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poverty

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Justice for People on Low Incomes

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has led a national campaign to urge the Federal Government to raise the rate of income support payments made to Australians on job seeker and some other payments. We update you on the campaign and the just released Budget.

A calculator and a pile of money

Minimum Wage Case Submission

The Australian Catholic Council on Employment Relations recently made a submission to the annual minimum case. It recommended a wage increase of 7.2% for Australia’s lowest paid workers. We look at some of the key points in the submission.

Opening Mass at the Federation of Catholic Bish

From the Director

Peter Arndt, Director of the Office reflects on Advent and particularly on seeing God with us each day. The hustle and bustle of this time of year can stop us seeing and hearing God in our day-to-day lives. He urges us to keep Christ in our celebrations of Christmas by remembering and including people excluded from society and our brother and sisters in the environment in our celebrations. Peter farewells Patrice Moriarty who is moving on from her support of the Office.

A close up picture of a section of a Christmas tree with a wooden ornament that says, "Merry Christmas".

Advent and Christmas Reflection

Peter Arndt, Director of the Office reflects on Advent and particularly on seeing God with us each day. The hustle and bustle of this time of year can stop us seeing and hearing God in our day-to-day lives. He urges us to keep Christ in our celebrations of Christmas by remembering and including people excluded from society and our brother and sisters in the environment in our celebrations. Peter farewells Patrice Moriarty who is moving on from her support of the Office.

A mother sits with her son look together at a piece of paper on a coffee table.

Update on the 2022-2023 Budget and Asylum Seekers

The Federal government released their 2022-2023 budget after the election. Although there is new funding available to speed up visa processing which is years behind, and there is a review on Australia’s multicultural policies and more support for people learning English, there was no commitment to permanency for those on temporary visas and no increased refugee intake.

Anti-Poverty Week logo on an aqua background. Text reads "16-22 October 2022. Anti-poverty week. 20 years action on poverty."

Anti-Poverty Week

Anti-Poverty week (16-22 October) is being observed this week, and we are being called on to raise awareness and taken action against poverty and organisations such as Vinnies Australia are calling on all parliamentarians to halving child poverty by 2030. Recent reports show 761,000 children live below the poverty line. Pope Francis’ message for World Day of the Poor (Nov 13) states, “This is the moment for us not to lose heart but to renew.”

A mother sit besides her son as they complete work at a table in a run down apartment.

End Temporary Protection

You are invited to contact your local Federal parliamentarians to join your voice with calls to end Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs). The federal government has committed to this however there is no timeline in place, meaning people seeking asylum continue to be in limbo. Advocates across the country are asking for this and for people seeking asylum to finally be granted permanent protection.

Minimum Wage Must Rise: Bishops

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The Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations has argued for an increase in the minimum wage of 6.5%. Working on behalf of the Bishops, ACCER submitted this recommendation to the Annual Wage Review saying that no Australian should live below the poverty line. Spokesperson Stephen Mackie said, “The problem is children are being brought up in poverty…the workers on national minimum wage have been waiting for a long time for a significant increase.” 

The silhouette of a person putting a ballot in a ballot box.

Bishops Call for a Better Kind of Politics

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The Australian Catholic Bishops have released a new election resource highlighting key issues for consideration this election. The guide doesn’t assign ratings to candidates or parties, but rather gives a background on the different issues that could affect the election and information on these issues from a Catholic perspective.

Biru sits on the ground, smiling at something off camera. Biru is working with a metal wheel close by.

Project Compassion: Biru’s Story

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Biru has overcome many difficulties in his life. As a person living with a disability and part of a minority in rural India, keeping cattle to support his wife and four children was a challenge. So he taught himself to repair bicycles and through participating in an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, supported by Caritas has been able to set up his own business and be financially dependent.