Ghosted by Government Ministers? Bypass Canberra. Here's How.

Have you tried calling a Federal Minister’s office at Parliament House recently? Don’t bother. No one answers.

Seriously. There’s no receptionist or helpful adviser for punters like us. No human voice on the other end of the line. Just endless ringing or voicemail purgatory. For a government that claims to care about listening, transparency, and accountability, it’s astonishing how effectively Anthony Albanese and his team have insulated themselves from the people who voted for them and they're supposed to be serving.

But here’s the tip: don’t call Parliament House - call their electorate offices instead.

Every Federal MP and Senator has an electorate office back in their home state or territory. These offices are staffed during regular business hours, and you’re far more likely to speak to a real human being. They may not always be able to help directly, but at least they answer the phone and hear what you have to say. That, in 2025, is apparently a radical act in Australian democracy.

Why does this matter?

Because Australia's Government has become more secretive, more spin-driven, and more disconnected from its citizens than ever. And I say that as someone who once worked inside the system. Ministers dodge accountability with media-trained polish, cling to pre-scripted lines, and now, it seems, they don't even bother to have someone to answer the phone.

I expected better from Anthony Albanese. And from people like Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek who built their careers and brand on empathy, activism, and being voices for the voiceless. But somewhere between opposition and government, accessibility has been traded for bureaucracy, and listening has been replaced by managing risk.

This post isn’t about the environment, Gaza, climate change, or corruption. Though you know I care deeply about all of that. (And so does Climate Conscience Man!) This is simply about access.

If you want to speak up, be heard, raise a concern, or just ask a question of your elected representatives, don’t give up. Just redirect.

✅ Google their local electorate office.

✅ Call during business hours.

✅ Be polite but firm.

✅ Ask for a response in writing.

✅ Follow up.

We shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to talk to the people we elect. But until we build a better system - or demand more from this one - we’ve got to know how to navigate the walls they’ve built around themselves.

Sharing tips like these might just help us break through. What are your thoughts?

Climate Conscience Man on indefinite hold to his local MP.