AUSTRALIA'S NUMBER ONE MORAL ISSUE
Excerpts of interview by Julie Perzetti (spelling?) with the General
Secretary for the Council of Churches, Rev David Gill, on ABC radio PM.
On the question of the policies of the present Federal government:
Rev Gill...at what point does paternalism translate into racism? Somewhere
along that track policies take on a racist tinge.
Julie. Are we heading that way at the moment?
Rev Gill. Frankly, it would appear so. Yes.
...
On the breakdown of the reconciliation process.
Rev Gill. An appalling prospect to go into the next century, the next
millennium, having gone back on all the hopes many of us had had for a
reconciled country where black and white can work together for a new
Australia. If that goes by the board it really will be a national tragedy
of monumental proportions.
...
On looking to the government for leadership.
Rev Gill. For God's sake - for the sake of all Australians - give us a
clear signal as to where we're headed. A signal that has some hope in it
for the reconciliation that I think all Australians are yearning to see.
...
Number one moral issue.
Rev Gill. I believe this is the number one moral issue facing Australia.
If we don't solve the issue of developing a just, fair and harmonious
relationship between Aboriginal Australians and settler Australians like
me - if we don't solve that, we will fail as a nation and it doesn't
matter what else we do - we will have failed. This is the number one moral
issue facing our country.
...
On cutting the budget.
Don't let the hurt fall on those people who are least able to bear the
hurt. Don't go gunning for the poor whether in Australia or through the
overseas aid budget. Don't ask those who are already at the bottom of the
heap
... to be the ones to bear the burden.
...
On future relationship with the Federal government.
Rev Gill. You can expect it to be increasingly acrimonious relationship
between the churches and the Federal government. I don't like that
prospect. I really would much prefer a lot more conversation and
communications between the two. But the churches at the end of the day
have got to stand up for people and for the interests of the poorest of
the poor and if that means colliding head-on with the government
SO-BE-IT!
(ends)