Guidance for ACF Community Groups during the Federal Election

Guidance for ACF Community Groups during the Federal Election 

ACF is proudly independent and non-partisan. As members of the ACF Community, our words and actions must be consistent with and uphold these values. Please read on for guidance on how we continue to be fiercely independent in the lead-up to the federal election. 

We’re fast approaching the time for Australia to elect our 48th Parliament and people around the country will have their say in who represents us in Canberra. 

ACF has big and ambitious goals to protect the places and creatures we love. This coming election we will advocate for urgent and decisive action to address the intertwined challenges of the climate and extinction crises. And we will be heard by the wider community and by decision-makers. 

You can join us every Tuesday night at 630pm (AEST) for a briefing on what’s been happening and some key priorities for the coming weeks.  

Elections are vital moments where the nation debates big questions, people become more engaged with politics and parties determine policy. Like every election, we will amplify our message and mobilise people across the country, but as an independent organisation, ACF will never tell the community how to vote. 

Being independent is a core part of our identity and allows us to: 

1. Drive our agenda for change every day, with every decision-maker and demand that those who seek to represent us, listen and act. 

1. Provide trusted information on environmental issues to our supporters and the wider public 

1. Educate and inspire the community so they can use their vote wisely and support them to understand what candidates have or have not committed to. 

1. Activate our community, friends and families to get involved and do the same. 

At ACF, retaining our independent status is vital to continuing our work to hold the next Parliament to account. So, while ACF engages in elections, any activities that happen in the lead-up to the election are just the continuation of our everyday work in which our primary purpose is to advocate for a better world for all living things. ACF will never tell people how to vote. ACF will ask electors to consider candidates' and parties’ environmental policies when making their choice. 

Community Group responsibilities 

As an ACF Community Group, you have agreed to the ACF Community Principles, and your group should use those Principles to provide guidance on what you say in the lead-up to the election and how you say it. 

Remember these principles your group has agreed to: 

• We hold all political parties to the same standards of protecting our environment and give them all equal opportunity to respond to our demands. 

• People who are part of the ACF community speak out as ACF community members and concerned citizens but do not speak on behalf of ACF the organisation. 

Please do not use the ACF Community Logo, or any funds provided historically by ACF for electoral matter – that being any material or communications that name candidates or MPs or anything that aims to influence the way people vote. 

Candidate Forums 

In some electorates, ACF will be supporting our community to run candidate forums. Candidate forums are great for having serious conversations about serious issues like urgent climate action and solving the extinction crisis. 

ACF will provide authorised materials and funding for these events to make sure they are powerful and within the non-partisan remit of our organisation. 

If you or your community group want to attend or promote a non-ACF organised candidate forum (that does not have ACF’s logo or use ACF funds) we have provided a simple template, you can use to promote these events through Supporterbase. 

Other election related activities 

To ensure we are protecting ACF and our ability to continue to hold decision-makers to account, we have provided a range of templates for your Community Group to use to promote activities in the lead-up to the election. Our team is here to provide guidance if you’re not sure. 

I love what we do at ACF and am very privileged to witness the power we have in communities. In this federal election we will advocate for a Parliament that recognises nature needs us, now, and demands decision-makers act with the urgency needed to protect the people, places and animals we love.