The 25th Annual WJ Craig Lecture and 2011 Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Awards took a different turn this year with the presence of Occupy Melbourne and the disruption that came from the use of force by Victoria Police. We had no choice but to cancel our event, with all entrances to the Melbourne Town Hall closed and a police locked down to the building in place.
We were thankful to the Uniting Church who were able to accommodate us at such short notice and impressed with the way staff sprung into action to assist. There was a real sense of camaraderie and community spirit in the room as we heard from the CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service, Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO of Connections Angela Forbes and Chairperson of Connections Fiona Hanlon who all reflected upon the scenes we had witnessed moments earlier.
The 2011 Anti-Poverty Awards were presented to some incredible young people working towards the eradication of poverty.*
Everyone that managed to come together in recognition of the inspirational young people also took time to reflect that the afternoon was really about recognising the imbalances in the distribution of wealth between the richest and the poorest members of society. We all noted that the peaceful Occupy Melbourne protesters were simply doing that in a different way to us but that we shared a core message.
These protests around the globe were triggered by anger at figures published by Credit Suisse and others indicating that the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population own 83per cent of the world’s wealth, with the top 1per cent alone accounting for 43per cent of global assets.
Occupy Melbourne were quite simply saying in their own unique way that this is not acceptable. Unfortunately in Melbourne we now know that tolerance to peaceful protests lasts approximately one week and will then be met with the full force of the law, including capsicum spray, horses and dogs.
Some of what was to be covered in the Anti-Poverty Awards event was to tie the imbalances of wealth that exist in global terms to what exists in Australia.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics report on Household Income and Distribution that came out on 30 August this year shows 20 per cent of low net worth households in Australia account for only 1 per cent of total household wealth while the wealthiest 20 per cent account for 62 per cent of total household net worth.
Clearly imbalances of wealth exist within Australia and internationally.
Collectively we should not accept the stark inequalities and global heart-wrenching poverty that are a central part to so many people’s lives right across the world all day every day.
We should not accept Indigenous poverty and disadvantage. Life expectancy, mortality rates, education and employment issues are profound.
We should not accept local poverty that exists in our own neighborhoods – the each and every day grind for so many people that are struggling to cope, struggling to get by. Issues like inadequate income support, issues around affordable housing and the poverty that is connected to entrenched disadvantage.
Something we should also not accept is the use of force against people who are peacefully protesting.
Rhiannon Wapling and Matt Clear
Connections UnitingCare
*Crosslight will report on the Anti-poverty Award recipients next month.
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