Australian Labor Government Committed to Global Goals

USPA NEWS - Advocacy group Global Goals Australia Campaign has welcomed a statement from the Australian Labor Party committing the party to work towards the achievement of the United Nations' 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development for 2030.

The statement was issued by Federal Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Mark Butler, following a request from the Global Goals Australia Campaign sent to all federal election candidates a week ago. In his statement Mr Butler stated “Labor is committed to supporting the [Global Goals] and a Shorten Labor Government will rise to the challenge set by the [goals]." Mr Butler went on to explain how "Labor´s positive plans for the future put people first: better paid and protected jobs; better schools and teachers; a healthier Australia; investing in renewables to cut pollution and boost jobs; and making multinationals pay their fair share." "Each of these priorities align with the 169 targets set by the Global Goals ." Said Ms Sullivan.

Global Goals Australia Campaign CEO, Caterina Sullivan, said she was delighted to receive support from one of the major parties and she remains hopeful the current Coalition government will follow suit. “Both major parties initially responded that their commitment to the Global Goals was contained in their Foreign Aid funding," Ms Sullivan said today. “However, when we pointed out that Australia´s commitment, signed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in New York last year, requires Australia to achieve 169 targets set for the 17 goals domestically as well as supporting poorer and less well developed nations, Labor Campaign HQ demonstrated their understanding by talking about their commitment to health (Goal 3), Education (Goal 4) and faster internet connectivity (Goal 9) in terms of the Global Goals."

Ms Sullivan said they had received a very mixed response to their email campaign asking all candidates to indicate their level of support for the goals. According to her, there were conflicting views, even with in the same parties. “It is obvious from the responses that there is little understanding of what Australia has committed to among politicians both practicing and aspiring," Ms Sullivan said. “We believe the Global Goals are the way forward for Australia and our campaign is aimed at increasing the level of awareness and understanding of the goals committed to by all 193 member nations of the United Nations. We are currently waiting a response from the Liberal Party and the Greens to demonstrate they understand Australia's commitment to the Global Goals, and that they are dedicated to achieving the 17 goals by 2030."

9 September 2015 ““ Speaking to the 70th United Nations General Assembly, Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, commended the unanimous endorsement and adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN and its 193 Member States. “Should we realise all 17 Goals, we will transform our world for the betterment of humankind. We must ensure that the remarkable spirit of cooperation displayed during the negotiation process is maintained as we work to turn these ambitious Goals into reality,“ Said Ms. Bishop who went on to say, "Australia has announced a strong, responsible and achievable post-2020 contribution to international climate action. We are committed to ensuring the UN Climate Conference in Paris is the platform needed to secure a collective approach to the 2 degree goal."

International celebrities also appear in the Global Goals video produced for the campaign featuring Jennifer Lopez, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Stephen Hawking, Richard Branson , Ai Weiwei, John Legend ,Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo Di Caprio launch the organization´s seventeen goals for the sustainable development to the world as " We The People" . "The awareness of the music and fashion industry has been nothing short of remarkable." Said Ms Sullivan who is working effortlessly to continue to educate many Australian Federal Members who are still vague as to the entire 'Global Project' and how Australia has committed itself . Global Goals is about working together as a planet void of politics and discrimination to make a difference and change life for as many as we can while we can. Barack Obama once said , "We, the People, recognise that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what's in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defence."....Namaste