The fight against poverty cannot get caught up in party politics

Welcoming the Labor Party’s ‘Commitment to Fight Poverty’ being launched today, Catholic Welfare Australia cautioned against the issue of poverty becoming caught up in partisan politics and called on all political leaders to unite in addressing poverty which sadly now affects around 1 in 9 Australians.

Only last week, the Heads of Churches in Australia came together to call on all political parties across Federal, State and Territory divides to join together in the eradication of poverty in this country.

“Australia is too fast becoming a country that is divided between the haves and have nots,” said Spokesperson for Catholic Welfare Australia, Fr Joe Caddy. “While this has been a decade of unprecedented prosperity, those on the margins are being left further and further behind.”

“As a nation we can choose to reduce poverty if we decide to,” said Fr Caddy. “We are not as rigorous in our efforts to reduce poverty as many OECD nations. In the European Union, strong and rigorous anti-poverty strategies are now being implemented. The UK and Irish anti-poverty strategies are far superior to Australia efforts to date.”

“Our failure to address poverty will have grave implications for social cohesion and Australia risks becoming a deeply divided nation,” he said. “This can be averted but only with a united national response.”

The Report from the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Poverty and Financial Hardship is due out before Christmas and Catholic Welfare Australia strongly encourages a bi-partisan approach to the recommendations.

“Catholic Welfare Australia commits itself to working with all political parties in a national campaign aimed at eradicating poverty in this country and creating better lives for the many individuals, families and communities it effects,” concluded Fr Caddy.

For an interview please call: Jackie Brady, Communications Officer, 0417 220 779