Cath News report: Church organisations say they see opportunities and risks in the Federal Election results.
Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) executive director Frank Quinlan said the shape of the new Federal Government after last weekend's election "was difficult to predict". But "it seems clear to me that a large number of Australian voters rejected the traditional duopoly politics of the recent election campaign", says a report in The Catholic Leader.
Catholic Health Australia (CHA) chief executive Martin Laverty was reported on Monday as being concerned health reform would be stalled by a minority government trying to keep the support of independents to remain in power.
Caritas Australia chief executive officer Jack de Groot had similar concerns, noting "with national stability likely to dominate the post-election landscape, we'll be urging our leaders not to neglect Australia's responsibility to the world's most vulnerable communities".
Brisbane archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) executive officer Peter Arndt said "a big message from the election outcome was the public is fed up with the current situation where too many politicians and their advisors are living in some sort of vacuum, disconnected from the community".
Mr Quinlan said CSSA was looking for "two things from the current negotiations" between the parties trying to form a coalition government.
"The first is an agreement that yields certainty and stability," he said.
"It is in no-one's interests to have single issues being traded off in some kind of bidding war.
"To the credit of the current players, this does not seem to be the case.
"Secondly, I would be hoping for a government that works harder to develop good social policy.
"That means a government that listens to those who are closest to the problem and considers evidence ahead of ideology."
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23001
Catholic Health Australia (CHA) chief executive Martin Laverty was reported on Monday as being concerned health reform would be stalled by a minority government trying to keep the support of independents to remain in power.
Caritas Australia chief executive officer Jack de Groot had similar concerns, noting "with national stability likely to dominate the post-election landscape, we'll be urging our leaders not to neglect Australia's responsibility to the world's most vulnerable communities".
Brisbane archdiocese's Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) executive officer Peter Arndt said "a big message from the election outcome was the public is fed up with the current situation where too many politicians and their advisors are living in some sort of vacuum, disconnected from the community".
Mr Quinlan said CSSA was looking for "two things from the current negotiations" between the parties trying to form a coalition government.
"The first is an agreement that yields certainty and stability," he said.
"It is in no-one's interests to have single issues being traded off in some kind of bidding war.
"To the credit of the current players, this does not seem to be the case.
"Secondly, I would be hoping for a government that works harder to develop good social policy.
"That means a government that listens to those who are closest to the problem and considers evidence ahead of ideology."
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23001
Comments