Vote [1] No more Poverty Campaign

This campaign appears very lightweight.

• It is a purely political exercise. There is no substantive data referenced on the web-site.
• Its only goal is to gain commitment to hold a Forum (talkfest) to discuss the subject;
• it suggests that prime responsibility for solving the problem rests with government [which I suspect is a questionable view because (a) family breakdown is a major factor in 50% of families in poverty - which is much more a question that needs to be addressed by the churches as churches rather than as charities; and (b) part of the problem is the poor quality of jobs which are all than an underdeveloped economy can generate - which can only be overcome with determined apolitical economic leadership];
• It argues the need for politicians to stop passing the buck - but is itself merely 'passing the buck';
• There is a discussion forum which has attracted very little interest - and seems to consist of postings from people in poverty suggesting (a) that the campaign is just talk - and that those involved in the campaign (ie charities) should do something to help rather than talk (b) politicians will naturally give pre-election agreement to the stated goals of the campaign - but those promises will be meaningless

What is needed is to DO the Forum now with real world data with a view to identifying practical initiatives - not to try to pass the buck to government which is what the church-charities are doing.

Say NO to Poverty - Press release 24 June 2004

A powerful new alliance of Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church community service organisations took the fight against poverty to the Federal Parliament today.

The Christian Community Services Against Poverty launched its pre-election campaign called Vote [1] No More Poverty.

“We are making use of our extensive networks to call on all Australians to take up the challenge and help us to make politicians and political candidates aware of this issue. As such, in the lead up to the next election we are asking all Australians to take the time to write to them or call them and ask…..”Do you care about poverty in Australia and what will you do to address it?”

“In the spirit of the letter to the Prime Minister and State and Territory leaders, signed late last year by the leaders of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith communities, we too call on all political leaders to halt the shameful divide between the haves and have-nots in this wonderful country.

“There are 3.6 million Australians living on a household income of under $400 a week and over 800,000 children living in a jobless household. We are faced daily by the despair that fills their young lives.

“Australia has the 4th highest rate of poverty in the industrialised world.

“We are witnesses to a clear failure to provide fair and adequate levels of full-time employment, education, health, and affordable housing for low-income families.

“We, that is all Australians, must CHOOSE to address poverty in this country and we believe that a National Forum must be held to develop a National Strategy to combat poverty in Australia.

“Only a national approach can solve a problem of national proportions. Co-operation, rather than buck-passing between political parties and Federal and State governments is the only way forward. It is crucial that such barriers must be overcome – crucial to the interests of those living in poverty.

“We cannot afford to be silent while the children of today grow up to become a permanent underclass. How can we as a nation live with the consequences of this?”
 

Time for All to Work Together on Poverty - Press release 16 July 2004

 The Vote [1] No More Poverty Campaign, launched last month by an alliance of faith-based organisations, has welcomed the commitment of Mr Latham and all Premiers and Chief Ministers to the task of tackling poverty through Commonwealth-State cooperation.

“Our member organisations have long believed that buck-passing and blame-shifting between Commonwealth and State governments must cease in the interests of a national strategy on poverty and inequality. So far this politicking has allowed deprivation and its consequences for the poor to be used as a political football.

“We welcome this concrete commitment by one of the major parties. We look forward to seeing more detail in due course on how they intend to develop a national strategy to alleviate poverty.

‘The heads of the major faiths wrote to the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers regarding poverty last September and noted that:

“the prime responsibility [for solving the problems] rests with government – Federal, State and Local – for it is the only vehicle with the resources and power to manage the changes required. Gaining the support and driving participation of all sectors throughout the nation requires a solid leadership mechanism, and it is our belief that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) may offer a suitable platform for this to happen.”

We are pleased to see that poverty is being placed at the top of a COAG agenda in Mr Latham’s statement.

We call on all political parties to embrace this commitment to a national strategy, putting aside all partisan differences in the interests of Australia’s 3.6 million poor, especially the children in low-income households.

“The just released UN Human Development Report has Australia with the 2nd highest percentage of people living below 50% of Median income and the 4th highest in the Human Poverty Index for highly developed countries.  

“In the interests of a just and compassionate Australia, we cannot afford to deny that we have a problem or deny that we can achieve a solution. Whether we do so or not is a matter of choice, not affordability. A bipartisan approach to tackling poverty and inequality in this country is a clear winner for all Australians.”