February 22, 2007

The New South Wales election: three vital issues for the electorate

The NSW Ecumenical Council, a council of sixteen member churches, is raising concerns about three vital social issues — environmental sustainability, greater justice for Indigenous people and provision of affordable housing — and is doing so specifically as a contribution to the NSW electorate’s preparation for the forthcoming state election.

“But they are not issues that the Council has just discovered”, said the General Secretary, the Reverend Dr Ray Williamson. “Through the NSW Ecumenical Council, representatives of member churches, over many years, have been consistent in the views they have expressed on a range of issues pertaining to peace, justice and communal well-being. Amongst those issues, these three – care of the environment, justice for Indigenous people and provision of housing – have had a high priority”.

Now, the NSW Ecumenical Council is addressing those concerns to all who are seeking to be elected to the NSW Parliament.

Recognising care of the environment as a key issue of our time, the Council calls for a desperately needed change of spirit. All life is inter-related. Development cannot be defined in economic terms alone, and is not sustainable if it steals from the present and future generations. In particular, the Council urges those seeking election to be committed to increasing renewable energy targets and to improving incentive schemes.

The Council also affirms the “Two Ways Together” strategy as an essential approach to seeking justice for Indigenous people, but calls for the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals indicators as targets to be set for NSW Indigenous communities.

Because of the problem of housing affordability in NSW, the NSW Ecumenical Council urges political parties to set explicit affordable housing targets.

Click on the links above for more information on each of these issues.