Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: Vote for the benefits of reducing poverty
By Major Colin Haggar

As we approach the forthcoming Federal Election and go through the process of considering which political party is going to give us the better deal, will we cast our vote purely on the basis of self-interest?

Ten years ago, the nations of the world agreed that it was not only possible but eminently achievable to do something significant about reducing extreme poverty in our world. From this were birthed the eight Millennium Development Goals; see www.un.org/millenniumgoals.

To achieve the outstanding goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015, developed nations were asked to commit 0.7% of their Gross National Income in targeted foreign aid.

The benefits of such positive action include a reduction in both the threat of terrorism and illegal cross-border people movements, the latter currently a matter of intense attention in the lead up to the Federal Election.

Australia, along with the rest of the developed world, signed an agreement in September 2000 stating that we would “spare no effort” to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Two thirds of the way to 2015, even though there have been successes (eg reductions in infant and maternal mortality rates) there is still some way to go.

Our foreign aid stands at 0.33% of our Gross National Income. This means that for every $100 we earn as a nation, we give the poor of the world 33 cents!

This record makes me feel ashamed and embarrassed. As an average Australian I not only tread more heavily upon this planet, but my government by its inaction on this promise made in 2000, is undermining our international integrity! All for the sake of 37 cents in every $100!

The Micah Challenge is a movement emanating from the churches of Australia calling upon our Federal Government to practise what it preached in September 2000. Please visit www.micahchallenge.org.au/mdg

Both the federal government and opposition have committed to spending 0.5% of Australia’s Gross National Income on foreign aid by 2015. But when you consider that Australia survived the Global Financial Crisis in far better shape and with far lower national debt than any other developed economy, we look more than just lame – we make Scrooge look like Santa Claus.

There may be those who will say that we should look after our own first; that charity begins at home.

All the evidence suggests that we have indeed looked after ourselves first, last and every point in between!

We may say we care, but our inaction as international citizens says something else.

We call ourselves the “lucky country”. But this distinctly un-Australian lack of charity, seeking to hoard our precious wealth and spending it only on ourselves, suggests that the term “greedy country” would be more appropriate.

Perhaps as we consider how to vote this federal election we should be looking for leaders who will commit to extending compassion beyond our borders – to treating refugees more kindly – not because we will get any benefit from it (which we will) but because it is the right thing to do.

Major Colin Haggar is the Communications and Public Relations Officer for the Newcastle & Central NSW Division of The Salvation Army. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.

*This article was published in The Herald, 9th August 2010