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Letter to the Editor from Toby Hall, CEO, Mission Australia |
| 14 October 2011 |
 In response to an opinion piece by Gary Johns in the Australian yesterday, Mission Australia has sent the letter below to the editor of the Australian newspaper. Dear Editor In his inimitably one-eyed, caustic and cynical style, Gary Johns unsurprisingly misrepresents the debate around homeless numbers in Australia. That homeless agencies can’t disagree with the ABS for reasons other than money and naked self-interest says volumes about Johns’ take on the world. If homeless numbers are officially half what has previously been claimed, why is it that homeless services across the board – prevention, crisis accommodation and housing – don’t have the capacity to cope with demand? Why is it that 60% of people who need help from government-funded homeless shelters are turned away each day? Many of the chief contributing factors to homelessness, such as family conflict, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse – issues which Johns conveniently overlooks – are on the rise. Why is he happy to trust the word of statisticians in an office in Belconnen and not those working on the frontline of the problem? Johns claims this issue has revealed the “dark corner” of the welfare sector. What fantasy. The only darkness revealed here is within Johns’ heart. That someone who once held senior public office would hold the view that ‘homelessness can’t be prevented so why would you bother trying to stop it?’ would send a chill down the backbones of most fair-minded Australians. Toby Hall is the Chief Executive Officer of Mission Australia  |
News Updates
| Living with teens - north-west Sydney information nightsWednesday, 23 May 2012Mission Australia's Clifton Adolescent and Family Solutions (CAFS) and Youth Connections, in partnership with Hornsby Council, the GP Network and the Hills Schools Industry Partnership, are presenting a free series of information nights for parents living with teenagers.
The program will provide parents and carers with an opportunity to... + Read Full Story |
Miller Pathways celebrate Families WeekMonday, 21 May 2012Mission Australia’s child and family service in the Liverpool area, Miller Pathways, celebrated Families Week on Friday by hosting a free Community Fun Day.
The Federal Minister for Human Services, Senator Kim Carr, Federal Member for Fowler, Chris Hayes, and Mayor of Liverpool Wendy Waller all attended and officially opened the... + Read Full Story | More News Articles | ||
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