ANTI-POVERTY WEEKANTI-POVERTY WEEK

Letter to the Prime Minister,Letter to the Prime Minister,

State Premiers and Chief State Premiers and Chief Ministers byMinisters by

the Leaders of Religious Faithsthe Leaders of Religious Faiths

Leaders of Faith Communities:Leaders of Faith Communities:

President, Uniting Church in AustraliaPresident, Uniting Church in AustraliaPresident, Catholic Bishops ConferencePresident, Catholic Bishops ConferencePrimate, Anglican Church of AustraliaPrimate, Anglican Church of AustraliaPresident, Federation of Islamic CouncilsPresident, Federation of Islamic CouncilsSenior Rabbi, The Great Synagogue Senior Rabbi, The Great Synagogue Primate of the Greek Orthodox ChurchPrimate of the Greek Orthodox ChurchPresident, Baptist Union of AustraliaPresident, Baptist Union of AustraliaPresident, Lutheran Church of AustraliaPresident, Lutheran Church of Australia

Call for National Forum for Call for National Forum for Reduction of PovertyReduction of Poverty

We believe that all Australians are entitled We believe that all Australians are entitled to a decent life, in which they have access to a decent life, in which they have access to work, education, housing, food and to work, education, housing, food and recreation.recreation.

For a significant number of Australians, For a significant number of Australians, however, these basics are not available.however, these basics are not available.

Poverty in AustraliaPoverty in Australia

Australia has seen one of the sharpest Australia has seen one of the sharpest growths in the incidence of povertygrowths in the incidence of poverty

Australia now stands fourth on the OECD Australia now stands fourth on the OECD list of percent of population living in list of percent of population living in povertypoverty

Risk of Losing National CharacterRisk of Losing National Character

Notions such as a “fair go” and “mateship” Notions such as a “fair go” and “mateship” could become emptycould become empty

We could become two, not one, country, We could become two, not one, country, and certainly not a “Commonwealth”and certainly not a “Commonwealth”

We risk becoming a country of “haves” We risk becoming a country of “haves” and “have nots”and “have nots”

CALL FOR A NATIONAL FORUMCALL FOR A NATIONAL FORUM

Australia needs a national forum on Australia needs a national forum on poverty:poverty:

1.1. To reverse these trendsTo reverse these trends

2.2. To focus on management of the adverse To focus on management of the adverse effects of global development on our effects of global development on our country. country.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITYGOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Successful development of such a Successful development of such a strategy involves support of many sectors strategy involves support of many sectors of the community.of the community.

But the prime responsibility rests with But the prime responsibility rests with governmentgovernment

The Council of Australian Governments The Council of Australian Governments may offer a suitable platformmay offer a suitable platform

Positive Outcomes are PossiblePositive Outcomes are Possible

Obstacles to positive outcomes are Obstacles to positive outcomes are enormous, but not insurmountableenormous, but not insurmountable

Ireland and the United Kingdom are Ireland and the United Kingdom are introducing national strategies to alleviate introducing national strategies to alleviate poverty.poverty.

Make this wealthy country one in which all Make this wealthy country one in which all Australians can live decentlyAustralians can live decently

Jesuit Social Services ResearchJesuit Social Services Research

Unequal In Life (1999) analysed locational Unequal In Life (1999) analysed locational disadvantage according to postcode.disadvantage according to postcode.

On the invitation of the Victorian and New On the invitation of the Victorian and New South Wales government, we are updating South Wales government, we are updating and expanding this research analysisand expanding this research analysis

Emeritus Professor Tony VinsonEmeritus Professor Tony Vinsonis the lead researcheris the lead researcher

LOCATIONAL DISADVANTAGELOCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE

Unequal In Life study (1999) measured the Unequal In Life study (1999) measured the concentration of disadvantage for those living in concentration of disadvantage for those living in a particular locality.a particular locality.

That study showed how social disadvantage can That study showed how social disadvantage can accumulate and how it is distributed across accumulate and how it is distributed across society.society.

The region of Maitland and Newcastle showed The region of Maitland and Newcastle showed intensive levels of accumulated disadvantageintensive levels of accumulated disadvantage

Latest Research IndicatorsLatest Research Indicators

Measured the proportion of the total Measured the proportion of the total incidences of disadvantage contained incidences of disadvantage contained within postcode areas, for example:within postcode areas, for example:

1.1. Long term unemploymentLong term unemployment2.2. Child abuse or neglectChild abuse or neglect3.3. Imprisonment Imprisonment

Directs interventions to those areas where Directs interventions to those areas where problems occur in large numbersproblems occur in large numbers

SPATIAL COMPRESSION OF SPATIAL COMPRESSION OF DISADVANTAGE IN N.S.W.DISADVANTAGE IN N.S.W.

Did a small number of postcode areas in Did a small number of postcode areas in N.S.W. account for a large proportion of N.S.W. account for a large proportion of the instances of disadvantage?the instances of disadvantage?

Measured by the percentage of postcode Measured by the percentage of postcode areas (total 587) needed to account for areas (total 587) needed to account for 25% and 50% of each form of 25% and 50% of each form of disadvantagedisadvantage

N.S.W. Postcode AreasN.S.W. Postcode Areas

CATEGORYCATEGORY To reach 25%To reach 25% To reach 50%To reach 50%

UnemploymentUnemployment 4.94.9 14.714.7

Long-term Long-term unemploymentunemployment 4.14.1 12.112.1

Low IncomeLow Income 5.15.1 15.015.0

Less skilled Less skilled

WorkersWorkers 5.35.3 16.516.5

Disability/SickDisability/Sick

BenefitsBenefits 5.15.1 14.114.1

N.S.W. Postcode Areas (2)N.S.W. Postcode Areas (2)

CATEGORYCATEGORY To reach 25%To reach 25% To reach 50%To reach 50%

Year 12 Year 12 incompletedincompleted 4.94.9 14.114.1

Criminal Criminal offencesoffences 4.64.6 14.014.0

ImprisonmentImprisonment 3.23.2 9.79.7

Low Birth Low Birth WeightWeight 4.84.8 14.114.1

N.S.W. Postcode Areas (3)N.S.W. Postcode Areas (3)

CATEGORYCATEGORY To reach 25%To reach 25% To reach 50%To reach 50%

Early SchoolEarly School

LeavingLeaving 5.35.3 15.215.2

Child AbuseChild Abuse 3.43.4 11.011.0

Child InjuriesChild Injuries 5.15.1 15.315.3

Psychiatric Psychiatric Hosp Admissn.Hosp Admissn. 5.15.1 14.014.0

N.S.W. Postcode areas with highN.S.W. Postcode areas with highconcentrations of disadvantageconcentrations of disadvantage

21662166 CabramattaCabramatta Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

21702170 LiverpoolLiverpool Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

22592259 CharmhavenCharmhaven Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

24502450 Coff’s HarbourCoff’s Harbour Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

24802480 LismoreLismore Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

25602560 AirdsAirds Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

26502650 Wagga WaggaWagga Wagga Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

2770 2770 Mt DruittMt Druitt Unempl/Prison/AbuseUnempl/Prison/Abuse

N.S.W. Postcodes (2)N.S.W. Postcodes (2)

25662566 MintoMinto Prison/Child AbusePrison/Child Abuse28302830 DubboDubbo Prison/Child AbusePrison/Child Abuse28002800 OrangeOrange Prison/Child AbusePrison/Child Abuse24302430 HarringtonHarrington Unempl/PrisonUnempl/Prison24402440 KempseyKempsey Unempl/PrisonUnempl/Prison22002200 HurstvilleHurstville Unempl/PrisonUnempl/Prison22612261 The EntranceThe Entrance Unempl/Child AbuseUnempl/Child Abuse21682168 GreenvalleyGreenvalley Unempl/PrisonUnempl/Prison21652165 FairfieldFairfield Unempl/Child AbuseUnempl/Child Abuse

Concentration of DisadvantageConcentration of Disadvantage

These 17 N.S.W. postcodes provided precisely These 17 N.S.W. postcodes provided precisely two-thirds of the 63 localities needed to account two-thirds of the 63 localities needed to account for 25% of the instances of imprisonment, long-for 25% of the instances of imprisonment, long-term unemployment and child abuse.term unemployment and child abuse.Eight postcode areas provided well over one-Eight postcode areas provided well over one-third (38.1%) of the 63 areas required.third (38.1%) of the 63 areas required.These areas represent the “black holes” of These areas represent the “black holes” of poverty and disadvantage in N.S.W. which must poverty and disadvantage in N.S.W. which must be addressed now to avoid serious social be addressed now to avoid serious social consequences for the whole community.consequences for the whole community.