ACOSS is again urging political leaders to focus on real solutions for communities and stop rhetoric, campaign tactics and policy proposals that are stoking racism and division and targeting specific groups.
"ACOSS is alarmed by the recent attacks on Welcome to Country ceremonies, which are central to respect and recognition for First Nations communities," said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO.
"We also reject damaging election policies targeted at First Nations communities such as the proposal to hold a Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse and the plan to reinstate the childcare activity test. Both these policies have been strongly opposed by First Nations experts and their advice should be given the highest weight.
"If parties are committed to improving outcomes for First Nations communities, they will deliver the funding needed to First Nations-led organisations to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and commit to truth-telling and treaty processes.
"ACOSS also condemns efforts to target migrant and refugees communities such as attempts to scapegoat migrant communities for the housing and cost-of-living crises.
"If our political leaders are serious about the housing crisis, they will invest in social housing and reform the tax breaks that have supercharged inequality. Asserting that immigration is causing the housing crisis is not only inaccurate, damaging and hurtful, it fuels racism and distracts from the action urgently required to improve housing affordability.
"ACOSS stands in solidarity with communities targeted by these events.
"We urge all parties to take the expert advice of leading national civil society experts and organisations such SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children and the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) and ACOSS strongly backs these highly respected leaders.
