The Commission met four times during the year. Our commission has members from the UCA, Salvation Army, Pax Christi, Antiochian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Quakers. Between us, we are well connected to the social justice and peace issues that are current in NSW, Australia and globally. Each of us is also busy in our own organisation as well as working in partnership with other organisations to address matters of social justice and peace, of which there is no shortage. Often, not all members can attend the meetings.

The exchange of information is rich and often connects us further with the work each of us is involved with. Local and global concerns become connected such as the world focus on the war in Ukraine lessening the advocacy for Myanmar, the Tigray region of Ethiopia and other wars around the world.

Specific matters addressed in this reporting period were: 

• support for the enactment of the Anti-Slavery Bill by the NSW Parliament that had been accepted some years earlier. We met with the project manager of the Forced Marriage project that is part of the anti-slavery campaign. The purpose was to build relationships with churches and church agencies to raise awareness of such practices that are often complex due to religious, cultural. poverty, traditional family relationships, refugee and migration dynamics.
• Jamie Isbister, Australia’s Ambassador for climate change and spokesperson at COP26 addressed the meeting, as he did the previous month addressing the Heads of Churches meeting. Jamie emphasized the role churches can have in bridging the often intentional but artificial divide that has been created in climate change ambitions between city and regional communities.
• Voice from the Heart and Voice to Parliament statements made by our organisations. 
• The annual Palm Sunday rally supporting asylum seekers and refugees but also drawing attention to the Aukus agreement that increases preparations for war and thus more likely to cause large numbers of refugees fleeing as well as more death and destruction of people, the environment and infrastructure.
• An increased focus on the Pacific Islands such as the impact of increased sea water rises on their countries and becoming involved in global political contests. Churches often have Pacific Islander congregations and religious orders have strong connection to the Pacific. These connections are conduits to increase the voice of Pacific Islanders for their countries in Australia. 

Fr Claude Mostowik and Wies Schuiringa

Co-convenors Peace and Justice Commission

17 September 2022