St Vincent de Paul Society National President Mark Gaetani said increasing the GST would be a regressive measure because it would take a greater share of income from low-income households than from those on higher incomes. Photo: Adobe. The St Vincent de Paul Society is urging the Federal Government to reject calls for an increase to the Goods and Services Tax, warning it would place an unf...

Vinnies WA CEO Ann Curran recently swapped her office for the hustle, bustle and heat of the Kelmscott Community Kitchen where she joined the dedicated team of members and volunteers to serve meals. For the past four years, the food relief initiative has offered more than just a hearty meal; it has created a place of safety, hope and warmth where people can connect with others in their comm...

Image: CSSA. Catholic Social Services Australia is inviting interested parties to participate in a national initiative designed to gather detailed data on the operations, challenges and contributions of Catholic social service organisations across Australia.  As Australians face rising cost-of-living pressures, growing housing insecurity, increasing mental health concerns, and escal...

Following their call earlier in the year for a five per cent rise in the national minimum wage, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has welcomed the decision from the Fair Work Commission to provide a 4.75 per cent pay rise to almost three million workers. The commission has announced the national minimum wage will increase to $1004.90 per week, or $26.44 per hour, from 1 July. This ...

It is vital that Catholic education continues to provide accessible, values-based education for Australian families, and remains a critical part of the national education landscape, Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) has said. While CSPA acknowledges the Government’s continued investment in education and family supports, many families across Australia are facing increasing financial s...

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has argued for a five percent rise in the national minimum wage. The Conference recently lodged a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review through the Australian Catholic Council for Employment Relations, in partnership with Australian Catholic University. Such a move would provide for an increase in the national minimum wage ...

By Bishop-elect, Nelson Po Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Each year the celebration of Easter invites us to proclaim again the great truth at the heart of our faith: Christ is risen. In the resurrection of Jesus, the darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of hope. Yet we know that for many people today, hope can sometimes feel distant. Bishop-Elect Po is congratulated ...

By Bishop of Geraldton, Michael Morrissey “Peace be with you all!” With these words, Pope Leo XIV greeted the world after his election in 2025 and went on to say,“these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for God’s flock…a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us al...

An invitation to listen and to act. Image: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Australia’s Catholic bishops have urged courage and tenderness in addressing the nation’s cost-of-living crisis in their latest social justice statement, The Cost of our Living: Economic and Social Justice for the Common Good. “Across Australia, many of our sisters and brothers are burdened by the rising c...

With local petrol prices already at record highs, reaching a national average of $1.79 cents per litre in the week to 20 February, Australians are bracing themselves for record petrol prices that will impact low-income earners and welfare recipients the hardest.