of Domestic Violence Orders be raised to 5 years and $55,000 penalty in NSW. As a result, reforms to be introduced in Parliament may include breach of Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders to carry a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and or $33,000 fine.

One Votergram sender campaigned continually on the need for safe reporting for later use, without immediate police action. The outcome was the provision in Victoria of a safe Arc app and in NSW SARO, both enabling domestic violence victims to track, record and report abusive behaviour without immediate police action. It can be used for later prosecution when it is safe for them to do so, eg when children are older or they have moved to safety themselves. NSW is currently considering legislation on the “Empower You” App.

Victim impact statements

A man rang Votergrams to say his son had been murdered in a robbery and police told him that from now on it was nothing to do with him and they would be handling prosecution of the killer. He did not see this as reasonable. He asked if we could help him get Victims Impact Statements in Court, to show how families were affected.

He sent just one Votergram and almost immediately the process to introduce Victim Impact statements began. They were soon a regular feature of court cases.

His success came by going to Parliament and letting the MPs know how he was suffering. Once they knew the logic of the situation, they pushed it through.

Wool Stockpile

In the 1890’s the wool industry shearers’ strike spawned the Australian Labor. 100 years later, in the 1990’s the wool industry as again in trouble. A well-intentioned Wool Reserve Price Scheme had put a floor in the price of wool, so important to the Australian economy. However vast quantities of unsuitable wool were accumulating in wool stores.

Woolgrowers approached Votergrams founder Greg Bloomfield, well known in NSWF circles, asking the Votergrams team to manage a campaign to close down the Reserve Price Scheme and disperse the stockpile. The Votergram campaign achieved exactly that

The result was the continuing strong, vibrant and globally respected Australian wool industry.

Misinformation bill and Hate speech

Mis Information

One Votergram by a concerned voter asking for the Bill to not proceed on the basis of bias that could be held by whoever decides what is misinformation. It is limiting the freedom of speech. Nine days later the Federal Government did not proceed in passing the bill.

Hate Speech

One of a few Votergrams asking the government to tackle hate speech that can lead to hate acts was requested. A month later the Hate Speech laws were passed.

SUCCESS STORIES

Explore Votergram milestones and how they’ve empowered voters to drive change and be heard