Injustices in Australia: Social Justice and the Fight for Equality
Social Justice Issues in Australia
Social justice is an issue that affects people from all walks of life. It involves ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities and respect for others. It is also about helping those who need it the most.
Jen Merryweather works to create social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities at The Fred Hollows Foundation. Her focus is on achieving health and life expectation equality through reconciliation.
Injustices against the indigenous people
The indigenous people in Australia are facing a lot of injustices. They are treated badly by police and are more likely to be incarcerated than other groups. Their rights are violated on a daily basis. They have been abused and neglected for hundreds of years. The Fred Hollows Foundation is working to address this problem by raising awareness and organising campaigns.
The Foundation’s campaign, Strong Eyes Strong Communities, aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eyesight through education and community outreach. The campaign also aims to build support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and reconciliation efforts.
Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen recently interviewed Hannah McGlade, a Noongar human rights lawyer from Western Australia, about the problems indigenous people in Australia face. The interview highlighted the need for leadership to tackle these issues. In the interview, McGlade said that equality is not the same as fairness. In order for a society to be truly equal, it must respect the rights of all citizens.
Injustices against women
Gender inequality remains a key issue in Australia. The Australian government signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1979 and has committed to implementing its standards within its laws, institutions, organisations and structures. This commitment has led to some progress, but the country is still far behind on the road to gender equality.
Women continue to be disproportionally impacted by family, domestic and sexual violence. They are also overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with many being victims of family violence and subjected to degrading strip searches in prisons.
In addition, the Australian government has a long track record of neglecting women’s health and wellbeing. This neglect has contributed to the high incidence of homelessness amongst women and a lack of social cohesion in Australia.
Injustices against people with disabilities
The goal of social justice is to foster a global community in which rights are respected and responsibilities are embraced. It requires tackling systemic barriers and biases that are harmful to all. At Caritas Australia we believe that social justice should also encompass the needs of people with disability.
In the context of Australia, a social justice approach is reflected in policies like a fair and impartial onshore refugee status determination process, and a commitment to an Australian Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Moreover, it is incomprehensible that refugees and asylum seekers are still being locked up indefinitely, whether offshore or in Melbourne hotels.
Injustices against people with disabilities are found across the country. They suffer from a lack of access to affordable health care, including eye health services, and are at increased risk of preventable blindness. While Australia has a comprehensive healthcare program in Medicare, many groups are not eligible for this service, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Injustices against the LGBT+ community
Despite the 2017 vote on same-sex marriage, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people continues. Injustices include bullying, harassment and expulsion from schools on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. They also suffer from higher rates of homelessness and suicide.
Equality Australia has released a report that highlights the need for greater social justice in this area. The report calls out laws that allow religious schools and faith-based service providers to discriminate against employees, students, and people who use their services on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity.
During the election campaign, TSA has asked people across Australia what social justice issues they see in their communities. These are reflected in the Social Justice Stocktake report, which includes reports for each state and territory and federal electorate (except Hawke). It shows that mental health and housing affordability are the top two concerns in most Australian communities. The report also highlights the importance of protecting Indigenous rights.