Major Church Providers Urge Resolution of Stimulus Package

Major church providers of social services in Australia have urged a resolution of the Government's second stimulus package.

Representatives from Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, The Salvation Army and UnitingCare Australia said the stimulus package will not solve all of Australia's problems.

Our November Summit at Parliament House highlighted the urgency of the situation and the need to act quickly to soften the imminent blow of the global financial crisis on vulnerable Australians.

Recommendations from the Summit were sent to Members and Senators earlier this month detailing our concerns.

We urge them to bring negotiations to a close today so the stimulus package can be implemented as a matter of urgency.

The substantial injection of funding into social and community housing, infrastructure in schools, energy efficiency for Australian households, doubled emergency relief funding that are proposed in the Government's package will provide lasting social benefit and immediate employment for many Australians.

Unemployment is rising. Our agencies stand ready to act.

The major church provider networks provide the majority of social services in Australia. Spokespeople include:

• Frank Quinlan, Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Australia
• Major Brad Halse, Territorial Communications Director, The Salvation Army
• Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director, Uniting Care Australia
• Kasy Chambers, Executive Director, Anglicare Australia

13 February 2009

Contacts:

• Kasy Chambers, Anglicare Australia, 0401 494 380
• Major Brad Halse, The Salvation Army, 0417 537 950
• Michael Brown, UnitingCare Australia, 0418 916 936
• Judith Tokley, Catholic Social Services Australia, 0408 824 306