Church leaders from various denominations across Swan met with candidates for the upcoming federal election to voice their support for a more generous and effective aid program that helps fight poverty in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Over a ‘meet and greet’ Afternoon Tea at Victoria Park and Districts Star Street Uniting Church, Christian leaders discussed Australia’s response to global poverty with the attending candidates Labor Tammy Solonec, Greens Sarah Nielson-Harvey, Labor Senator Sue Lines and Senator candidate Jacque Kruger and prayed for all candidates running in the upcoming federal election.
The event, supported by Micah Australia, a coalition of Christian churches and aid organisations, aimed to show candidates the strong support for aid in Swan.
“People in Swan are very supportive of Australian aid and know that it makes a real difference towards supporting communities and countries in their efforts to overcome poverty” said Rev Gordon Scantlebury, minister at Star St Uniting Church. “It is therefore great to see church and community leaders joining together to challenge and encourage the people who hope to represent them to share the same values and concern”.
“If we want to build a more just, peaceful and sustainable world in which everyone can truly prosper, then the next elected Member will not only want to rise to all the challenges of representing the electorate, but to also helping our Parliament meet the big global challenges of poverty, inequality and climate change. Australian aid is one of the ways we help to contribute to a better world for all” he said.
Last year alone Australian aid helped provide access to safe drinking water for 2.9 million more people, enable 1.4 million more children to enroll in school and ensure nearly 900,000 additional births were supported by a skilled birth attendant.
Similar events were also held recently at Uniting Church in the City (UCIC) and The Billabong Uniting Church.
Top image: Rev Gordon Scantlebury with Palmer United Party senade candidate, Jacque Kruger.