MEDIA RELEASES

Families behind razor wire - a sad day for a fair nation (10/05/2013)
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has expressed deep concern over the proposed detention of children and families in remote immigration facilities.

Bishop calls for New Start on Allowance payments (30/04/2013)
'It is time for Government to lift the level of payment for hundreds of thousands who are seeking work but ...'

Call for children and their families to be released from Australia's offshore detention camps (26/11/2012)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has voiced its concern regarding Australia's detention of children and their families.

Dignity of workers should be more than a 'casual concern' (30/04/2012)
A new approach is needed in labour market policy that would place the dignity of the worker at the centre of deliberations on pay and conditions, says Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders.

Real job creation needed to close gap in remote Australia (28/04/2011)
There is an urgent need to create more jobs in remote communities if the Government is to meet its 2018 target of halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment, says Bishop Christopher Saunders.

New detention centre a hard-hearted response: Bishop (9/03/2011)
The announcement of the construction of a 1500-bed detention centre on the outskirts of Darwin reveals once more Australia's 'hard-hearted' response to asylum seekers, says the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC).

Bishop alarmed about safety of asylum seekers (20/01/2011)
"The Federal Government must ease the suffering of asylum seekers in remote facilities waiting for their claims to be assessed," said Bishop Christopher Saunders.

Right to shelter - Right the wrong! (06/08/2010)
Bishop Christopher Saunders has called on all political parties to address homelessness in Australia with commitment and compassion. Support is particularly needed for communities throughout the nation where homelessness is reaching crisis proportions.

Bishop cautions on income management (15/06/2010)
ACSJC has urged politicians to remember the dignity and rights of Indigenous people as Senators vote this week on a Bill related to income management under the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

Australia Fair? A nation at the crossroads (29/04/2010)
Australia is at the crossroads according to the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, who has issued a Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker (1 May).

We are judged by our treatment of refugees - Bishop (21/04/2010)
Refugees are among the most vulnerable people on the globe, and Australia will be judged as a world citizen by the way it treats them, said Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Chairman, Bishop Christopher Saunders.

Hard times demand justice for most vulnerable workers (30/04/2009)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) is calling for decent minimum wages that will alleviate the impact of the financial crisis on vulnerable families.

Back National Apology with community development (13/02/2009)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) is calling on Federal Government to shift the Northern Territory Emergency Response into its community development phase.

Bishop calls on Australian Government to step up international peace effort (19/01/2009)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) has urged the Australian Government to step up international efforts to ensure a ceasefire among Israelis and Palestinians is lasting.

Human Rights Day: Bishop joins Indigenous leader in call for justice (9/12/2008)
On Human Rights Day, we celebrate the advances we have made in human rights and remember the injustices we still have to redress, said Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, and Mrs Elsie Heiss, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council.

Death penalty debate must restore consistency (24/11/2008)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, meeting in Sydney, has called on Federal Parliament to hasten the debate regarding the death penalty. The ACSJC supports the notice of motion by Chris Hayes MP, Member for Werriwa, for Australia to adopt a stronger and more consistent stance against capital punishment.

Bishop says Australia must assume greater responsibility for migrant workers (30/04/2008)
In a Pastoral Letter issued for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker (1 May), Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, has called for greater vigilance over the working conditions of migrant workers.

New paper confronts attitudes on death penalty (18/12/2007)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has released a new publication. Confronting the Death Penalty: People, politics and principle. Every person, whatever their citizenship shares the most fundamental right – the right to life. This paper directs attention once more to Australia’s response to the use of the death penalty by countries in our region.

Launch of Bishops’ Statement: 'Who Is My Neighbour? Australia’s Role as a Global Citizen' (17/09/2007)
The Statement, ‘Who Is My Neighbour? Australia’s role as a global citizen’, calls for Australia and Australians to act more in the interests of our neighbours who do not share our prosperity and security. Globalisation has meant that the riches and security that some enjoy depend on social and political conditions that impose poverty and lack of security on others.

Bishop calls on politicians to help put work in Perspective (26/04/2007)
In a Pastoral Letter issued for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker (1st May), Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), has called on Government to regularly release data on the terms and conditions of Australian Workplace Agreements.

Release David Hicks now, Bishop says (27/03/2007)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), has called for the immediate release of Australian citizen David Hicks from detention at Guantanamo Bay.

Launch of Bishops’ Statement: The Heart of Our Country (13/09/2006)
The Social Justice Sunday Statement “The Heart of Our Country: Dignity and justice for our Indigenous sisters and brothers”, draws on the historic 1986 Alice Springs address of Pope John Paul II to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. Among many issues, the Statement focuses on the social and economic disadvantage that continues to be experienced by Indigenous communities.

Bishop calls for justice for David Hicks (22/08/2006)
It is time for the Australian government to increase efforts to secure a resolution to the case of David Hicks, the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, says.

Broader focus for summit on violence says Bishop (23/06/2006)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) has called for the Government summit on violence to consider the more than just the enforcement of law and order.

Australia should follow UK, Commonwealth lead on Hicks (28/03/2006)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) says David Hicks should be afforded real justice outside the US Guantanamo military system.

Listen to the voice of vulnerable workers (1/05/2006)
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) issues a Pastoral Letter for the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker.

Church agencies offer condolences to Bali victims (6/10/2005)
Caritas Australia and ACSJC offer condolences to all people affected by the recent Bali bombings

More time needed on Anti-Terror laws (28/10/2005)
The ACSJC is calling on the Federal Government to allow more time for the scrutiny of its Anti-Terrorism legislation.

Government must ensure justice for Hicks (21/09/2005)
The ACSJC is calling on the Australian Government to secure real justice for Australian citizen David Hicks

Launch of the 2005 Social Justice Sunday Statement (13/09/2005)
The 2005 Catholic Social Justice Sunday Statement will be launched on Wednesday 14 September.

ACSJC Statement marks Jubilee Sunday (22/06/2005)
Jubilee Sunday offers Christians the opportunity to remember their Jubilee Year commitment and to act and pray for people in our world burdened by debt. The ACSJC has released a Statement for Jubilee Sunday

Ending Hunger: How far can we go? (14/06/2005)
Joint Media Alert by the ACSJC and Caritas Australia on the launch of Catholic Social Justice Series Paper written by Fr Bruce Duncan CSsR

Pope John Paul II: Pilgrim of Peace and Champion of Justice (4/04/2005)
As the world mourns the loss of Pope John Paul II, Bishop Christopher Saunders, Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council says he will be remembered as a “Pilgrim of Peace” and a “Champion of Justice.”

Miniumum wage must support worker and family (26/04/2005)
Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker

Plight of all in immigration detention must be considered (10/02/2005)
Catholic agencies have joined calls for the Government to ensure an adequate process of inquiry for all people in immigration detention.

More action on Stolen Wages needed (23/01/2006)
The ACSJC has released a Background Paper on the non-payment of Aboriginal and Torrres Strait Islander workers during the 20th Century.

Power Walk Supports Long Journey to Justice (2/12/2004)
Michael Long

Council urges Come to the table on Timor Sea (20/12/2004)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council today urged the Australian Government to do all in its power to ensure East Timor has early access to revenues from the oil and gas resources of the Timor Sea.

Don't Forget Hicks and Habib on Human Rights Day (10/12/2004)
The ACSJC has called on the Federal Government to act now to secure justice for Mamdouh Habib and David Hicks

Bishop Urges Voters to Support Social Justice: The Price Must Be Right (5/10/2004)
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has underlined the need for Australians to remember the demands of social justice at the coming election.

Say NO to Poverty (24/06/2004)
An alliance of Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church organisations launched the pre-election campaign - Vote [ 1 ] No More Poverty

Reconciliation - A national voice that counts (31/05/2004)
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) today called on all political parties to ensure that an adequate regional and national structure is in place to represent the needs and aspirations of Indigenous people

The human costs behind the official unemployment rate (30/04/2004)
The official unemployment rate fails to capture the true extent of unemployment and underemployment according to a Catholic Pastoral Letter marking the 1 May Feast of St Joseph the Worker.

Australia's leaders should renounce death penalty (19/12/2003)
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders, has urged Australian politicians condoning the use of the death penalty in overseas jurisdictions to think again.

Human Rights - Even at Guantanamo Bay (10/12/2003)
On International Human Rights Day, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has called on the Federal Government to do more to secure the fundamental rights of two Australians detained by American authorities at Guantanamo Bay.

Government can do more for Hicks and Habib (12/11/2003)
Following a recent meeting of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC), its Chairman, Bishop Christopher Saunders has written to the Attorney-General Philip Ruddock calling on the Federal Government to do more to secure natural justice for the two Australians detained by U.S. Authorities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Poverty eradication must be a shared priority (17/10/2003)
At the conclusion of National Anti-Poverty Week, the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has repeated calls for the Commonwealth Government to convene a national forum on poverty

Catholic Bishops speak on racism (17/09/2003)
The Catholic Bishops of Australia today released their 2003 Social Justice Sunday Statement : A Generous Heart in the Love of Christ: Challenging Racism in Australia Today.

Vigilance urged over new ASIO laws (3/07/2003)
The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council has viewed as regrettable the Federal Parliament

Bishops support Family Court declaration that the detention of children is illegal (24/06/2003)
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council today joined with other Church, civic and political leaders in supporting the Family Court declaration that the detention of children is illegal.