1. SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT 2017-2018
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Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

2. EVERYONE’S BUSINESS Developing an inclusive and sustainable economy

3. The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement for 2017–18 asks about Australia’s economic priorities.

4. ACOSS, Inequality in Australia
Over the past 25 years, Australia has seen continuous economic growth. But inequality has increased over that time.
Share of national income, 2012
ACOSS, Inequality in Australia

5. Many have missed out on secure jobs and a just share in income and wealth.

6. Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–7):
The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
going out at daybreak
to hire workers for his vineyard.
From morgue file 1708a

7. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them into his vineyard.

8. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same.
From Unsplash Loic Djim

9. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
From Unsplash Loic Djim

10. ‘Because no one has hired us’ they answered
‘Because no one has hired us’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You go into my vineyard too.’

11. Jesus teaches how the reign of God is open to all, especially mindful of those left behind. God provides sufficiently and fairly for each person.

12. During Australia’s 25 years of growth, who has missed out
During Australia’s 25 years of growth, who has missed out? Nearly 3 million Australians are living in poverty.

13. More than 730,000 of them are children
More than 730,000 of them are children. We should be most concerned for …

14. Insecure workers Almost 40% of workers under 25 are in casual work.
Older workers experience restructure, redundancy, long-term unemployment.

15. are particularly vulnerable.
Average wages
have stagnated.
Women workers
are particularly vulnerable.
From Morguefile Jus Ben

16. People who are unemployed
Allowance rates
have not increased
in real terms since 1994.
63% of unemployed Australians live below the poverty line...

17. There are far more jobseekers than there are job vacancies ...
… but governments make it
harder and harder for people on the dole.
Federal budget 2017: Welfare groups say new requirements 'vilify the unemployed’
ABC News

18. The housing and homelessness crisis
Since the 1990s,
cost of housing increased by 250%.
Many middle and low income earners
spend over 30% of income on housing.

19. 60% of people
below the poverty line
are in rental housing
– most in private rental.
Older people,
particularly women,
can face great difficulty finding secure housing.

20. Indigenous Australians
Many Indigenous communities struggle with social and economic burdens that most Australians cannot imagine.
Health issues Unemployment
Imprisonment
Lack of education Poverty

21. The call for an inclusive economy
For 120 years and more,
Popes have spoken out strongly
for the poor and dispossessed.

22. They have acknowledged the positive role of the free market –
but they insisted that the capitalist economy
must benefit everyone, not just the rich.

23. In 2007–2008 we saw the Global Financial Crisis.
Australia survived better than most countries,
but there were tragic consequences
for many people.

24. Popes Benedict and Francis denounced the greed
that brought about the GFC
and called for a new morality.

25. We are called to remember:
People and nature are not mere tools of production.
Economic growth alone cannot ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
Social equity must be built into the heart of the economy.

26. Business must benefit all,
not just shareholders.
Everyone must be
included in decision-making.

27. Towards an inclusive and sustainable economy
In Europe and elsewhere
governments now see welfare as a
‘social investment’.

28. The World Bank
and the International
Monetary Fund
have a vision
of ‘inclusive growth’
or ‘shared prosperity’.

29. The United Nations
has been inspired
to develop
the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals.

30. Their aim is to:
end poverty and hunger
improve health and education
make cities more sustainable
combat climate change
protect oceans and forests.

31. What vision can
Catholic teaching offer
for an inclusive economy
in Australia?

32. more investment in productive economic activity
a fairer tax system
more investment in productive economic activity
social investment for equal opportunity
commitment to full employment
public and community services that genuinely help the most vulnerable.
Photo by mauro mora on Unsplash

33. The workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:8–16)
In the evening, the owner said:
‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals
and ending with the first.’
So those who were hired at the eleventh hour received one denarius each.

34. When the first came
they expected to be paid more,
but they too received one denarius each.
They took it
but grumbled
at the landowner.

35. ‘The men who came last have done only one hour,
and you have treated them the same as us,
though we have done
a heavy day’s work in all the heat.’

36. ‘My friend, I am not being unjust to you;
He answered:
‘My friend, I am not being unjust to you;
did we not agree on one denarius? …
By Photographed by: York Museums Trust Staff
[CC BY-SA 4.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

37. I choose to pay the last-comer as much as I pay you ...
Why be envious because I am generous?’
Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.
Photo by Paul Dufour on Unsplash

38. The parable may seem unfair to us. The owner of the vineyard
pays all the workers one denarius –
even those who completed only one hour’s work.
Photo by Taliesin on Morguefile

39. was the basic daily pay of labourers, sufficient for a living wage
But the denarius
was the basic daily pay of labourers,
sufficient for a living wage
– like our notion of a minimum wage.
By Martin Kingsley from Melbourne, Australia (Cashmoney) [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

40. The vineyard owner
recognises the dignity
of all his workers.

41. Christ’s promise of his Kingdom
calls us to work for just social change
based on the great commandment -

42. to love God and to love our neighbour, especially the most vulnerable.

43. ‘We see a vineyard in which all are engaged as active contributors
to the economic enterprise ...
We envisage an alternative to market places
that are harsh and inhospitable:
the vineyard, lush and green,
sustainable in its growth and inclusive in its economy.’
Social Justice Statement 2017–18, p. 16.

44. and sustainable economy, pick up a copy of the
To read more about
building an inclusive
and sustainable economy,
pick up a copy of the
Statement -

45. For practical suggestions
pick up the leaflet
Ten Steps towards an
inclusive, sustainable economy.

46. Australian Catholic Social Justice Council
Acknowledgements:
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David Brennan
Sarah MacRaild
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council