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Tackling poverty in the nation's capital
Top: At the Anti-Poverty Week forum were (l-r) Lucy Hohnen, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn CEO, Thomas Emerson (Independents for Canberra, now MLA), Emma Davidson (ACT Greens, then MLA), Mark Parton (Canberra Liberals, now Speaker)), Yvette Berry (ALP, now Deputy Chief Minister), Dr Devin Bowles (ACTCOSS) and ANU Assoc Professor Ben Phillips.
Above: The Anti-Poverty Week demonstration at Australian Parliament House was attended by SVdP National Council Secretariate CEO Toby oConnor and National Director Policy and Research, Rose Beynon (both at right).
Anti-Poverty Week was an ideal time for some of the ACT's current and aspiring MPs to discuss changes that will help our most disadvantaged families.
On 14 October, during Anti-Poverty Week and shortly before the ACT four-yearly election, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn and ACTCOSS co-hosted a community forum with representatives from the major parties, a subsequently successful independent candidate, and Assoc Prof Ben Phillips from the Australian National University whose unit has produced analyses of the economy for the Society’s National Council.
Attendees outlined how, if elected, they would plan to tackle poverty in the ACT amidst the impacts of the leading crises facing the country - costs-of-living, housing affordability and climate.
Over fifty people from the broader community and sector organisations asked challenging questions on themes such as how health, education, housing and welfare systems could work together to address poverty in the ACT. They sought commitments to expanding income-based rental properties, as well as how appropriate funding for community sector organisations might address the needs for food relief and other essentials.
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