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Synod News
Rev Alistair Macrae, President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, has today called on Uniting Church people to consider their vote carefully and prayerfully this Saturday. Mr Macrae said “In an election campaign dominated by sound bytes and negative campaigning, I urge Uniting Church people to resist thinking small and instead, think big. This is a time for us to reflect deeply on the kind of Australia we want to be. “We need to ask ourselves how the policies outlined by each of the parties and candidates speak to the core social values of the gospel: justice, peace, compassion and hope. “Our vote is an important expression of what is important to each of us, as we consider our future together as a nation. We may be disappointed with some of the choices on offer or disagree with some of the policies of any one party or candidate, but in choosing who to vote for, we will be making a decision about what we believe are the priority issues for the health of this nation; we will be engaging with a process that brings change and action. “Reflecting the prophetic tradition which clearly shaped Jesus, the Uniting Church supports policies which improve life for those who are marginalized in our society, like refugees and the homeless. We call on our elected representatives to show a commitment to tackling issues including poverty, the human rights and standard of living of Indigenous people, older Australians, international aid and development, climate change, support for outback and remote communities, education and health. “This Saturday, I encourage people to use their vote to share a vision of hope – the hope that we together, with God’s help, can build a society of compassion, justice and peace.” This year, the National Assembly has prepared a set of resources for Church members that invite people to consider their vote in the light of Christian values. The resource is entitled “Building an Economy for Life” and is available at http://assembly.uca.org.au/election2010 For media enquiries please contact Amy Goodhew at the Uniting Church National Assembly Communications unit on 0421 785 488. Labor promises to extend school chaplaincy program[Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:02:10 +0000]Victoria’s largest provider of school chaplains, ACCESS ministries, has welcomed Labor’s announcement to extend the National Schools Chaplaincy Program but challenges the Liberals to better Labor’s election promise. So far, the Liberal Opposition has only guaranteed funding for the scheme until 2014. On Sunday, Labor announced an extension and expansion of the scheme to $222 million. “In only three years, the National Schools Chaplaincy Program has proven its success: chaplains have addressed issues such as youth suicide and school truancy; circumvented bullying and race issues; helped with parental, image and peer relation issues, and extended their assistance to parents, teachers, principals and siblings,” said ACCESS ministries CEO, Dr Evonne Paddison. “We call on the Liberal Party to confirm its support by committing to provide a school chaplain to every school that requests one.” Currently, school chaplains are funded by the Government two days a week and must undertake their own fundraising initiatives to cover their salary for other days. A recent independent research report by Social Compass indicated that : The top five issues that chaplains assist students with, are social/peer issues; family issues; depression and anxiety; self esteem; and grief and loss. “Our school chaplains are already creating a dramatic and positive impact in the lives of Victoria’s, and Australia’s students, turning around the lives of students in crisis,” Ms Paddison said. “Chaplains work in a unique and holistic space as part of a school’s welfare team, with their main task being prevention – preventing issues and crises before they arise, not after the damage is done. “They’re walking alongside kids in crisis, and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “If the Liberals view themselves as an alternative Government, they must acknowledge the value of chaplains, who walk alongside kids in crisis, and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” Ms Paddison said thousands of voters had already lobbied their local Federal MP through the National Schools Chaplaincy campaign website http://support.schoolchaplaincy.org.au to secure the future of Victoria’s school chaplains. 100 more homes needed for Melbourne’s asylum seekers[Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:54:09 +0000]The Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project has launched a set of recommendations calling for safer and more subsidised housing stock to improve the subsistent conditions asylum seekers continue to be forced to live in. The Project’s Australia’s Hidden Homeless report has identified the majority of asylum seekers who live lawfully in Melbourne on bridging visas have no access to an adequate government funded safety net or sustainable incomes. “With out similar asylum housing frameworks that work in the UK, Sweden and Canada and given the exclusion of asylum seekers from the national strategic agenda for reducing homelessness in Australia, a robust service delivery for asylum housing provision is currently non-existent in this country,” the report said. “There is currently very limited government-subsidised housing available to asylum seekers, many have no form of family or community support and as a consequence they are forced into abject poverty.” One of the key recommendations asks for $1.25 million in federal funding for 100 more properties over a 12-month period to meet current demand in Victoria. Access to existing subsidised government housing and the utilisation of housing stock sourced by religious organisations is also being called for. Currently the Hotham Mission has 20 properties available. “For asylum seekers, the experience of homelessness and long term destitution not only has a detrimental impact on their health and welfare, but also hinders their capacity to satisfy the requirements of the protection application process,” the report said. Click here to access the full report. Churches call for a safer Victoria[Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:23:35 +0000]The Victorian Heads of Churches have written a joint letter urging a greater effort from Victorian politicians to respond to the community demand for a safer Victoria. Church leaders recognise the importance of the rule of law: this includes responding to crimes against the person and their possessions. But providing a safer community, particularly for our most vulnerable members, requires much more than appropriate responses once a crime is committed.  They are saying that restorative and rehabilitative justice policies will make Victoria a safer place – not simply focussing on more prison beds which each cost the taxpayer $113,000 per year. It’s time the debate shifted to reducing the number of prisoners in Victoria rather than increasing them. Other points made in the letter include:
It is important that when people leave prison they are equipped to fully re-join the community. Their skills, health and links with their family and community will be crucial. Without housing and employment, community inclusion is unlikely. Click here for a copy of the letter. Signatories and supporters include Anglican Archbishop Philip Freier, Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart, Paul Cameron of the Churches of Christ, Major Graeme Rigley of the Salvation Army, Isabel Thomas Dobson, Victoria and Tasmania Moderator of the Uniting Church of Australia and Alan Marr, Director of Ministries, Baptist Union of Victoria. For media enquiries, contact Denis Fitzgerald, Chairperson of the Victorian Council of Churches Inter-Church Criminal Justice Taskforce (Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Victoria) 0418 136 372 / DFitzgerald@css.org.au UnitingCare addresses election priorities[Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:55:10 +0000]UnitingCare Australia is calling on the three major political parties to deliver commitments that will contribute to a decent life for every person living in Australia. UnitingCare Australia’s Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election includes measures to address cost of living pressures on low income households; improve the care of older Australians; build a better life for vulnerable children, young people and families; and ensure sustainable social services. National director, Susan Helyar, invited the leaders of all three major parties to visit UnitingCare services during the campaign. “UnitingCare Australia is the largest provider of social services in Australia. We employ 35,000 staff who deliver services to over two million people each year in 1300 sites in every state and territory in remote, regional and metropolitan areas,” Ms Helyar said. “Our efforts are supported by the work of 24,000 volunteers. We have more sites than MacDonalds nationally, and our agencies employ as many people as Australia Post. “Our agencies work at the coalface of some of the most marginalised communities in the country. We know what works. And we know what doesn’t. “Evidence has shown that well targeted, long-term measures can, and do, turn around the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage in which too many people have been trapped. “That’s why we are keen for our leaders to visit our services, to see how lives can change with the right support. “So far in the campaign, there’s been little mention of the issues that are important to our network or to the people who use our services. “Our election priorities include short-term deliverables, but also make recommendations for longer-term reform on the back of the extensive reviews that have taken place in recent years. “We will release a report card in the final week of the campaign, assessing the response of the three major parties against our priorities. “It will be sent to the UnitingCare network and to Uniting Church congregations,” Ms Helyar said. UnitingCare Australia is looking for commitments from the Australian Labor Party, the Coalition and the Australian Greens to invest in services that will make a lasting difference to the lives of some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people and communities. We are looking for commitments that address the growing demand for social services and meet the challenges of demographic change. This is a snapshot of the priorities outlined in UnitingCare Australia’s Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election: Care of Older Australians Cost of Living Pressures Sustainable Social Services The priorities outlined in UnitingCare Australia’s Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election are based on the experience and evidence from the UnitingCare network. Key Social Policy Priorities for the 2010 Federal Election can be found at: www.unitingcare.org.au. Help for vulnerable teenagers addressed[Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:43:03 +0000]UnitingCare Australia’s national director, Susan Helyar, has welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to help families with teenagers address cost of living pressures, which was one of the priorities outlined in UnitingCare Australia’s election priorities released earlier today. Speaking shortly after the Government’s announcement, Ms Helyar said an increase in family support of up to $4000 a year, or $150 a fortnight per teenager, to help families meet the higher costs of older children and encourage more teenagers to stay at school will see more young people enjoy the benefits of a good education which will lead to sustainable, meaningful employment. “This measure should help reduce the high rates of youth unemployment, which is as high as 40 per cent in some Australian communities,” Ms Helyar said. “We know the students most likely to struggle in the last two years of school are young people from very low income families, and children living in out-of-home-care. “We welcome any measure that will help low income families. We expect this new money will be targeted so it addresses the most disadvantaged families. “We do not expect this measure will be funded by redirecting money from other essential services. “We are looking forward to a similar commitment to helping bridge the gap between income and the cost of living for young people struggling on Newstart and Youth Allowance, which is currently around $230 week for a single person. “People on Newstart and Youth Allowance are major users of our Emergency Relief services. “Additional priorities for addressing the cost of living pressures for low income households are listed in our election priorities released earlier today,” Ms Helyar said. Calling for an election campaign with vision[Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:24:20 +0000]The Uniting Church in Australia has called on politicians running for election to share their vision for Australia and not to limit their discussions to cheap populism and slogans. President of the Uniting Church, Rev Alistair Macrae believes that Australians are eager to hear messages of hope for the future and has expressed his disappointment at the tone and quality of political debate thus far. “I’m hearing plenty of sound-bites but no real substance. Australians are looking to our politicians to display real leadership and talk honestly about their vision for our country. Instead we’re seeing cheap political point-scoring that’s not connected to any substantial vision for our future. “Political candidates are asking us to trust them with our future. We need to hear what they believe and what they genuinely hope to achieve. Australians deserve better than to be patronised by cheap promises and slogans designed to do nothing more than win votes,” sayd Mr Macrae. The Uniting Church has articulated its vision for Australia’s future in a series of election resources titled ‘Building an Economy for Life’. These resources invite people to consider their vote in light of the values they hold as Christians and the ideas they have about the kind of Australia they want to build. They address many key election issues including the state of Indigenous health, welfare management, climate change, rural Australia and asylum seekers. They have been distributed to the Uniting Church’s members in over 2000 congregations and across Uniting Church service agencies in every electorate around the country. “Our 2010 Election Resources articulate Christian concerns for the future of our country around the theme of ‘the economy’. They are based on the idea that the economy is not an end in itself but a tool that should be used “It is time to hear the deep aspirations and vision of the candidates and the parties that are asking for our votes. Now is the time for authentic leadership that offers genuine hope for a vibrant and flourishing future,” said Mr For media enquiries please contact Amy Goodhew at the Uniting Church National Assembly Communications Unit on 0421 785 488. ‘Building an Economy for Life’ Election Resources are available at http://nat.uca.org.au/election2010.html Time for all ISPs to stop access to child sex industry[Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:43:29 +0000]The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia, has welcomed the announcement today by Telstra, Optus and Primus that they will voluntarily stop their customers from being able to access child sexual abuse sites on a list provided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. “We call on all other Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to join with Telstra, Optus and Primus and stop providing a service to customers that allows them to visit child sexual abuse sites,” said Synod spokesperson Dr Mark Zirnsak. “This is action that 95 per cent of ISPs in the UK have already implemented and shows that not allowing customers access such sites is technically feasible.” The Synod is supportive of the Government’s moves to require ISPs to not provide a service which allows customers access to child sexual abuse sites. “Child sexual abuse on the internet is a serious transnational criminal activity, as recognised by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime,” Dr Zirnsak said. “Blocking access is similar to laws that prevent banks providing a service to customers wishing to launder money. This is about requiring an industry not to facilitate serious transnational criminal activity. It is not a matter of free speech.” The UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment, on 17 June 2010, estimates the commercial child sexual abuse industry on-line, as opposed to non-commercial peer-to-peer networks, generates an estimated 50,000 new child sexual abuse images each year and is worth about US$250 million. It involves thousands of sites. These sites are more likely to involve the abuse of very young children, with the Internet Watch Foundation noting 69 per cent of victims appear to be younger than 10 and 24 per cent less than 7 years of age. Most of the victims are white and female, with the majority based in Eastern Europe. They estimate the upper limit of consumers of commercial child sexual abuse materials to be in the order of two million people globally. The UNODC report suggests that law enforcement efforts may be catching as little as 1 per cent of all consumers of child sexual abuse materials. “ISPs blocking access to child sexual abuse sites has a crucial role to play both in preventing the domestic consumer stumbling across the materials by accident and in preventing those who do not know how to access the material but who are curious, or who are at an early stage of developing or feeding their sexual interest in children,” Dr Zirnsak said. “The implementation of blocking helps to undermine the whole commercial trade of child abuse images and actively disrupt its success. The more countries that use blocking systems the less successful and active this US$250 million market will become. It is the commercial industries in sexual abuse materials that are impacted by mandatory filtering. It has minimal benefits in dealing with peer-to-peer sharing of sexual abuse images and their production.” Support for traumatised boat people[Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:52:22 +0000]The Uniting Church in Australia believes that there is little reason to be anxious about boat arrivals and more reason to be so about the continuing use of traumatised people to score political points in an election year. “We are very pleased to hear the Prime Minister speak the truth – that the percentage of the world’s refugees that come to Australia can only be described as tiny. We call on Ms Gillard to do even more to dispel the myths and scaremongering,” says Rev Alistair Macrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia. “The Government and the Opposition must stop playing off asylum seekers who arrive by boat against people who make their protection claims offshore. “We are talking about people who are coming to Australia for a ‘fair go’. They are not ‘queue jumpers’, ‘illegals’ or ‘boat people’ – they are human beings.” Mr Macrae also expressed the Church’s concern about the possibility of offshore processing in Timor Leste and said he looked forward to a more detailed explanation of their intentions from the Government. “A Timor Sea version of the Pacific Solution would be contrary to any claims the Government makes about its commitment to treat people humanely. We do encourage continued conversations with the UNHCR to ensure Australia sets a high standard in meeting its obligations under the Refugee Convention,” he said. “We are encouraged by the lifting of the suspension of processing for Sri Lankan asylum seekers, and we urge the Government to reconsider the continuing suspension of claim processing for Afghan asylum seekers, who are now in an unacceptable situation of indefinite, mandatory detention.” The Uniting Church has roundly condemned the Opposition’s policy proposals, especially the deeply disturbing plan to turn back asylum seeker boats. Rev Elenie Poulos, national director, UnitingJustice says the UCA has long been an advocate for the development of serious regional solutions to overcome the risk of people getting on small, unseaworthy boats. “The only sure way to put an end to people smuggling is to commit more to peace-making and to work much harder with countries and people who are suffering from conflict and risk of violence.” “The Opposition utterly fails to recognise the dire situations of persecution and conflict that cause people to flee. These backwards policies are callous and punitive and will inflict further harm on already traumatised people,” says Mr Macrae. “They are dangerous policies that seek to exempt Australia from its legal and moral obligations to act as a decent global citizen. Increasing the offshore resettlement program is a good move in and of itself but is no substitute for meeting our obligations under the Refugee Convention to assess the claims of those who arrive on our shores,” he says. For media enquiries contact Amy Goodhew at the Uniting Church National Assembly Communications unit on 0421 785 488. © UCA VicTas Media Room |
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