Voting for the Future: The Global Goals & The Federal Election
Three years sure goes by quickly. It’s Australian Federal Election time yet again and we’re being bombarded with promises and policies that will shape our future. I’m not here to tell you how to vote. There’s enough of that going on. I just want to remind you about Australia’s commitment to the Global Goals for sustainable development at a time they may prove useful to you, regardless of your political persuasion. All parties are clamouring their vision for 2030. But what’s yours? We’ve had record numbers of youth enrolling to vote and unprecedented early-bird ballots already cast. What this means really depends who you ask, but our guess is that the Australian people are becoming more politically engaged. Engagement doesn’t necessarily equate to confidence, it simply indicates a mood for change. And let’s be real. If Australia is going to meaningfully contribute towards achieving the 17 Global Goals for a sustainable Future. These goals are centred around a vision for a better world. A vision for the year 2030 that 197 countries of the UN agree upon, and that Australia is committed too.
A common misconception is that these goals are related to international issues and not specifically relevant to Australia. But there is room for real improvement in our own backyard with respect to each and every goal.
Let me give you a few examples.
No Poverty?
I beg to differ.
Australia doesn’t have a poverty action plan despite more than 3 million people in Australia living below the poverty line. Unsurprisingly, many of these people depend on welfare support such as students on Youth Allowance or job seekers on Newstart. They are expected to live on just $276 per week which is almost half that of the minimum wage the Social Policy and Research Centre has calculated a single adult requires to support themselves.
Good Health & Wellbeing?
Everyday, at least 6 Australians take their own life.
At any time, one in five (20%) Australians is suffering with ill mental health, and the majority do not access treatment. Australia’s mental health services are struggling to provide adequate care to those who need it, when they need it, for as long as they require care.
Gender Equality?
Data on the average income of fulltime Australian workers indicates that women earn 14.1% less than men.
In practical terms, working women are penalised $240 per week simply for being female. There are a range of social and economic factors contributing to the gender pay gap including discriminatory hiring practices, lower wages in female dominated industries, time spent out of the workforce to have and raise children, the disproportionate share of domestic duties performed by women, and the lack of flexibility offered in senior roles to accommodate caring responsibilities.
Climate Action?
A contentious political issue indeed.
The debate in Australia has moved beyond contemplating the existence of climate change (finally) and is now a heated discussion about carbon emission reduction targets, renewable energy and the economic cost of change. The fact of the matter is, change is needed. As they stand, current climate change policies will fall far short of the emissions reductions required to meet our 2030 Paris agreement targets.