FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 28 October 2026
Compassion In Politics Australia (CIPA)

Get your MP to sign the pledge

Compassion In Politics Australia is calling on communities across Australia to ask their elected representatives to sign our Civility Pledge.

Signing the Pledge commits an elected representative – whether in federal, state or local government - to uphold the principles of honesty, respect and compassion in politics. It reflects a shared desire to lead by example, reduce hostility in public life, and work across divides for the common good.

The first MP to sign the Pledge in August was Independent MP Helen Haines who was badly injured in a horrific incident a week ago. Our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her staff and the people of Indi. We join Australians across the country and across the political spectrum in wishing her strength and courage as she continues her recovery.

The Pledge has been signed by 15 federal parliamentarians, with more signatures on the way. Four mayors have also signed, with two councils – one in NSW and one in Victoria - to vote on supporting the Pledge as a whole later this week. All elected representatives and members of the community who have taken the Pledge have been listed on our website Compassion in Politics Australia.

We call on communities to encourage their elected representatives to sign, regardless of the party they represent. Compassion In Politics is nonpartisan and is not aligned with any political party.

Compassion In Politics Australia acknowledges some ambivalent views about the terms compassion and civility, but the scientific research supporting both is clear.
To us, compassion is something people are born with, but is eroded by systems and circumstances.

Civility is about engaging others with strength, integrity, and accountability. Both are vital if we want better politics in Australia.

We are also exploring a Pledge for the community, a promise people can take to ensure when they engage with politicians or those seeking to be elected, they do so with compassion and civility, without the nastiness and intimidation that characterises the current environment.

To sign the Pledge, go to Compassion in Politics Australia.

Contact: Jonathan Granger 0400948934
Compassion in Politics Australia

About Compassion in Politics Australia

Our Origins
Compassion in Politics was founded in the UK in 2018 following the Brexit referendum, when levels of political division and public disillusionment reached a crisis point. The movement grew rapidly, building a network of more than 100 MP supporters and over 50 partner organisations. CIP has championed a Civility Pledge among MPs, conducted landmark mental health research on politicians, and advanced proposed legislation to sanction deliberate misinformation in parliament.

In 2025, CIP began its international expansion. In Australia, CIPA was established to localise this proven model in a context marked by growing disengagement from politics, parliamentary culture reform challenges, and a renewed public appetite — evidenced by the 2025 federal election result — for a different kind of politics.

Our Proposition
CIPA’s approach is grounded in evidence: when politicians operate with greater compassion, integrity and wellbeing, the quality of their decisions improves — and the policies they produce are more likely to serve the common good.

Compassion is not a soft concept. Defined as “an empathetic concern for the suffering of another, coupled with action,” it is the foundation of effective public service. CIPA’s research shows compassion has been systematically eroded in political systems — with measurable consequences for the most vulnerable in our communities.