QUEENSLAND’S next government has been given suggestions towards policies to create a fairer society by several of the state’s Catholic agencies.
Key issues identified for the new government to address included “skyrocketing” costs of living, inadequate housing, indigenous disadvantage and the impact of coal seam gas development on agricultural land.
A critical need to fund Catholic schools adequately to meet an expected expansion of as many as 62,840 additional students in the coming decade has also been highlighted.
The suggestions, from the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC), the St Vincent de Paul Society and social justice commissions from Brisbane archdiocese and Toowoomba diocese, come in the countdown to the March 24 state election.
St Vincent de Paul Society state president Brian Moore said “inadequate housing and the lack of affordable rental in Queensland is really a very sad affair”.
“Such a situation undermines the life and the dignity of many of our brothers and sisters who do not have a decent place to live,” he said.
“In the process many lives and families are destroyed.
“Rental and utility charges are continually skyrocketing with some families and individuals only a couple of weeks’ wages away from being homeless.
“Priority must be given to the development of low-cost housing models.”
QCEC executive director Mike Byrne said the commission and the state’s Parents and Friends Federation had raised a number of issues with the Government and Opposition ahead of the election.
“As Queensland’s population grows, projections suggest that Catholic school enrolments could increase by as much as 46 per cent or 62,840 students over the next decade,” he said.
The Government had allocated about $12 million annually for the past five years to the Catholic sector through its successful Tomorrow’s Schools funding program but this had ceased, Mr Bryne said.
“Catholic schools educate almost one in five Queensland children and play a vital partnership role with the State Government in the provision of education,” he said.
“We are calling on the Government and the Opposition to be clear about how they intend to plan and fund new school places across all sectors prior to the election.”
A fairer go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is foremost among suggestions proposed by Brisbane and Toowoomba Catholic social justice commission (SJC) spokesmen.
Brisbane archdiocese’s SJC executive officer Peter Arndt said “a full-blooded commitment to making progress in reducing indigenous disadvantage is essential”.
“Queensland needs to pull its weight in achieving the targets agreed to by the Federal and State and Territory governments following the national Apology to members of the Stolen Generations in 2008,” he said.
“In addition, the Queensland Government should fully support the proposal to incorporate justice targets in the Closing the Gap plan.
“Included in this must be a concerted effort to reduce indigenous over-representation in Queensland prisons.”
Low-income earners also need fairer policies.
“People on low incomes are often poorly served in terms of their access to services especially health and transport,” Mr Arndt said.
“Costs of things like electricity and water are becoming more and more difficult for many households to handle.
“Our next Government must look at ways to make these essentials more affordable.”
Toowoomba diocese SJC executive officer Dr Mark Copland said the commission was looking for policies to bring about greater indigenous participation in the economy.
“Despite the projected prosperity that pro-jects such as the coal seam gas industry in the Surat Basin are expected to bring, there is still a great gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens and the rest of the community,” he said.
“One of the greatest gaps is in the area of employment.
“We would also be looking for policies that promote true community development amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
Dr Copland also addressed issues of coal seam gas (CSG) development and equitable treatment for refugees and migrants.
“We welcome the newly introduced Strategic Cropping Land legislation of the current Queensland Government,” he said.
“We also welcome the LNP policy to introduce statutory regional plans aimed at reducing conflict between mining and agriculture.
“We are looking for policies to ensure that proposed CSG development does not impact negatively on underground water and inhibit food production.
“These policies must ensure food security and the ability of Queensland farmers to sustainably produce food and fibre.”
