Caritas Australia has joined other aid agencies and faith-based organisations to hold a candidates’ forum in western Sydney ahead of the federal election to highlight the pressing need for international aid in the current global climate.
All candidates for the federal electorate of Parramatta were invited to attend to discuss Australia’s response to the increasing number of conflicts, crises and natural disasters and the role of our aid and development program
Attendees included the Labor MP Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, and Greens candidate Liz Tilly. Liberal Party candidate Katie Mullens was unable to attend but sent a message of support.
Candidates shared their party’s position on international development ahead of the election.
“Australian values, of being a good neighbour and ensuring everyone has a fair go, are at odds with rising global need and declining global aid budgets,” said Kirsten Sayers, Interim CEO at Caritas Australia.
“The ‘Safer World for All’ electorate forum provided voters in Parramatta with the opportunity to understand how their local candidates intend to rise to the challenge of investing in the safety and security of the world around us.
“We support the team from ACFID and Micah in hosting these forums as part of the Safer World for All campaign, which asks for Australia’s aid budget to be lifted from 0.68 per cent of the federal budget to its previous level of 1 per cent – something that could make a real difference to the futures of the world’s most vulnerable.”
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Caritas Australia joins Parramatta electorate forum on building a ‘Safer World for All’ (Caritas Australia)
