The Australian Council of Social Service will shine a spotlight on inequality in Australia during its national conference next week, with the release of new research revealing how income and wealth are distributed across the community.
ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie will present the findings of the benchmark ACOSS research report– ‘Inequality in Australia’, showing who is better off and who is worse off after 20 years of economic growth in Australia.
The annual conference will open with a keynote from visiting US author Linda Tirado, who will share her own experienceof what life is like for people doing it tough in the wealthiest country in the world.
Ms Tirado will deliver a timely warning for Australia not to follow the US route of divisive and socially damaging inequality, with the OECD revealing the gap between people with the most wealth and those with the least in the world’s advanced economies is at record levels.
Next week’s conference, ‘Advancing the Common Good’, also includes a series of high powered panel discussions on topics such as the future of welfare reform, facilitated by Journalist Patricia Karvelas; families policy, chaired by well-known writer and social commentator Jane Caro; and the future of work hosted by ABC Radio Nationals Paul Barclay for Big Ideas.
In ‘The Great (Taxation) Debate’, panellists and audience members will debate the statement “that in order to meet the future needs for social security and services, we should raise income taxes rather than consumption taxes.” This session wil;l be facilitated by Fairfax Journalist Michael West.
Another panel will explore ways to strengthen and maintain independent civil society to achieve its shared aims as a community, chaired by co-host of SBS World News Anton Enus.
The ACOSS National Conference is also the place where the vital contribution of Australia’s community sector is rewarded, through the presentation of the HESTA Community Sector Awards at the ACOSS Conference Dinner. Hosted by Jane Caro, the awards are a celebration of the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the sector.
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