![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-climate.jpg\")
SPC News<\/em> is going into hibernation.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nPeter Whiting. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
We remain convinced that there is a need for strong voices addressing social justice issues from a Christian perspective independently of political party or church politics. Because of the slender resources available to us, however, we plan to put Social Policy Connections into \u2018care and maintenance\u2019 mode, while we look at ways to reinvigorate and redirect. For the time being, we will cease publishing the monthly newsletter, or organising and sponsoring events covering social justice issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The website will continue to be accessible for the next year or so at least, but the June issue of SPC News<\/em> will be our last for the time being.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMembers and readers, you are invited to share your thoughts on how we might redirect our endeavours to broad age groups. To enrich the considerations of the SPC Board, email us at admin@socialpolicyconnections.com.au<\/a> with your thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/photo-webinar-short-400.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWebinar
130th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical, On the condition of the working classes<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSaturday 15 May 2021 2:30-4pm.
Free of charge.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Register HERE<\/a>.
For information, email aci@australiancardijninstitute.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBruce Duncan CSsR will explain why Pope Leo\u2019s social manifesto remains critical today, and its impact in Australia in a time of the gig economy, low or stagnant wages, and inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/phoro-drought.jpg\")
Shutterstock.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSeriously ugly – that’s how Australia will look if the world heats by 3\u00b0C this century<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOve Hoegh-Guldberg & Lesley Hughes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This report acknowledges that limiting global temperatures to 1.5\u2103 this century is now extremely difficult<\/a>. Achieving net-zero global emissions by 2050 is the absolute minimum required to avoid the worst climate impacts. We don\u2019t have much time to avert catastrophe. This decade must be transformative, in order to choose a safe future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-world.jpg\")
Shutterstock.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMore reasons for optimism on climate change than we’ve seen for decades. Two climate experts explain.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGabi Mocatta & Rebecca Harris<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
For the first time, political will and global public opinion seem focused on profound action across many domains. This could mean we\u2019re not bound to the current heating trajectory. But to elude a catastrophic temperature rise of 3-4\u2103 by 2100<\/a>, we must make concrete political ambitions, collective change, and personal contributions. Ambitions on cuts will have to be continually ratcheted up this decade, with developed countries making the greatest reductions. Climate laggards \u2013 as Australia is increasingly characterised<\/a> \u2013 will need to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-warship.jpg\")
Chinese Navy ship in Hawaii.<\/em> US Navy. flickr cc.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTalking us into a war with China?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBruce Duncan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Unsettling \u2018war talk\u2019 in Australia demands keen scrutiny. And, given our Australian experience of being lied to and manipulated into distant wars, we have every right to challenge any softening of public opinion. Noone could doubt that a major war between China and the USA would have catastrophic consequences for all of us. Australians should be making it clear to elected politicians that war must be avoided, and that they expect renewed diplomatic efforts with China. A necessary first step is surely to take loose \u2018war talk\u2019 out of the press, and out of statements by politicians and staffers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-death-in-custody.jpg\")
DavidJackmanson Brisbane 2017. flickr cc.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat have our governments done to tackle rates of Indigenous custody?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nJack Waterford<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
There would be little point in a second royal commission to investigate the hundreds of deaths since the last one. There might, however, be some point in having a short sharp independent audit of what the states and the Commonwealth have actually done to implement commission recommendations. One would have to be sure that mere assertions of compliance were checked rigorously. If we have learned anything in 30 years, it has been about the propensity of ministers and officials to tell barefaced lies. Lies that are killing people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-png.jpg\")
Surya Prakosa. Unsplash.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nPNG, the colony Australia tries to forget<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAllan Patience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Australia has to stop wanting to forget what’s really happening in PNG. The fact is that our national interest demands PNG be a central part of Australia\u2019s policy-making on Overseas Development Aid (ODA), foreign affairs, and defence. Two joint government taskforces should be established immediately to plan the stem of disastrous declines in PNG’s health and education sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-houses.jpg\")
Dan Himbrechts\/AAP.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nVital signs. To fix Australia’s housing affordability crisis, negative gearing must go<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRichard Holden<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The best way to do this \u2013 as I pointed out in a report for the McKell Institute<\/a> in mid-2015 \u2013 is gradually to phase out negative gearing over time, and allow it in future only for new dwellings. Expanding housing supply would also be very helpful. Housing affordability remains a serious problem in Australia. We need to tackle it now, with a multi-pronged approach. If we don\u2019t, we risk the future of young Australians and our financial system at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/photo-river.jpg\")
Child playing in the Yarra<\/em>, Brian Yap, flickr cc.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWonder & enchantment. Seeing beyond the mundane<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nLen Puglisi<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Are there moments we find uplifting, or are city dwellers fated to live where the mundane prevails and the growth ideologies of neoliberal, consumerist capitalism are left to fill our value senses and imaginations? Perhaps finding such moments are the biggest challenge for city and suburban dwellers, but who is not up for such a challenge, with some of the author\u2019s experiences to awaken us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Members and readers, you are invited to share your thoughts on how we might redirect our endeavours to broad age groups. To enrich the considerations of the SPC Board, email us at admin@socialpolicyconnections.com.au<\/a> with your thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Register HERE<\/a>. Bruce Duncan CSsR will explain why Pope Leo\u2019s social manifesto remains critical today, and its impact in Australia in a time of the gig economy, low or stagnant wages, and inequality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This report acknowledges that limiting global temperatures to 1.5\u2103 this century is now extremely difficult<\/a>. Achieving net-zero global emissions by 2050 is the absolute minimum required to avoid the worst climate impacts. We don\u2019t have much time to avert catastrophe. This decade must be transformative, in order to choose a safe future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first time, political will and global public opinion seem focused on profound action across many domains. This could mean we\u2019re not bound to the current heating trajectory. But to elude a catastrophic temperature rise of 3-4\u2103 by 2100<\/a>, we must make concrete political ambitions, collective change, and personal contributions. Ambitions on cuts will have to be continually ratcheted up this decade, with developed countries making the greatest reductions. Climate laggards \u2013 as Australia is increasingly characterised<\/a> \u2013 will need to step up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unsettling \u2018war talk\u2019 in Australia demands keen scrutiny. And, given our Australian experience of being lied to and manipulated into distant wars, we have every right to challenge any softening of public opinion. Noone could doubt that a major war between China and the USA would have catastrophic consequences for all of us. Australians should be making it clear to elected politicians that war must be avoided, and that they expect renewed diplomatic efforts with China. A necessary first step is surely to take loose \u2018war talk\u2019 out of the press, and out of statements by politicians and staffers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There would be little point in a second royal commission to investigate the hundreds of deaths since the last one. There might, however, be some point in having a short sharp independent audit of what the states and the Commonwealth have actually done to implement commission recommendations. One would have to be sure that mere assertions of compliance were checked rigorously. If we have learned anything in 30 years, it has been about the propensity of ministers and officials to tell barefaced lies. Lies that are killing people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia has to stop wanting to forget what’s really happening in PNG. The fact is that our national interest demands PNG be a central part of Australia\u2019s policy-making on Overseas Development Aid (ODA), foreign affairs, and defence. Two joint government taskforces should be established immediately to plan the stem of disastrous declines in PNG’s health and education sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to do this \u2013 as I pointed out in a report for the McKell Institute<\/a> in mid-2015 \u2013 is gradually to phase out negative gearing over time, and allow it in future only for new dwellings. Expanding housing supply would also be very helpful. Housing affordability remains a serious problem in Australia. We need to tackle it now, with a multi-pronged approach. If we don\u2019t, we risk the future of young Australians and our financial system at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are there moments we find uplifting, or are city dwellers fated to live where the mundane prevails and the growth ideologies of neoliberal, consumerist capitalism are left to fill our value senses and imaginations? Perhaps finding such moments are the biggest challenge for city and suburban dwellers, but who is not up for such a challenge, with some of the author\u2019s experiences to awaken us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWebinar
130th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical, On the condition of the working classes<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSaturday 15 May 2021 2:30-4pm.
Free of charge.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
For information, email aci@australiancardijninstitute.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSeriously ugly – that’s how Australia will look if the world heats by 3\u00b0C this century<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg & Lesley Hughes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMore reasons for optimism on climate change than we’ve seen for decades. Two climate experts explain.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gabi Mocatta & Rebecca Harris<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nTalking us into a war with China?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bruce Duncan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat have our governments done to tackle rates of Indigenous custody?<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jack Waterford<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPNG, the colony Australia tries to forget<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Allan Patience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nVital signs. To fix Australia’s housing affordability crisis, negative gearing must go<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Richard Holden<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWonder & enchantment. Seeing beyond the mundane<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Len Puglisi<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/photo-book-song.jpg\")
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