As we grow, the gap between ‘haves’ and ‘haves not’ is only likely to widen if we don’t do things differently. This is incongruent with the values of the Tamworth regional community. We do not aspire to an attitude of ‘leave some behind’. We must be equipped to rise to this potential challenge.
A new UNSW, Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) study highlights inequality – and how to fix it. The Inequality in Australia 2018 Report highlights the impact it has, and what to do about it. ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie shared insights by Professor Saunders in the report on Open House.
Inequality erodes society: The researchers say that beyond the personal effects on individuals, vast disparities in income can erode social cohesion and undermine economic growth.
People can’t fit in: “When people with low incomes and wealth are left behind, they struggle to reach a socially acceptable standard and to participate in society. This causes divisions in our society,”
Inequality is bad for the economy: Too much inequality is also bad for the economy.
“When resources and power are concentrated in too few hands, or people are too impoverished to participate effectively in the paid workforce, or acquire the skills to do so, economic growth is diminished,”
Not inevitable: “We should not accept increased inequality as an inevitable by-product of growth.”
The level of inequality that we have is our choice. We can either support the government or put pressure on the government. We have the instruments we need to change inequality.”