Dr Martin recognised that many Australian indigenous communities were in urgent need of help, but in part blamed various governments over a long period for neglecting their responsibilities to provide adequate health care, education and services . He said that the recent federal intervention was too draconian and was undermining the sense of local responsibility that well-run indigenous communities had developed. He urged that it was not too late for informed groups to lobby for more nuanced government approaches that were more attuned to the circumstances of different communities.

Click HERE for a transcript of the talk.

Micah Challenge International is the international campaign by churches to mobilise public support to lift millions out of hunger and acute poverty.

Rev Edwards, who is also a member of the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission and Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation, was born in Jamaica and has lived in England from the age of eight. From 1997 till recently he headed the World Evangelical Alliance.

Fr Bruce Duncan, one of the founders of Social Policy Connections, said that Rev Edwards had played an outstanding role supporting the campaign to eliminate hunger, including his contact with British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and other leaders at UN conferences.

Fr Duncan added: “Eliminating hunger could be compared with the abolition of slavery as a defining moment in world history. Leading economists say it is possible. And if so, it is morally obligatory for us. Social Policy Connections is committed to pursuing these and other matters to improve human wellbeing here and overseas.”

Click here for a summary of Joel Edward’s address.

Click here to watch the lecture

Click here to listen to the lecture