This year’s Sydney Alliance Convention in Blacktown provided an opportunity for key leaders and representatives from the Diocese of Parramatta to meet with political influencers and highlight issues for urgent action in Sydney’s west.
The Diocese has been an active member and partner of the Alliance since its establishment in 2008.
There were three tables of Diocesan representatives at the Convention, including Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv; members of the Diocesan Mission Enhancement Team (MET) and Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD); Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains program coordinators; parishioners from across the Diocese; and students and staff from St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens.
This year’s convention with more than 420 attendees celebrated recent wins at NSW state level around housing, such as ending no-grounds evictions for tenants, major investments in social housing in the State Budget, and energy upgrades for public housing, which the Sydney Alliance had been advocating for. There were stories of lived experiences, reflection on campaign action and public recognition. NSW Minister for Housing The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC was acknowledged on behalf of the NSW Government for delivering the above actions.
Federal government issues on the table were discussed with four federal politicians in attendance, and staffers representing six more. Following engaging table talks, Member for Macquarie Ms Susan Templeman MP and NSW Greens Senator David Shoebridge were invited to respond to issues raised in the spirit of respectful accountability. This engagement in federal politics set the foundations for a larger Sydney Alliance pre-election Assembly to be held before the next federal election next year.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta with students from St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens at the Sydney Alliance Convention. Image: supplied
Organising committee member and Diocesan Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator, Sebastian Salaske-Lentern said the issues discussed at the Convention underpinned the advocacy needed to support people in the community impacted by housing availability and affordability, cost of living pressures and the effects of climate change in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
“We continue to advocate for those in need in our community, with the hope that state and federal community leaders will respond to these issues for fairer and more equitable access to housing and affordable and renewable energy.”
Catholic Care’s Houses to Homes program coordinator Maree Hanna said the demand for housing in Sydney’s west is high, and Catholic Care’s Houses to Homes program would benefit from improved access to shared accommodation, transitional and affordable housing.
“There is just not enough housing for these young women, and that’s my biggest concern,” she said
“I want to be able to do so much more to help these women who have had to escape domestic or family violence with their children, and who are at risk of homelessness or who are homeless.”
Catholic Care’s Community outreach officer Migrants-Refugees Rita Hakkoum said refugees and migrants need better access to affordable housing.
“Refugees have language, income, education, health, age and other challenges that can really impact their ability to secure safe, affordable housing,” she said.
“The cost of living is an additional burden, and while we work to support refugees to integrate in our community, we need our community leaders and politicians to recognise the impacts of the current housing and economic market on these disadvantaged groups.”
The evening ended with a pledge from each participating organisation of numbers to attend the Sydney Alliance’s Pre-election Assembly, which is slated for May 2025.
