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Opinion: Uniting Church seeks principled leadership from Gillard Government
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- Published on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 15:58
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OPINION
Uniting Church seeks principled leadership from Gillard Government
8 September 2010
The Uniting Church in Australia has congratulated Julia Gillard at forming government.
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae said ‘This is a hard won election and the clear message from the Australian people is that we want principled and consultative leadership from the new government and all parliamentarians.
‘Listening to the decision this afternoon and the decision making process of the Independents, I felt hopeful that we may see, over the next three years, a Federal Parliament that can work together, harnessing different opinions in positive ways, for the interests of the nation.’
Rev. Macrae said, ‘The Uniting Church was born out of a commitment of three different churches to work through their differences and build a new life together. Our history is grounded in the building of consensus in order to achieve a mission that is greater than ourselves.
‘We will continue, as we have always done, to remind the Government and Opposition alike that the task they are engaged in is bigger than their parties and bigger than politics. We speak from experience when we say that it can be done and that the hard work of negotiation and consensus building, more often than not, leads to better outcomes for those who need them most.
‘As a Church committed to justice and peace, equity and reconciliation, the care of the planet and a decent life for all people, we will work with the Government to make this happen.’
‘We will continue to encourage and support policies that positively contribute to justice for Indigenous Australians, action on climate change, improved outcomes for those suffering poverty and disadvantage, the development of regional, rural and remote Australia, the just and humane treatment of asylum seekers and a strong commitment to act as a good global citizen upholding human rights and contributing to peace and equity in the world’, Rev. Macrae said.
‘I will be writing to the newly formed Government to assure them of our continued commitment to work with them on these crucial indicators of health, justice and well-being; and to wish them well as they seek to govern wisely for all Australians.’
For media enquiries please contact Amy Goodhew at the Uniting Church National Assembly Communications Unit on 0421 785 488.