Joint Media Release - ALP Shows Leadership on Social Inclusion

Catholic Social Services Australia and Jesuit Social Services have welcomed the release of the ALP's Social Inclusion Agenda.

The Agenda commits to breaking the cycle of disadvantage in Australia by integrating social inclusion principles across mainstream policies and programs.

A Social Inclusion Unit, within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to determine who should be targeted, how this might be achieved, how communities might be engaged and what works and what doesn't, is a welcome measure.

The commitment to provide access to universal preschool education for all four year old children is a very positive step.

The ALP's policy would restore the community sector's right to advocate and participate actively in public debate, and the ALP will commission the Productivity Commission to construct a new tool to measure the contribution of third sector organisations to our economy. We welcome the determination that outcomes should be measured in both economic and social terms.

It's encouraging to see the ALP's commitment to revisit a range of vocational services programs and we look forward to working on solutions to help vulnerable, marginalised Australians achieve their full potential.

Earlier this year Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia launched Dropping off the edge: the distribution of disadvantage in Australia which provides a very clear picture of areas of entrenched disadvantage nationally.

The report found that despite our nation's recent strong economic growth, some communities remain caught in a spiral of intergenerational poverty caused by low income, limited internet and computer access, early school leaving, physical and mental disabilities, long-term unemployment, high imprisonment rates and child abuse.

Early intervention is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage and we look forward to working closely with the ALP on how this might be achieved.

"If we encounter problems in the economy, or in industry or with infrastructure we make plans to fix them. This should also be the approach we take with Australians who do not share the same opportunities as the rest of us because of where they happen to live. Labor's policy presents a new opportunity to overcome the social disadvantage faced by too many Australians," said Frank Quinlan, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia.

"We can't afford to have anyone in Australia excluded from playing their role in building the community. The cost to those forced to live on the edge and those who miss out on their contribution is something that nowadays most Australians just find unacceptable. The Social Inclusion initiative sends a positive message about the kind of society we all want to live in," said Julie Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Jesuit Social Services.

23 November 2007.

CONTACT Judith Tokley 02 6285 1366 / 0408 824 306