Stronger Futures call to action

17 May, 2012

The Stronger Futures debate in Parliament will resume 18th June, which gives a few more weeks to voice opposition to the introduction of the legislation.

The Stronger Futures legislation is a series of Bills that will determine what programs the Government implements for Indigenous communities for the next 10 years. The Bills are an extension of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act 2007 (the Intervention), and will extend the discriminatory measures by up to a decade.

If passed, some of the discriminatory measures that would be introduced through the Stronger Futures legislation include:

• suspension of social security payments for parents whose children do not attend school regularly
• up to six months imprisonment for breaching alcohol bans in communities
• a continued ban on the use of Indigenous customary law in bail and sentencing decisions
• income management programs to be extended to five new regions.

You can download the Call to Action Kit here from Uniting Justice which includes: background material on the Stronger Futures legislation; advocacy strategies; information postcards to distribute; and a form letter to complete and send to politicians.

The NDIS Rallies

11 May, 2012

Rallies were held across the country to show support for the recently announced National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Budget delivers for low wage families

9 May, 2012

UnitingCare Australia said tonight’s Federal Budget is fiscally responsible and fair overall. It will deliver a decent chance at a decent life for more Australians.

National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the suite of Budget initiatives promises a brighter future for families and unemployed Australians.

“Reducing executive tax perks and golden hand-shakes, better targeting superannuation concessions, and deferring defence spending have enabled the Government to spend more on the things that matter.

“Investment in aged care reform, rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and better access to dental services for low income and disadvantaged Australians are particularly welcome initiatives."

Read the full media release here

Government breaks promise with aid cut

9 May, 2012

Statement from Uniting Church partner, Uniting World:

Last night the Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget. In doing so, he broke a commitment. It is a broken promise as unnecessary as it is damaging.

The Budget contained the distressing news that the Government has decided not to increase the aid budget in the coming year from 0.35 per cent to 0.38 per cent of Australia’s Gross National Income (GNI) as promised.

The budget also indicates that the goal of reaching 0.5 per cent of GNI (that’s 50 cents in every $100) by 2015 has been set back to 2016/17.

In effect this means the government has taken $2.9 billion dollars from the lives of people who desperately need our support.

Read the full media release here

Budget will show Government's priorities

8 May, 2012

UnitingCare National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said the 2012 Federal Budget will provide a road map of the Government’s priorities for Australia.

“A well managed economy must enable us to fund the things that matter.

“This might mean politically challenging decisions, including measures to increase Government revenue, and investing in well targeted, long term measures that deliver whatever it takes for as long as it takes to break the cycles of disadvantage,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

Read the full media release here

Welfare cuts to achieve surplus is poor judgement

4 May, 2012

UnitingCare Australia National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the Government’s decision to cut welfare payments to families in order to return a surplus in the Federal Budget is poor judgement.

The Government will cut parenting support for single parents whose children are older than eight years and will also reduce child support payments to couples with children.

Ms Hatfield Dodds said parents will be moved automatically from single parent payment to Newstart once their youngest child turns eight. This is a drop of $187 a fortnight in the base rate for single parents.

“The Government would do better to address the issues that make it difficult for single parents to get a job," she said.

Read the media release here

Australians urged to support Community Placement

3 May, 2012

The Uniting Church in Australia has called on Australians to support the community placement of asylum seekers by getting behind the Gillard Government’s soon-to-be launched Community Placement Network (CPN).

“We warmly welcome the CPN and the opportunity for compassionate Australians to support people and families who have sought refuge in our country,” said National Director of UnitingJustice Australia Rev Elenie Poulos.

“The harmful effects of mandatory detention on asylum seekers have been extensively documented.”

“It is the Uniting Church’s long-standing position that the best and most humane option for housing asylum seekers is in the community."

Read the full media release here

Harm reduction needed to offset pokies revenue

3 May 2012

The Uniting Church believes the Victorian State Government needs to act decisively to rein in gambling harm given it expects a further $1.12 billion in poker machine revenue next year.

The Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Isabel Thomas Dobson said while the Government expects an 8.5 per cent increase in the pokies tax take it has failed to support key measures to rein in problem gambling.

“While we welcome the removal of ATMs from pokie venues as of the middle of the year, the Victorian Government should support other measures to reduce the harm pokies are causing in the community. These measures include $1 bet limit per button push, the ability of gamblers to set themselves enforceable loss limits, restricting opening hours of pokie areas of venues from 10 am to midnight and eliminating linked jackpots across machines.

Click here to read the full media release

Open letter calls on PM to keep aid promise

2 May, 2012

The Uniting Church has joined with the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), calling on the Prime Minister to ensure next week’s Federal Budget does not break her promise on aid provision.

The council, the peak body for aid charities, has released an open letter (below) to the Prime Minister signed by more than 100 prominent Australians.

Signatories include 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush, actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, entertainers The Wiggles, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Jamie Durie and Clare Bowditch, former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, ACTU President Ged Kearney and former Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin.

Read the full media release and open letter here

National children's commissioner role welcome

30 April 2012

UnitingCare Australia says the Federal Government’s decision to appoint a National Children’s Commissioner should give a stronger voice to all young people, but particularly to the most vulnerable.

National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the historic move raises the profile of the rights and well-being of children and young people in Australia. 

“Individual states and territories have struggled to meet the needs of children living with poverty and disadvantage,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

 

Read the full story here.