Divide,
But Not Conquer
Vision for Testing Time1 was
one headline in the paper the morning after the 2003 Federal
Budget was brought down. This headline
stirs many images and raises questions about what and whose vision
is being talked about and who is being tested. The list of budget
priorities highlights the vision the Federal Government has for
this nation at this time – a vision that is set to further
divide by having two-tiered health and education systems! It
does not take long to once again realise that some core values
underpinning this vision are in stark contrast to those of the
gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.
The Treasurer told the nation in his Budget speech that “We
have been tested. But we are resilient.” While our
national security may have been tested, the ones most
tested and most resilient in our society are those most disadvantaged.
The best
lessons to be learnt about being tested and resilient are from
these people – the unemployed, the lowest income earners,
indigenous people, refugees, the homeless, the mentally ill who
cannot access adequate services and those who care for them,
people on waiting lists for housing and people on waiting lists
for a hospital bed etc. People who won’t be conquered but
whose struggle to survive grows more critical - whose resilience
is strongest. The very people who, once again, come last in the
budget priorities!
While education and health are critical issues
as regards disadvantage, housing and increasing homelessness
did not rate a mention in
the Budget speech. So many other needs can begin to be met if
people have safe, secure and affordable housing. Do the100,000+
individuals who experience homelessness matter – are they
part of the vision? Obviously not, but Defence and National Security
are, with $2.1 billion alone (over five years) on new
spending for Defence. There is a
crisis in this country with not enough
affordable housing. Housing is said to be affordable
if it takes up less than 30% of one’s income. Even taking
out 30% of a pension or benefit leaves people extremely vulnerable.
Successive
Federal and State governments have cut back funding for public
housing and put in other measures such as rent assistance, but
that does not address the real problem. There is not enough public
housing stock and private rentals do not fall within the affordability
range of those on low incomes.
As we all know both the Declaration
of Human Rights 2 and Catholic Social Teaching
stress, among other essential needs, the primary
need for housing. It is not hard to imagine the social, health,
economic, employment, emotional and educational impacts on people
who do not have safe, accessible housing. People have a right
to participate in society but without housing this can almost
be impossible.
So where do we stand? As Christians we have a clear
vision that has certainly been tested in recent months and will
continue
to be if we remain true to core gospel values, if we in our everyday
living live in solidarity with those most disadvantaged and challenge
the vision and attitudes of our politicians and policy makers.
The Prime Minister articulated something of his vision on radio
the morning after the budget: “…we want a community
that cares for the low-income battlers, but also a community
that encourages people to achieve and gives people incentive
and you’ve got to mix. You’ve got to respond to a
mix of values when you frame a budget. Yes, care for the underprivileged,
but also try and reward the people who are having a go.”3 The
homeless, those on endless waiting lists, are they not having
a go? Do they not deserve a go? No doubt resilience is
truly needed by these people and by all who strive to live the
gospel.
It is good to remember these words as we journey on: “The
most important task on the face of the earth is the struggle
for the rights of others, and of those others who are God’s
privileged persons and peoples, the poor of the world. When this
is the struggle that it wages, then the church will really have
a contribution to make with its teaching on human rights… then
the struggle for human rights and the defence of the life of
the poor will be transformed into a here-and-now, efficacious
sacrament of salvation.”4
Nourishing
resilience within is critical as the journey is long! While the
budget is grossly inadequate in addressing human and
social needs, the critical environmental issues are way down
the line as well. As Don Henry, Australian Conservation Foundation
Director said, “the budget is as dry as a dead river
bed for the Murray-Darling”5.
