ACOSS is again urging political leaders to focus on real solutions for communities and stop rhetoric, campaign tactics and policy proposals that are stoking racism and division and targeting specific groups.
“ACOSS is alarmed by the recent attacks on Welcome to Country ceremonies, which are central to respect and recognition for First Nations communities,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO.
“We also reject damaging election policies targeted at First Nations communities such as the proposal to hold a Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse and the plan to reinstate the childcare activity test. Both these policies have been strongly opposed by First Nations experts and their advice should be given the highest weight.
“If parties are committed to improving outcomes for First Nations communities, they will deliver the funding needed to First Nations-led organisations to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and commit to truth-telling and treaty processes.
“ACOSS also condemns efforts to target migrant and refugees communities such as attempts to scapegoat migrant communities for the housing and cost-of-living crises.
“If our political leaders are serious about the housing crisis, they will invest in social housing and reform the tax breaks that have supercharged inequality. Asserting that immigration is causing the housing crisis is not only inaccurate, damaging and hurtful, it fuels racism and distracts from the action urgently required to improve housing affordability.
“ACOSS stands in solidarity with communities targeted by these events.
“We urge all parties to take the expert advice of leading national civil society experts and organisations such Djirra, First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV), National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSILS), SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre (ASRC), Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA), and Settlement Services International (SSI), and ACOSS strongly backs these highly respected leaders.
“People across the country are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table and afford essential services. They deserve political leaders who will act to lift living standards, not stoke division and turn communities against each other.”
“All communities deserve adequate incomes, affordable housing and a decent standard of living. None of us benefit from division, but we all benefit from policies that build fairness, opportunity and inclusion,” said Dr Goldie.