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Everyday Aussies Head To Parliament To Speak Up For The Poor

230 everyday Aussies have just spent two days at Canberra’s Parliament House where they had their two cents worth with the nation’s most powerful people.

By Darren Chester - 23rd September 2011 - Back to News

They travelled to Canberra from all over the nation for the ‘Voices for Justice’ event to lobby politicians to keep their promise to help halve global poverty by 2015.

More than one hundred private, face-to-face appointments were held with MPs and Senators, as part of the Micah Challenge Voices for Justice gathering that brought 230 people to Parliament House on 19-20 September. They travelled from all over Australia and ranged from teens to mothers to retirees – united as Australians who wanted to see action taken to create a better, fairer world for all.

"Politicians usually only meet with slick, highly paid industry lobbyists who are sprucing their own self-interests, but we felt it was important to let our leaders know that a midwife from regional Australia has something to say too," Sonia Nisbett said. "We are appalled that 8.1 million children under five are still dying each year. A quarter of those deaths could be prevented if we invested money into ensuring everyone has access to adequate toilets – that’s 2 million kids who could be saved."

Voices for Justice participants want to see the Government and the Opposition keep their bi-partisan promise to increase the aid budget to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) – or just 50 cents in every $100 – by 2015. They also want to see a timetabled commitment from both parties on when and how they will reach the internationally agreed Aid Target of 0.7%GNI. This is the amount Australia and other rich nations promised under the Millennium Development Goals – a global strategy to halve extreme poverty by 2015. Australia’s aid contribution is currently well below what is needed at just 0.35% GNI.

Participants shared their concerns with Mr Darren Chester Member for Gippsland. Darren Chester MP welcomed the visit and the opportunity to hear how people in the electorate felt about global issues. The group also joined politicians in ‘Canberra’s longest toilet queue’, a public event to raise awareness for the 2.6 billion people worldwide who still have no access to adequate sanitation.

This was the first taste of political lobbying for many in the group, including 17yo student Brandon Carney. "It was an amazing experience to be a part of democracy in action and to speak out for those who do not have any way of accessing people in power," Brandon said.

Micah Challenge National Coordinator John Beckett said that the involvement of campaigners like Brandon has already made a difference. "We’re definitely seeing progress. This year the Government committed an extra $200 million to help immunise children around the world, which was a big win for our supporters."

Micah Challenge is a global movement of aid and development agencies, churches, schools, groups and individuals who want to deepen their engagement with poor communities and influence world leaders to meet their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. See www.micahchallenge.org.au.

For more information or to request an interview:
Natalie Oliver, nat_fledge@yahoo.com.au, 0413 023 660

Mr Chester has agreed to provide a quote should you contact his office on (02) 6277 4029

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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