Social Policy - 1996 Imperatives

We commenced 1996 with a federal election imminent. We also found ourselves entering the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. For Australians, these twin events at the top of our social agenda require policies that reject unacceptably high levels of poverty and inequality, and instead give highest priority to raising the living standards of low-income and disadvantaged people.

Australia needs a vision focused on enhancing social equity and the quality of life. This implies sustainable economic development, full employment, fair sharing of national wealth and, importantly, justice for Aboriginal people.

An equitable society will ensure that social security is more than just a safety net. It should be a springboard enabling people to achieve their full potential, accessing life's choices.

Despite Australia's great strengths, including abundant natural resources, stable government, high levels of education and a willingness to adjust to internationalisation and changing economic environments, we must acknowledge our weaknesses. These include stubbornly high levels of unemployment, inadequate levels of productive investment, difficulties in meeting increasingly complex family and caring responsibilities, and economic and social inequalities. Sustainable economic development and social justice must be achieved together. The hallmark of good government and good policy is integrating these twin objectives. To develop a more equitable society we first need a genuine commitment to full employment. Accepting 5 per cent unemployment at the end of the decade, indeed settling for policies that fail to address the issue of full employment, will leave Australia a deeply scarred nation. Our energies must be redirected to creating an environment where full employment can be realistically achieved, not just to reducing short-term unemployment.

We must also ensure that low-income wage earners are fully protected, rejecting strategies that produce ever-declining wages for low income workers, putting them at risk of the poverty experienced in many other nations.

An equitable society will ensure that social security is more than just a safety net. It should be a springboard enabling people to achieve their full potential, accessing life's choices. Social security, and income support generally, exist to allow people to enhance their quality of life and living standards.

Meanwhile we continue to pay single unemployed people and young people inadequate benefits, leaving many well below the poverty line. This is unacceptable. Sole parents continue as another of our most disadvantaged groups. We must also increase our responsibility for carers and support them, not only those who care for children but those assisting older people and people with disabilities.

These issues are of critical concern, but none is more important than to recognise the unique position of Australia's indigenous peoples. We simply must reverse the injustices and wrongs that still afflict indigenous Australians, particularly in relation to economic and social opportunities. In addition to issues named above, ACOSS will pursue vigorously in 1996 its commitment to housing affordability, equity in health, increasing access to justice and an absolute commitment to improving access to community services. None of these goals can be achieved unless Australia examines the environment for productive investment. The nation needs to maintain a strong revenue base and to develop an equitable savings system, not just for retirement but for the whole life-cycle.

This implies sustainable economic development, full employment, fair sharing of national wealth and, importantly, justice for Aboriginal people.

In recent years many Australians suffered during the rapid economic and social reforms. Many feel victims of those changes. An issue for the whole community, but particularly our political leaders, is to allow for community participation and development relevant to our modern times. The price of failure here will be disenchantment, a sense of powerlessness and ultimately rejection of the reforms.

If a society cannot guarantee minimum living standards and genuine quality of life for its most marginalised, it has no right to guarantee benefits and privileges for those already advantaged. Social issues are not simply about spending more, but about ensuring that the broad economic environment is conducive to reducing inequality.

To the Cardoner Index and recent material.