Political Chaos lead up to Australian elections

USPA NEWS - Politicians left 'Blank Faced' not knowing about Australia's pledge to the United Nations Global Goals signed by Australian Federal Minister Julie Bishop. Six months has passed since the signing of Global Goals by 193 countries at the 2015 United Nations Global Warming Summit.

An email campaign by a not for profit organisation has revealed a high level of confusion among candidates in the current federal election campaign on the meaning and ramifications of Australia´s commitment to the United Nations´ 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Global Goals Australia Campaign has asked each of the 600 plus candidates for the 150 lower house seats what their level of support is for the 17 goals set by the UN for achievement by 2030. The responses have varied from vitriolic attacks to warm embrace, often from candidates for the same party.

The campaign´s CEO, Caterina Sullivan, said the greatest disappointment was from the two major parties that both responded with claims that they are spending money on foreign aid to fulfil Australia´s obligations to the agreement signed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in New York last year. “The 169 targets allocated to the 17 goals commits Australia to address each of the goals at a domestic level as well as assisting less developed countries meet their obligations,“ Ms Sullivan said. “We should be addressing Goal 5: Gender Equality before we start telling other countries what they should be doing.“ “Most, if not all, of the candidates running for this election are actually working towards at least one of the 17 Global Goals. If candidates start framing their policy commitments in terms of the agreement we´ve already signed, we believe there will be greater public engagement in the election as the goals are highly accessible and are relevant to all Australians,“ Ms Sullivan explained. Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition have been campaigning for Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure as well as Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Bill Shorten and the Labor Party have been campaigning for Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being as well as Goal 4: Quality Education. Richard di Natale and the Greens have been campaigning for Goal 13: Climate Action and Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. One candidate from one of the parties called the goals offensive, ambiguous and hypocritical but another from the same party was both enthusiastic and supportive. The Global Goals Australia Campaign is running an interactive map on their website, listing which candidates have made commitments to the Global Goals to allow voters to engage with the goals in this election. An email campaign by a not for profit organisation has revealed a high level of confusion among candidates in the current federal election campaign on the meaning and ramifications of Australia´s commitment to the United Nations´ 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Global Goals Australia Campaign has asked each of the 600 plus candidates for the 150 lower house seats what their level of support is for the 17 goals set by the UN for achievement by 2030. The responses have varied from vitriolic attacks to warm embrace, often from candidates for the same party. The campaign´s CEO, Caterina Sullivan, said the greatest disappointment was from the two major parties that both responded with claims that they are spending money on foreign aid to fulfil Australia´s obligations to the agreement signed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in New York last year. “The 169 targets allocated to the 17 goals commits Australia to address each of the goals at a domestic level as well as assisting less developed countries meet their obligations,“ Ms Sullivan said. “We should be addressing Goal 5: Gender Equality before we start telling other countries what they should be doing.“ “Most, if not all, of the candidates running for this election are actually working towards at least one of the 17 Global Goals. If candidates start framing their policy commitments in terms of the agreement we´ve already signed, we believe there will be greater public engagement in the election as the goals are highly accessible and are relevant to all Australians,“ Ms Sullivan explained. Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition have been campaigning for Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure as well as Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Bill Shorten and the Labor Party have been campaigning for Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being as well as Goal 4: Quality Education. Richard di Natale and the Greens have been campaigning for Goal 13: Climate Action and Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. One candidate from one of the parties called the goals offensive, ambiguous and hypocritical but another from the same party was both enthusiastic and supportive. The Global Goals Australia Campaign is running an interactive map on their website, listing which candidates have made commitments to the Global Goals to allow voters to engage with the goals in this election.