Backbenchers

It’s easy to write off backbenchers as MPs who just sit and vote. In reality, they represent their electorate, shape party policy, and sit on the committees that scrutinise legislation — which makes them a genuinely valuable, and often underused, contact for your advocacy.

What backbenchers actually do

There’s no single job description — every backbencher has their own priorities and political relationships — but most of the role breaks down into three parts.

Committee members. Backbenchers sit on committees investigating everything from government expenditure to specific policy issues, hearing evidence, weighing proposals and reporting conclusions back to Parliament. Both government and opposition rely heavily on backbench committee members, which gives them real influence over how future policy gets shaped.

Local representatives. In the lower house, backbenchers are focused on serving their electorate and getting re-elected. They engage with local groups and individuals on everything from unemployment to development proposals, make representations to Ministers on their electorate’s behalf, and join local site visits. Effective engagement with a backbencher means showing you understand their electorate specifically, not just your issue generally.

Party players. As active party members, backbenchers help shape and amend party policy while representing their constituents’ interests and their own views. Regular meetings with parliamentary colleagues give them an active voice in policy discussions.

How to engage them well

Start early. Being a backbencher is often someone’s first political role, not their last. Building a relationship early in an MP’s career is a genuine long-term investment — today’s backbencher can be tomorrow’s Minister.

Bring it back to their electorate. Backbenchers respond to issues that visibly affect their patch. Where you can, frame your ask in terms of local impact, not just industry-wide significance.

Don’t underestimate their reach. Backbenchers bring backgrounds from medicine, education, business and beyond, and that prior career often shapes where and how they choose to contribute. A backbencher with a relevant professional background can be a more effective champion for your issue than a more senior MP without one.

Use their committee seat. If a backbencher sits on a committee relevant to your issue, that’s your opening — committee engagement is one of the clearest ways to get in front of them formally.