After the recent devastating floods in Queensland and Victoria, some suggested that we should assist people here before assisting those in other parts of the world facing similar or worse hardship.
In Australia we are lucky to have an able and responsive government, well-developed insurance systems and effective services to respond to
community needs. But in many developing contexts, its a very different story. When two-thirds of the world is poor, can we afford not to take their needs and rights seriously, just because they are beyond our borders? What obligation do we have to assist poor women and men in countries other than our own?
Are we Melbourne citizens or global citizens? Or both?
Speakers:
Gareth Evans AO QC - Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne,
Chancellor of the Australian National University, President Emeritus of
the International Crisis Group and Former Australian Foreign Minister
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls - Coordinator of fem'Link Pacific Community Media Initiatives for Women, and Fijian Political Activist
Jo Chandler - Senior Writer, The Age and author of "Feeling the Heat"
MODERATOR
Peter Mares - Presenter, ABC Radio National