Inquiry Into Strengthening Australia's Relationships with Countries in the Pacific Region
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Photo The Prime Minister meets with Pacific Church Leaders during Micah’s SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 Voices for Justice 2019 Inquiry into strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific Region JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE - FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AID SUB-COMMITTEE PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES LETTER MICAH AUSTRALIA Pacific Conference of Churches www.pcc.org.fj Moderator Rev. Dr. Tevita Havea G.P.O Box 208, Suva. General Secretary 4 Thurston Street, Suva, Fiji Rev. James Bhagwan Tel: (679) 3311 277 / 3302332 e-mail : [email protected] Fax: (679) 3303 205 Mobile (679) 5085487 26th June, 2020 The Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Australian Parliament Canberra AUSTRALIA Dear Honourable Members of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, RE: INQUIRY INTO STRENGTHENING AUSTRALIA'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES IN THE PACIFIC REGION. Warm greetings from your Pacific sisters and brothers of faith! The Pacific Conference of Churches welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry into strengthening Australia’s relationships with countries in the Pacific region. This inquiry is important, not only in the recommendations it will make but in the recording of the many organisations, institutions and communities in Australia that have a commitment to ensuring a strong balanced partnership of their country with their Pacific family. This submission by Micah Australia is a crucial example of the type of partnership the Pacific Churches and are seeking with our partners in Australia: one that is both consultative and co-creative in process and promotes equity through self- determination, and a flourishing Pacific that is inclusive of first peoples and Pacific diaspora. As the saying goes, “Nothing about us, without us.” Since before Federation, Pacific Communities and First People of Australia have had a spiritual bond, as people of the land, sea and sky. Australian people and communities of faith have been pioneers of churches in the Pacific, and Pacific islanders have witnessed, taught and lived the gospel to Australian communities. The Christian paradigm of mission has changed from a paternalistic, colonial-oriented relationship that is hierarchical, to one that seeks common and shared mission as equal members of the Body of Christ and as sisters and brothers in faith and service of all creation. 1 SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 2 PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES LETTER MICAH AUSTRALIA he priorities an principles articulate in the suission y Micah Australia highlight that the ost effectie for of the Pacific hurch Partnership is one that is woen with strans of utuality relationship-uilding etween Pacific an Australian counities of faith solidarity celeration of inigenous wiso an spirituality affiration of irst People an a recognition that the issues that affect the Pacific are issues of concern an action y Australia. he Pacific onference of hurches would lie to coen the wor one oer the last onth y the epartent of oreign Affairs an rade to eelop the Pacific Church Partnership Prograe in consultation with the Pacific onference of hurches an its partners in Australia his is part of the relationship uilding that is required for counities to walk an wor han in hand an for all oices to e heard. A ey step in this relationship uilding is a proposed gathering of Pacific hurch Leaders in Australia to eet with the Australian oernent, hurches and hurch Agencies and hristian social enterprises and in particular with irst People an Pacific iaspora Perhaps this gathering would e a good way to coeorate the opening of Australia’s uble to the Pacific when it eentuates he Pacific onference of hurches coends the icah Australia suission to this coittee an would also welcoe the opportunity to speak to the coittee. We wish you well in your elierations In Peace, James Shri Bhagwan (Rev) General Secretary SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 3 2 UNITING ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER CHRISTIAN CONGRESS LETTER MICAH AUSTRALIA Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress National Executive ________________________________________________________________________ Interim National Chairperson: Rev Mark Kickett: Interim National Administration Assistant: Ian Dempster: Postal: 312 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032 29 June, 2020 Dear Matt, The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress of Australia, proudly stand in solidarity with our partner Churches in the Pacific. We believe that our shared stories, cultural connectedness and colonising history connect us not just in a spiritual way but also in ways of Truth and Justice. We firmly believe in a God of Justice and as the peak body on First Peoples within the Uniting Church and it’s agencies, we affirm the submission from Micah as it also stands for Truth and Justice. We further recognise that this submission and its sentiment is also an opportunity for Congress to cement its place within the Pacific Region as we seek to develop ongoing partnerships in holistic ministry and cross cultural partnerships with our Pacific Christian brothers and sisters to build sustainability for all within a holistic framework. We congratulate Micah in their partnering and inclusive approach in reaching out to include First Peoples Voices in this submission on Pacific relationships. Peace & Blessings, Rev Mark Kickett Interim National Chair UAICC SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 4 INTRODUCTION MICAH AUSTRALIA Introduction Micah Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to this inquiry. It recognises the priority that the Australian Government has given the Pacific through its Pacific Step-Up and the range of historical, geographical, relational and strategic imperatives which motivate that choice. “This submission by Micah Australia is a crucial example of the type of partnership As a coalition of churches, Christians and faith-based organisations, the Pacific Churches are seeking with Micah is aware of the significant role that the Christian faith has our partners in Australia: one that is played in shaping the relationship between the Pacific and Australia. both consultative and co-creative in process and promotes equity through Together with the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), Micah self-determination, and a flourishing has worked to develop the submission to this inquiry shaped by Pacific that is inclusive of First Nations that history and relationship, to outline the shared priorities that peoples and Pacific diaspora. We we have together and the principles we believe should guide the believe that the most effective form of further development of partnerships between Australia and the the Pacific Church Partnership is one Pacific, particularly with churches and faith-based organisations. that is woven with strands of mutuality, relationship-building between Pacific In developing this submission, Micah has engaged with and Australian communities of faith, First Nations Christian leaders in Australia from the Uniting solidarity, celebration of indigenous Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) that is in wisdom and spirituality, affirmation of First Nations peoples and a recognition covenant relationship with the Uniting Church in Australia. that the issues that affect the Pacific are This has assisted in deepening the understanding of Micah issues of concern and action by Australia.” of the significance of the common history of colonisation, Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary, trauma, resilience and healing which has shaped the indigenous Pacific Conference of Churches peoples of this region. Micah and the PCC both want to ensure Australia’s First Nations peoples have a critical role in shaping the future of Australia’s partnership with the Pacific. Photo Pacific Leaders out the front of Parliament House during Micah's Voices for Justice 2019 (top), Rev James Bhagwan (right) SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 5 INTRODUCTION MICAH AUSTRALIA Finally, it is impossible to consider the terms of reference for this inquiry without considering the impact that COVID-19 is having on the world and the impact it will have on all aspects of life in the Pacific. While the health impact to date has been mercifully small, this is a fragile reality. The primary impact to date has been on other aspects of wellbeing, particularly economic, due to the reliance on regional interconnectedness and on tourism. This has knock on effects to wellbeing in other areas of life including issues like food security and mental health. It has also had an impact on the church needing to rely on technology for “When our spiritual hearts as First worship gatherings and making it difficult to provide the high- Peoples, here in Australia, join with the level of pastoral care they are so relied on for. COVID-19 is an ancestral hands of our brothers and important reminder of the interconnectedness of life and the sisters in the Pacific, we connect the stories of our land, our oceans, and our interconnectedness of the world. If we are to be truly safe as people, but importantly we join hands a world then the worst impacts of COVID-19 need to be ended and hearts for shared justice. When everywhere. Therefore, while Australia continues to step-up in the the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Pacific, it cannot afford to step down elsewhere in the world, either Christian Congress at the heart of the in the rest of the Indo-Pacific or from its commitments globally. Uniting Church in Australia, is joined with our Pacific Islands brothers and sisters in Christ, the Creator, we are strong with resilience, hope, justice and self-determination” Alison Overeem, Palawa First Nations woman, Member of the UAICC National Executive Photo Foreign Minister Marise Payne meeting with Pacific Church Leaders in February 2019, Marise Payne Twitter (top), Alison Overeem (right) SUBMISSION JUNE 2020 6 SUMMARY OF POLICY CALLS MICAH AUSTRALIA Summary of Policy Calls Engage with Pacific churches 1 and faith-based organisations as an indispensable partner in the implementation of the Pacific Step-Up. Prioritise the following issues, in 2 implementing the Pacific Step-Up, as critical to the people of faith in the Pacific: a.