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THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY

In Election call for More Aid, Better Aid, Caritas Australia outlines the humanitarian perspective and provision of services towards policies launched during the election campaign.  

Frank Quinlan, the executive director of Catholic Social Services Australia casts a critical eye over the campaigning of the major parties thus far and warns of implications for the provision of social services in Australia.  

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released a statement concerning the forthcoming election.  It provides a foundation for those wishing to know more about the Catholic values may be applied to policy. For more  

Writing in Eureka Street, Andrew Hamilton SJ has welcomed to the Bishops statement, but also called for more attention to be given to how human dignity is respected in the policies of the parties.  

Frank Brennan SJ’s commentary as the ‘meddling priest’ has made for interesting reading this election campaign. Here he dispels myths surrounding Australia’s record on the treatment of asylum seekers and the nature of popular deterrents to ‘turn the boats around’.  

Brennan more recently considered how the Greens, the Christian vote and control of the Senate could make strange bedfellows. Read the article Why a conscientious Christian could vote for the Greens that has raised debate.  

The Director of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Education Office Stephen Elder says the Green’s policies might have a strong social justice bent, but they are also openly against Catholic education.  

A Vote for Social Justice: For Discussion
A number of Catholic and ecumenical social justice agencies have developed policy recommendations and critiques in the lead-up to the election. Whilst they represent various approaches and perspectives on the key issues: refugees, mental health, the economy, the rights and welfare of indigenous Australians, environment etc., they contribute to the conversation in which Australia is currently engaged.

The Catholic Social Justice Council has produced a short but useful document to draw attention to key justice issues this federal election. The leaflet aims to help Catholics think about some issues that will be decided in this election and offers some questions that could be raised with all candidates in your electorate.  

The Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes (CLRI NSW) provide an 'eye on the election' page with useful information on a religious response to policies including indigenous equality, refugee justice, climate change and early childhood education. The site also contains tools for action such as letter templates.  

Having canvassed key election issues and policy imperatives from their networks throughout 2010, Social Policy Connections offer a wealth of material on how Christian social teaching informs an approach to particular policies. SPC also offers practical ways for your voice to be heard through its online forum and templates to lobby your local member of parliament.  

ARRCC (Australian Religious Response to Climate Change) have also updated their site with recommendations for the forthcoming election and a letter-writing template.