The Senate Inquiry on Sustainable Development Goals Australian

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Senate Inquiry on Sustainable Development Goals Australian Submission to The Senate Inquiry on Sustainable Development Goals by Australian National Development Index (ANDI) Limited and The University of Melbourne Author Mike Salvaris BA, LL.B Project Manager, The ANDI Project Melbourne Graduate School of Education The University of Melbourne 100 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3010 2 29th March 2018 Introduction 1. This submission is made by Australian National Development Index (ANDI) Limited and the University of Melbourne, partners in the development of a community and research based national index of progress, wellbeing and sustainability. Details of the project and the partnership are summarised below, and in the Appendix to this submission. 2. The submission briefly addresses aspects of the following Terms of Reference of the Inquiry: (a) the understanding and awareness of the SDG across the Australian Government and in the wider Australian community; (b) the potential costs, benefits and opportunities for Australia in the domestic implementation of the SDG; (c) what governance structures and accountability measures are required at the national, state and local levels of government to ensure an integrated approach to implementing the SDG that is both meaningful and achieves real outcomes; (d) how can performance against the SDG be monitored and communicated in a way that engages government, businesses and the public, and allows effective review of Australia’s performance by civil society; (h) examples of best practice in how other countries are implementing the SDG from which Australia could learn. What ANDI is and why it is relevant to the SDGs 3. ANDI Limited is a not-for-profit company incorporated in 2012 for the purpose of developing an ongoing national community and research based index of Australia’s progress, wellbeing and sustainability. This proposal was strongly supported at the Australia 2020 Summit in 2008, and has been developed over a decade with input from a wide range of national and international partners, including the OECD and the Canadian index of Wellbeing. ANDI’s Australian partners include over 60 organisations and peak groups across a broad range of interests: welfare, environmental, trade union, business, indigenous, academic, ethnic, religious, youth 3 and children, local government and human rights. ANDI Directors and Ambassadors include eminent Australians Professor Fiona Stanley, Rev Tim Costello and Sir Gustav Nossal. 4. In late 2016 ANDI entered a 5-year agreement with the University of Melbourne (UoM) under which the University will take on the role of long-term research partner in the project, and will help to develop research and community-based teams across each of 12 ‘progress’ domains: 1) Children and youth wellbeing; 2) Communities and regions; 3) Culture, recreation and leisure; 4) Democracy and governance; 5) Economic life and prosperity; 6) Education and creativity; 7) Environment and sustainability; 8) Health; 9) Indigenous wellbeing; 10) Justice and fairness; 11) Subjective wellbeing; 12) Work and work life. These domain teams will produce an annual index of progress and a status report in their field, each released in different months, to maximise publicity, discussion and policy relevance, and aggregated into the national wellbeing index. UoM’s role will be to oversight the research program and build a powerful national research collaboration ultimately involving perhaps 8- 10 universities, each working in a particular progress domain. 5. This research will be directed and underpinned by an extensive and inclusive national community engagement program directly involving over 500,000 Australians across the nation though a wide range of platforms (see below). Why we are making this submission 6. The ANDI-UoM partnership strongly supports the SDGs and acknowledges their critical global importance for peace, justice and sustainable progress. We will seek to ensure that the ANDI project is developed in ways that will help to promote and support the SDGs, while at the same time maintaining our focus on Australian priorities for ‘the kind of Australia we want’ (which in any case, we expect to be very similar to the SDGs: as shown, for example, by the fact that around 70,000 Australians voted for similar priorities in the UNDP MyWorld2015 survey: see:www.myworld2015.org , Results, Australia and New Zealand). In fact, ANDI and the SDGs cover very similar ground in terms of their key subject matter: although ANDI has 12 ‘domains’ (above) and the SDGs have 17 goals, and their descriptors are different, collectively they deal with the same broad issues of equity, sustainability, and wellbeing and most of the same specific policy areas. 7. In the process of developing the ANDI project over the next five years, we expect that there will strong, mutually beneficial opportunities (in community engagement, research, statistical analysis) to advance both projects and we are keen to work with DFAT and our university colleagues and community partners in this task. Thus a key purpose of this submission is to inform parliamentary and government decision- makers about the ANDI project both in its own right (as a national project with important and similar goals) and as a possible resource and partner for the successful implementation of the SDGs (in terms of research, networks, community education and engagement). 4 8. Our submission briefly addresses the terms of refence above in our comments below, with more detail given to the issues of: the role of government; publicity and education for the SDGs; the need to prioritise the SDGs; and possible best practice models. Need for clear government decision about the status and role of the SDGs 9. There is currently some confusion and ambiguity about the relevance and applicability of SDG’s in Australia. 10. The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry make clear that the SDGs are important both for Australian domestic policy and for our international aid and relations, which is indeed true. However, the implications of fully implementing the SDGs domestically as against implementing them through aid and foreign relations are very different. The former task will require considerably more resources and organisation. While it is very encouraging to see DFAT taking a strong and supportive stance on the SDGs, as a single federal department mostly working outside domestic policy, it is unlikely to have the traction and resources to develop and promote the SDGs domestically unless it is joined and strongly supported by other key federal departments, as well as state and local governments and the wider community. 11. This suggests that the first step needed for successful implementation of the SDGs is for the federal government as a whole to take an explicit decision and develop a unified policy as to how it treats the SDGs: are they a set of goals that we can use to help other less well-off developing countries (i.e., primarily as a tool for Australian’s overseas aid program)? Or are they a set of goals and measures that are directly relevant to Australia and can help us to improve our own society, progress, wellbeing and sustainability? For governments concerned about the difficult political implications of the latter, it would not be difficult (given current public views, indicated below) to represent the SDGs as primarily an issue of overseas aid policy. In fact, the SDG’s (as distinct from the MDG’s) are specifically designed as goals and standards for sustainable development for all countries to achieve in their own country. 12. We believe that, as part of this first stage, the federal government as whole should make a serious long-term commitment to implement the SDGs within Australia and indeed to take a prominent position of national leadership on the issue. To do this successfully, the government needs to be seen to be working side-by-side with local and state governments, business, trade unions, local government and community stakeholders and NGOs. It is unlikely that we will achieve success in implementing (rather than simply monitoring) the SDGs unless all these sectors are working together. This also implies the need for deeper community engagement, perhaps starting off at the local and school level and working through major community organisations. Need for publicising and educating the SDG’s 5 13. We believe that the second task in a successful SDGs strategy is to communicate what the SDGs are and why they are important for Australia. At present, our impression is that most Australians would be unaware of the SDGs; and if they are aware of them, they would in many cases regard them critically or unfavourably, either on the ground that they are only relevant to very poor countries, not countries like Australia; or perhaps because they would see them as an example of the United Nations (once again!) interfering in Australian domestic life and telling us how to run our country. 14. So perhaps the first step needs to be a major national publicity and education campaign to educate Australians in the SDGs, to explain what they are and why they are relevant to Australians and how they can improve our country and the life of our people if we set about implementing them systematically. An example of a national publicity campaign 15. The example of United Nations MyWorld 2015 is a strong and relevant one for Australia on implementing the SDGs. In the MyWorld campaign (which was a prelude to the Paris summit) citizens all over the world were asked to vote on 6 out of 17 sustainable development goals or priorities (in fact in fact over 9 million did so). At the same time, a campaign was carefully worked out around this survey, whereby businesses, community organisations, trade unions, local authorities et cetera all took on the responsibility of promoting discussion on sustainable development priorities within their organisations and their communities, including asking them to hold meetings, promote the survey, encourage blogs and discussions, make videos et cetera.
Recommended publications
  • Newsletter Mar 2007
    NEWSLETTER World’s Leading Economist, World Vision CEO Talk Poverty NEWS A large audience was on hand at the nal thinker promoting innovative but offices of Clayton Utz in February to research based ways of alleviating the hear Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Tim plight of extreme poverty". FLASH Costello discuss solutions to the Professor Sachs has worked as a con- world’s poverty crisis. sultant for many countries, including Professor Sachs, director of the Earth Bolivia, Poland, China and Tanzania Institute at Columbia University, has and he discussed many of his experi- Dalai Lama been labelled by the New York Times ences in those countries. In particular, “the most important economist in the he addressed the concept of the world” for his groundbreaking work “ladder of opportunity”, which the to deliver on poverty in developing countries. He poorest countries must get one foot appeared via satellite from New York on in order to begin to develop. and was introduced by Tim Costello In his introduction, Mr Costello stated public lecture AO, head of World Vision Australia. at Castan Centre, 8 June 2007. See page 3 for details. The Castan Centre was established by the Monash University Law Tim Costello AO introduces Jeffrey Sachs on the big screen. School in 2000 as an independent, non-profit organisation committed Because of time differences, the event that, whereas Bono and Bob Geldof to the protection and promotion of was held prior to work and Clayton are the heart of the global poverty human rights. Utz provided a breakfast for the event, movement, “the heart would be noth- which was fully subscribed within ing if there wasn’t the head and I re- Through research and public edu- hours of being announced in Decem- gard Jeffrey Sachs and his thinking, his cation, the Centre generates inno- ber.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    Annual Report 2007World Vision Australia 02 World Vision Australia Mission To be a Christian organisation that engages people to eliminate poverty and its causes. Vision Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness. Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so. Values We are committed to the poor We value people We are stewards We are partners We are responsive We are Christian Our relationship with the World Vision International Partnership World Vision Australia is part of the World Vision International Partnership which operates in 97 countries. It is a partnership of interdependent national offices, most of which are governed by local boards or advisory councils. By signing the World Vision International Covenant of Partnership, each partner office agrees to abide by common policies and standards. Partners hold each other accountable through an ongoing system of peer review. Overseas programs are implemented in collaboration with the network of national offices and under the oversight of the World Vision International Partnership, which co-ordinates activities such as the transfer of funds and strategic operations. Whilst we are accountable to other World Vision offices, World Vision Australia is a distinct legal entity. Together with our partner offices, we are responsible for the design, monitoring and evaluation of all programs for which we provide funding. Fundraising and marketing activities are managed locally here in Australia. An international Board of Directors oversees the World Vision International Partnership. The full Board, which meets twice a year, appoints the Partnership’s senior officers, approves strategic plans and budgets, and determines international policy.
    [Show full text]
  • G20 2014: Perspectives from Mike Callaghan Business, Civil Society, Labour, Tim Costello Robert Milliner Think Tanks and Youth Holly Ransom Heather Smith
    Sharan Burrow G20 2014: Perspectives from Mike Callaghan business, civil society, labour, Tim Costello Robert Milliner think tanks and youth Holly Ransom Heather Smith Number 9 | March 2014 G20 2014: PERSPECTIVES FROM BUSINESS, CIVIL SOCIETY, LABOUR, THINK TANKS AND YOUTH The Lowy Institute for International Policy is an independent policy think tank. Its mandate ranges across all the dimensions of international policy debate in Australia – economic, political and strategic – and it is not limited to a particular geographic region. Its two core tasks are to: • produce distinctive research and fresh policy options for Australia’s international policy and to contribute to the wider international debate. • promote discussion of Australia’s role in the world by providing an accessible and high quality forum for discussion of Australian international relations through debates, seminars, lectures, dialogues and conferences. Funding to establish the G20 Studies Centre at the Lowy Institute for International Policy has been provided by the Australian Government. The views expressed in the contributions to this Monitor are entirely the authors’ own and not those of the Lowy Institute for International Policy or of the G20 Studies Centre. G20 2014: PERSPECTIVES FROM BUSINESS, CIVIL SOCIETY, LABOUR, THINK TANKS AND YOUTH TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview 3 Mike Callaghan Opening comments from the Australian sherpa 5 Dr Heather Smith Unlocking private sector led growth and investment 7 Robert Milliner The G20 as part of a wider community 16 Tim Costello
    [Show full text]
  • Building Lasting Impact
    Building lasting impact Annual Report 2017 Annual Report 2017 Building lasting impact World Vision Australia Accreditations About this Annual Report ABN 28 004 778 081 Fully accredited by the Australian Government through its This Annual Report covers our activities and performance for the 1 Vision Drive Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The accreditation period 1 October 2016 to 30 September 2017 − our financial Burwood East Victoria 3151 process provides the Australian Government and the Australian year. public with confidence that they are funding a professional, well- managed, community-based organisation capable of delivering It is one of the ways we seek to satisfy our accountability good development outcomes. obligations to all our stakeholders, including our partners Incorporation and charitable status and supporters. We believe accountability is crucial for our Member of the Australian Council for International sustainability and therefore our ability to fulfil our mission. By Public company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Development (ACFID) and adherent to the ACFID Code holding ourselves accountable, we demonstrate that we are Act from 19 June 1960. Members are our current directors. of Conduct. The code defines minimum standards worthy of the trust our stakeholders place in us. of governance, management and accountability for non- Registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for- We have prepared this Annual Report to respond to specific Profits Commission from 3 December 2012. government organisations. It aims to improve international development outcomes and increase stakeholder trust legal requirements and the ACFID Code of Conduct. We Tax concessions and fundraising by enhancing transparency and accountability of signatory encourage you to read this Annual Report together with the most organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report, 63Rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference Letter from the Chair of the 63Rd Annual United Nations DPI/NGO Conference
    FIN L REPORT A few scenes from the welcome ceremony 63rd Annual United Nations The visual identity for the Conference was created by the Outreach Division, Department of Public Information Department of Public Information/ Non-Governmental Organizations Conference www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference Printed at the United Nations, New York 10-60563—November 2010—3,500 [blank inside cover] FIN L REPORT 63rd Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/ Non-Governmental Organizations Conference Organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information in partnership with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the Australian Government Table of Contents Thank You Note from Chief, NGO Relations . 1 Thank You Note from Conference Chair . 3 63rd Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference Overview . 4 Summary of Opening Remarks and Addresses . 9 Reports of Roundtable Sessions Roundtable I . 18 Roundtable II . .. 21 Roundtable III . 24 Roundtable IV . 27 Summary of Closing Remarks and Addresses . 30 63rd Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference Declaration . 39 Annexes Annex I: Exhibits . 42 Annex II: Youth Activities and Events . 44 Annex III: Media Sub-Committee Report . 48 Annex IV: International Student Journalists Programme . 57 Annex V: Public Events . 61 Annex VI: Coverage of the 63rd Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference . 64 Annex VII: Conference Organizers . 74 Annex VIII: Sponsors . 80 Annex IX: Conference Participants Survey Report . 81 Dear Colleagues, I must admit, the announcement that the 63rd UN DPI/NGO Conference would take place in Australia triggered a sense of trepidation in all of us. What would we do about the distance and the 14-hour time difference? Fortunately, despite these obstacles, this year’s Conference, titled “Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs”, was a great success due to old fashioned hard work and commitment.
    [Show full text]
  • Measuring the Future We Want
    Australia, Canada and the global movement to redefine progress: Measuring the future we want Mike Salvaris Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Director, Australian National Development Index (ANDI) Memorial University, St John’s, NL Tuesday 14 November 2017 Key topics in presentation . The global movement to redefine progress ‘Beyond GDP’ . Canada’s world-leading role . Australia’s national ANDI project . Proposal for an international collaboration . Conclusions WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? Going Beyond GDP – The EU What are the issues and why are they important? 1. How we define and measure national progress is crucial for our present and future wellbeing. 2. GDP, key current measure of national progress, is a poor measure of societal progress and wellbeing. 3. We need new measures of progress that reflect true progress – equitable and sustainable wellbeing. 4. Defining new national progress measures is a democratic issue and must engage citizens. 5. There is a global movement to ‘redefine progress’ and it can benefit all nations to participate in it and learn from it 6. The university and research community has a key capacity and responsibility to be engaged in it. How are we doing as a nation? 8 simple questions 1. Are we better or worse off than our parents? 2. Are our communities safer and stronger? 3. Are we healthier and wiser? 4. Are our jobs and livelihoods more secure? 5. Are our air and water cleaner? 6. Are our natural resources healthier? 7. Are we a fairer society? 8. Are we leaving a better Australia for our children? Source: Based on GPI Atlantic, 2003, ‘Economics as if people mattered’.
    [Show full text]
  • Facts Fight Back Vol
    Facts Fight Back Vol. 72 March 2013 The election date has been set. In the lead up to September 14, The Australia Institute will launch a Facts Fight Back Facts Fight Back website and a Wellbeing Agenda. Executive Director Dr Richard Denniss Richard Denniss explains why. Elections are the way that Foreign aid works democracies resolve disputes, and Tim Costello election campaigns are the way that political parties try to persuade us Getting the research that which disputes most need resolving. matters to the people who Is the election a ‘referendum’ on the matter Gillard government’s handling of Craig Mark Ogge Thomson and Peter Slipper, or is Tony Abbott’s character the central issue? The truth about the gender Should the election revolve around the pay gap decision to keep or abolish the carbon Anne Summers price or should industrial relations policy be top of mind? A culture of resistance Kerrie Tucker There are, of course, no right answers to such questions. Ultimately it is up Trouble with childcare to the 13 million Australian electors David Baker to decide both what their priorities are must be trusted to weigh their own and which political party they believe priorities, but they cannot be expected Paid to pollute can best address those priorities. to check the truthfulness of everything Matt Grudnoff The media play an important role they hear. Freedom of speech does in alerting voters to the existence not mean the right to scream ‘Fire!’ in Big business in Australia of some problems, and in turn the a crowded theatre, and free political David Richardson politicians are keen to influence the debate does not imply the right to media’s reporting, but ultimately it is simply make things up.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 30 April 2020 the Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister Of
    30 April 2020 The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister of Australia Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 cc. Senator the Hon. Ms Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women The Hon. Mr Alex Hawke MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific The Hon. Mr Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health Dear Prime Minister, Re: Joint letter calling for an increase in Australia’s contribution to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance We, the undersigned concerned Australian health and medical bodies, not-for-profit organisations, research institutions and civil society coalitions welcome Australia’s ongoing commitment to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance (Gavi). Since its creation in 2000, Gavi has helped to vaccinate more than 760 million children globally, 44% of them (340 million) in our region. With investments from a range of donors (including Australia) and co-financing from implementing countries themselves, in that time Gavi has prevented an estimated 13 million deaths. Gavi: ● supports routine immunisation programmes and prevention campaigns for 17 vaccines – including against diarrhoea, measles, pneumonia, polio and tetanus; ● works in 73 low-income countries, 16 of which are in the Indo-Pacific; ● assists countries to strengthen their health systems and thereby contributes to a healthier, safer and more secure region. The current COVID-19 outbreak highlights the critical importance of stronger health systems in all countries for containing disease outbreak. The Gavi Board has recently agreed that countries receiving Gavi’s health
    [Show full text]
  • Conference Pro Ceedings
    NationalNational FamiliesFamilies && CommunityCommunity ConferenceConference onon DrugsDrugs VoicesVoices toto bebe HeardHeard Conference Pro Conference Pro Bringing Together Families Community Agencies ceedings ceedings OrganisedOrganised by:by: FamilyFamily DrugDrug SupportSupport && FamiliesFamilies andand FriendsFriends forfor DrugDrug LawLaw ReformReform At Soka Gakkai International Australian Culture Centre, Homebush Bay 1010 –– 1111 November,November, 20002000 NationalNational FamiliesFamilies && CommunityCommunity ConferenceConference onon DrugsDrugs VoicesVoices toto bebe HeardHeard ConferenceConference ProceedingsProceedings Edited by: Brian McConnell & Tony Trimingham National Families and Community Conference on Drugs - “Voices to be Heard” i 10-11 November, 2000 ISBN: 0 - 9579083 - 0 - X Published by: Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc. ACT Australia July 2001 Produced with the assistance of: Annette Ellis MP, Federal Member for Canberra Julia Irwin MP, Federal Member for Fowler Brendon Nelson MP, Federal Member for Bradfield Barry Wakeland MP, Federal Member for Grey ii National Families and Community Conference on Drugs - “Voices to be Heard” 10-11 November, 2000 Contents Conference Organisers ...................................................................................................................... 1 Family Drug Support .................................................................................................................... 2 Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc .................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Rev Tim Costello AO
    Rev Tim Costello AO Previous Chief Executive of World Vision Australia Reverend Tim Costello AO is one of Australia’s most respected community leaders, renowned for ensuring the challenges of global poverty are firmly and consistently on the national agenda. The director of Ethical Voice, and Executive Director of Micah Australia, Tim was Chief Executive of World Vision Australia (WVA) for 13 years until October 2016, after which he became WVA’s Chief Advocate for two years. Other positions Tim holds are Senior Advisor for the Centre for Public Christianity, Chair of the Community Council of Australia; Chief Advocate of the Thriving Communities Partnership. Tim is a spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, which advocates for law reform to prevent harm from poker machine gambling. Tim Costello is a sought after voice on social justice issues, leadership and ethics. Every year he addresses tens of thousands of people from the public and private sector, and the wider community. More about Tim Costello: Tim first studied law and education at Monash University, before studying theology at the International Baptist Seminary Rueschlikon, Switzerland, and undertaking a Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity. After ordination as a Baptist Minister in 1984, Tim established a vibrant and socially active ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church between 1986 and 1994. In 1993 he demonstrated his commitment to serving the community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda, a position he held until the State Government disbanded councils shortly afterwards. From 1995 to 2004 he was Minister at Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a not-for-profit Christian outreach service that he founded for the urban poor.
    [Show full text]
  • Looking Back on the Vision
    This book is the culmination of the input, support and prayers of many wonderful people. Firstly, I wish to thank Tim Costello, Leigh Cameron and Seak-King Huang for placing their trust in me to write this extraordinary story of World Vision Australia’s first 50 years. I have been blessed by the beautiful souls on the journey who allowed me to talk things over, offered advice and historical material, allowed me to quote their remarks and assisted in the editing, proofreading and design. Thank you. To the inspiring women and men of World Vision – far too many to list here – who gave generously and graciously of their time to tell the stories that are the substance of this book, I am deeply indebted. And my special thanks to my wife Dawn, whose never-failing advice, constant love and encouragement kept me focused on the mission. This book is dedicated to all those people who believe in empowering their brothers and sisters around the planet to bring about transformation. Thank you. You inspire us. © 2016 World Vision Australia Printed by Embassy Print Solutions 706 Lorimer Street Port Melbourne VIC 3207 World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. CONTENTS Contents Prelude From little things, big things grow A brave new world An unofficial start The first one at work Signing up the pm “A frail but promising boat” An original child sponsor A priceless gift Lost in translation The saint of
    [Show full text]
  • BAPTISTS in AUSTRALIA: a Church with a Heritage and a Future
    BAPTISTS IN AUSTRALIA: A church with a heritage and a future Philip J Hughes and Darren Cronshaw Christian Research Association Charting the Faith of Australians PO Box 206, Nunawading VIC 3131 Endorsements Darren Cronshaw has thoroughly researched and summarised both the history of Australian Baptists and where they are in the present. His book presents a good platform with which churches can engage in order to launch into a more missional future. Pastor Philip Bryant Church Health Consultant, Baptist Churches Western Australia Philip Hughes and Darren Cronshaw show just what a diverse community Australian Baptists are, and what a rich variety of experiences and lives of faith have brought them to where they are. This book will help Baptists, and all who are interested in them, to understand both where they have come from and where they might be going. Rev Tim Costello CEO World Vision The subtitle of this book, “A church with a heritage and a future” hints at a major challenge facing Baptists in Australia today: being a denomination in an increasingly post-institutional world. The Christian denominations. However, this concise and readable volume sets out the history and current state of Australian Baptists in such a way as to invite readers, of various worldviews, to understand and join the global movement of people who proudly wear the label “Baptist.” Rev Dr Ian Hussey Lecturer, Malyon College, Queensland An earlier highly regarded version of this book (1996) by respected Uniting Church minister and social researcher Philip J Hughes is here updated and expanded in association with Darren Cronshaw, a Victorian Baptist pastor and educator.
    [Show full text]