Joint Media release - Score! Churches team up to ‘give poverty the boot’!

UnitingCare Australia, Anglicare Australia and Catholic Welfare Australia are lacing up their footy shoes for the launch of a national petition to ‘give poverty the boot’. The launch will be hosted by Rampaging Roy Slaven and HG Nelson today at the SCG.

The petition, organised by the National Coalition Against Poverty (NCAP), is endorsed by 79 organisations, including UnitingCare Australia, Anglicare Australia and Catholic Welfare Australia. Other supporting organisations are from the areas of welfare, community service, consumer rights, religious, disability, unions, housing, refugees, children’s rights and welfare, community legal centres, business, local government and the ethnic community.

The most recent UNICEF figures estimate that over half a million Aussie kids live in poverty each day. It’s a national disgrace.

Libby Davies, National Director of UnitingCare Australia, said "The issue of poverty extends beyond the individual, it is in the collective mindset and structural barriers of the broader society. Welfare reforms will not address poverty if government sees poverty as the fault of the individual."

Russell Rollason, Executive Officer of Anglicare Australia, said "We live in a resource rich country that has enjoyed 10 years of record economic growth yet 860, 000 Australian kids (Welfare Reform Report) are growing up in jobless families. We have the capacity to end poverty, what we lack is the political will."

Toby O’Connor, National Director of Catholic Welfare Australia, said, "Let’s give poverty the boot! Until governments get serious about tackling poverty in a growing number of Australian families, it is up to local communities to lead the way. It seems that all too often we have allowed our political leaders to introduce punitive measures to replace genuine compassion."

"This petition calls for immediate action by the Government," Libby Davies said. "We hope the basic rights of Australians living in poverty will be heeded."

Launch for National Petition

When: Friday 15 June, 11 am
Where: Members Pavilion, Sydney Cricket Ground
Contact:
Libby Davies, National Director, UnitingCare Australia: 0418 634 206
Toby O’Connor, National Director, Catholic Welfare Australia: 02 6285 1366
Russell Rollason, Executive Officer, Anglicare Australia: 03 9328 3644
Kim Cain, NCAP Media Information: 0419 373 123