Current Letter Writing Actions

Alcohol Reforms Bill

Help raise concern at the increase in alcohol-fueled harm in the Victorian community. There is a strong association between the provision of alcohol people have delivered to their homes and the level of family violence in an area. While alcohol consumption does not cause family violence, alcohol acts as a fuel for family violence. The Victorian Government has introduced the Liquor Control Reform Amendment Bill 2021 into Parliament. The Bill gives the green light to fast food outlets seeking to supply alcohol and provide home delivery. The number of liquor licences in Victoria has increased six-fold over the past 35 years, and continues to rise at a rate outstripping population growth.

Click to download this letter writing action.

Ending Credit Gambling

Contribute to implementing a ban on credit card and digital wallet gambling. Gambling businesses continue to profit from the vulnerability of people, particularly online gambling corporations. Australian law now prohibits online gambling corporations from offering credit to people to gamble. However, people can still bet with money they do not have using bank-issued credit cards. Gambling with credit is more likely to result in people being harmed. While the four major banks have offered some forms of assistance to people being harmed by gambling, they have so far declined to stop extending credit for people to gamble online.

Click to download this letter writing action.

Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility

Take action to support children reaching their full potential, and to not be locked up. In 2019 the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended member states raise their minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years of age. Currently, this minimum is 10 years of age across all jurisdictions in Australia. In 2019/2020, 72% of the young people incarcerated in Western Australia were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kids, despite making up just 5% of the population. Raising the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14 allows a greater emphasis on supporting pro-social behaviour and the welfare of the child by not separating them from their families.

Click to download this letter writing action.

Preventing Exploitable Agricultural Visas

In June 2021 the Federal Government announced the introduction of a new seasonal agriculture worker visa. The visa will allow people from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to work on Australian farms. There are concern that some Australian farming industry bodies will actively lobby to ensure a minimum of safeguards on the visa against exploitation. A Unions NSW survey of 1,300 people on Working Holiday Maker visas that had worked on horticulture farms found 78% had been illegally underpaid, amongst other issues. Help to ensure new agricultural visa have proper safeguards against exploitation.

Click to download this letter writing action.

Whistleblower Postcard Action

e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.

Help us urge the Commonwealth Government to urgently progress the reforms it agreed to in December 2020 due to the review of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 by Philip Moss. Critical reforms are needed to make whistleblowers feel safer in coming forward to expose corruption and wrongdoing. The processes for a whistleblower to access protection and make their disclosure of wrongdoing public need to be simplified.

Share the Covid-19 Vaccine

e-mail JIM@victas.uca.org.au with a request for this postcard, your address and the number of postcards you would like.

Help us to ask the Commonwealth Government to do much more to assist developing countries to gain access to vaccines. The May 2021 report by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, established by the World Health Organisation, found that current global “vaccine distribution is blatantly unjust and not strategic.” They reported the pandemic had pushed between 115 and 125 million people into extreme poverty.

This Month's Resource Highlights

6 Nov 2021 JIM Convention Registration
Our Faith in Democracy: How do you have a meaningful Say? The Justice and International Mission Convention will explore what the Christian faith has to say on the subject of government and trust in societies. The Convention will also hear from movements seeking to re-energise our democracy and give us a greater say in how government runs.
Modern Slavery Flyer or Congregations
What is Modern Slavery? How do I find creditable products? Can I asset my risk own of contributing to Modern Slavery? A resource to help you become informed about Modern Slavery and what to do about it.
Climate Justice Resources (April 2021)
The latest list of climate justice resource for April 2021, including: community grants, resources for advocacy and initiatives to manage your own (and community) impact.
Statement from the Heart Flyer or Congregations
A new resource from the Uniting Church in Vic/Tas exploring the Statement from the Heart. As a group or on your own, learn about Voice.Treaty.Truth and what a pathway towards justice chosen by First Nations people could look be.
Public Good Flyer for Congregations
What does public good mean to you? Become involved in a new project setting a new national agenda on the public good, while connecting across organisations who work collaboratively where people and planet come first.

Our Vision for a Just Australia

The Uniting Church in Australia is committed to acting justly and compassionately in the world. We believe that our participation in God’s mission calls us toward the transformation that God desires for us all, marked by reconciliation, love, justice, peace, abundance and flourishing for all people and the whole earth. In Our Vision for a Just Australia, the Uniting Church in Australia has articulated its vision for a just, compassionate and inclusive nation in this updated 2021 statement and resource.

Previous Resources

2021 Social Justice Calendar
The JIM Cluster’s 2021 Social Justice Calendar is now available, click to download.
Feedback on Justice and International Mission Cluster work areas
Each year the Justice and International Mission cluster is keen to get feedback from its supporters, that is you, about what issues you would like us to resource you to take action on. Please download and complete this form by ticking the box that indicates your level of support for the issues listed and return it to us via email or mail by 31^st January 2021
Climate Justice with and for children and youth in churches
Climate change affects every aspect of child rights. Only joint efforts at every level will enable us to bend the CO2 emissions curve and protect our planet for future generations. This toolkit provides resources for churches, church-run schools, and summer camps to support intergenerational climate and environmental justice and promote care for children by stopping further global warming. All churches are encouraged to promote education and action to address climate change, reduce CO2 emissions, and protect the environment in their activities for and with children and youth.
Synod Taskforce on Climate Change Action
The JIM Cluster is seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to be part of a Taskforce on Climate Change Action. The purpose of the Taskforce is to identify, encourage and support implementation of measures across the Synod, including congregations, to reduce the Synod’s greenhouse gas emissions.
To lodge an expression of interest, please e-mail, phone or text Mark Zirnsak, Senior Social Justice Advocate on 0409 166 915 or mark.zirnsak@victas.uca.org.au Please lodge your expression of interest by Friday 30 October.
WCC prayers for peace in Israeli - Palestinian conflict
The World Council of Churches is following developments in Israel and Palestine with mounting alarm and profound grief at the rising toll of people killed and injured in the escalating violence. A liturgy with Prayers for Peace and Justice in the Israel-Palestine conflict has been developed.