Uniting Justice Australia

Church leaders voice concerns over wellbeing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island

Media release, 2 March 2010

President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae and Anglican Archbishop of Perth, the Most Rev. Roger Herft have voiced concerns for the wellbeing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island following a recent visit.

A delegation of church leaders visited Christmas Island last week to see first-hand the conditions under which asylum seekers are detained, and to meet with key personnel and asylum seekers.

Rev. Macrae described the facilities as “basic but adequate for short-term needs. Accommodation overcrowding was clearly evident.” Rev. Macrae said, “It is disturbing to approach the detention centre, which is surrounded by a high fence topped with electrified wire. It looks like a high security prison.”

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An Economy of Life - booklets now available for church members

The Twelfth Assembly meeting of the Uniting Church in Australia adopted a statement which discusses on how we understand human progress and our relationship with the natural world, titled An Economy of Life: Re-imagining human progress for a flourishing world.

UnitingJustice now has copies of An Economy of Life in a colourful, bright booklet available for church members. They can be ordered (free of charge) by contacting UnitingJustice on 02 8267 4236 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A PDF version of the booket is available here

Pamphlets and other resources to assist church members to engage with and use the statement will be available in the coming months.

This booklet is the latest in a suite of resources produced for church members which outline the Assembly’s main justice policies. You can see the full suite of resources here, and hard copies are from UnitingJustice free of charge.

 

Daring to Join

Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum

The Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF), a World Council of Churches program, is a platform that rallies churches together enabling them to coordinate their efforts and initiatives for a just peace in Palestine-Israel. The PIEF has a new website, http://pief.oikoumene.org, and monthly newsletter.

 

Government urged to reinstate Racial Discrimination Act in the NT

The National Assembly of the Uniting Church has added its endorsement to a letter to the Prime Minster, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Attorney General urging for the immediate reinstatement of the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act in relation to all aspects of the Northern Territory Intervention.

A copy of the letter can be downloaded here

 

 

News and comment on a Human Rights Act for Australia

The federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has released the report from the National Human Rights Consultation.

The report recommends that Australia should enact a Human Rights Act, with further key recommendations including the development of a national human rights education plan, auditing of all legislation, policies and practices to ensure they comply with human rights, and the establishment of a Joint Committe on Human Rights to review all legislation for compliance with human rights. The report from the consultation is available here.

Following on from the release of this report, the Uniting Church has been active in expressing its support for a Human Rights Act. For more, click here

UnitingJustice Australia has also produced a briefing paper which outlines the current state of play, explains the Uniting Church's support for a Human Rights Act and addresses some common concerns about a Human Rights Act.
Download this paper in PDF
Download this paper in Word