The Election viewed from UCA-land

Unsurprisingly, the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) wants the “Voice Treaty Truth” framework of the Uluru Statement from the Heart implemented. This as an example of how the UCA election 2025 resources “Our Vision for a Just Australia“ are strong on social justice, and attempts to place policy suggestions in a theological and social vision.

In contrast to the Australian Christian Lobby election response which provided support to parties of the right, the policy proposals in the UCA election are more likely to be enacted by parties of the left, or independents. The two election guides can be seen as mirror images of each other.

One strength of the UCA election guide is citing Bible passages in support of the concerns raised in the document. One weakness is that in some areas of concern “our Vision for a Just Australia” has specific policy suggestions while others are left aspirational.

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“For decades the Uniting Church has been a Christian voice for a compassionate,
inclusive and courageous society,” Rev Charissa Suli, President of
the Uniting Church in Australia says in a press release. “We long to see a nation built not on division, but on compassion; not on power, but on service to the common good.
“Standing in this tradition and in the tradition of Jesus Christ, friend of the marginalised,
this election campaign we will raise our voice to see fairness, dignity and care for the
most vulnerable at the heart of our nation’s priorities.”

The UCA’s “our vison for a just Australia puts forward seven “foundational areas” for the election. The highly aspirational nature of their manidesto come through simply in listing the UCA titles for these themes.

1. A First Peoples Heart
2. Renewal of the Whole of Creation
3. A Welcoming, Compassionate and Diverse Nation
4. An Economy for Life
5. An Inclusive and Equal Society
6. Flourishing Communities, Regional, Remote and Urban
7. Contributing to a Just and Peaceful World

The UCA treatment of first peoples issues typifies how the UCA addresses topics. First the election sets out “hopes:” for example:

“That Australia embraces the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full as the preferred pathway towards
truth, healing and justice, including:
• Hearing and understanding a First Peoples’ voice in all matters impacting their lives.
• Agreement-making or treaty-making between governments and First Peoples’ communities.
• Truth-telling about Australia’s history, seeking justice and healing.”

The defeat of the referendum is acknowledged. But in essence the UCA platform seems to be to simply ignore that result in terms finding a way forward.

A “state of the nation” section contains are telling specific data points –
• “2 in 3 (67%) First Peoples aged 15 and over who experienced physical harm between 2017-2018 reported the perpetrator was an intimate partner or family member.
• “Proportionally, Australia’s First Peoples are the most incarcerated people on the planet. First Peoples comprise over 30 per cent of the adult prison population1. Even more distressingly, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander youth constitute 6.6% per cent of the total youth population in Australia but
represent sixty percent of youth in detention aged 10 and over across the country.

(These sorts of statistics are well-footnoted throughout the UCA election document. There is lots of usefull information – a strength.)

However, rather than provide policy suggestions, the reader is left to assume the UCA is asking parties to radically ameliorate or eliminate injustices. There’s no guide to which party might best do this.

In the introduction to “Our Vision for a Just Australia” Charissa Suli says in calling for prayerful consideration of the issues: “This is not about endorsing political parties but about embodying Christ’s love in the political process—asking hard questions, advocating with compassion, and holding leaders accountable to the values of justice, mercy, and love. It is about shaping a society that reflects God’s vision for humanity.”

Key “asks” from the other areas of concern
• Creation: “A national climate policy and plan for a just, equitable and rapid transition to a low-carbon
economy, that drives down greenhouse gas pollution, including no new coal or gas mining in Australia and investment in renewable energy.”
• Diversity: “Those found to be refugees are granted permanent protection so they can begin to rebuild their lives and contribute to Australian society.Legislative safeguards are enacted to protect against arbitrary and indefinite detention in Australia, including for refugees whose visas are cancelled but cannot return to their country of origin due to the riskof persecution or refusal of states to readmit them.
• Economics: A fairer tax and superannuation system to address growing financial inequality including the introduction of laws which target tax evasion and avoidance. (This is one area where the UCA document “asks” areaspirational but is low on specific policy. There is good data provided, for example, “In the 2021 Census, over 122,000 people werehomeless in Australia” But for example would they suggest abolishing GST and replacing it with higher income tax on wealthier people? What other speciic changes would bring about the more just system the UCA desires?)
• Inclusion: a list of more specific asks includes “1. People with disability and older people have access to appropriate, quality, well-funded services that meets their needs in the location they choose. 2. Safeguards are in place which protect against violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and people with disability in line with the recommendations of relevant Royal Commissions. 3. Ensuring our legal system protects all people from discrimination. 4. The government needs to continue in its efforts to ensure people on the NDIS are not abused orexploited by providers and that fraud by providers continues to be curbed

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