Coordinated by members of Seaforth Baptist Church as part of Micah Challenge's national Finish the Race campaign, the Warringah residents are gathering this Saturday to put the needs of the global poor on the nation's political agenda. Their message to Mr Abbott is to increase Australia's contribution to foreign aid and ensure that Australia remains committed to doing all it can to achieve the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which together aim to halve global poverty by 2015.
"We want to ensure that a commitment to fighting global poverty is on the political agenda in the run up to the election," said Vikki Howorth, Social Justice Pastor at organising church Seaforth Baptist.
"We're thrilled that the 'Halve Poverty' event has provided a unique and powerful opportunity for our church to unite with other churches, community groups and schools in the Warringah electorate and together take action on behalf of the poor," said Ms Howorth.
The event also has the national support on the day of the Movement to End Poverty, a joint action of the Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History coalitions supported by over 35 aid agencies and church denominations.
The Movement to End Poverty petition (in excess of 80,000 signatures from across Australia) will be presented on the day, calling on the Coalition to increase Australia's overseas aid giving to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2020, which equates to just 70 cents in every $100.
"We hope this event sends the message, especially to our Federal MP Tony Abbott who could be our Prime Minister in a week's time, that there is significant local and national support for maintaining a firm commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and increasing Australia's aid budget to the international standard," said Ms Howorth.
According to Micah Challenge, both major parties have been wavering in their commitment to a generous and effective aid program over the past 18 months.
Since the May 2012 budget, the ALP has removed more than $6 billion of planned aid expenditure and the Coalition has failed to announce a timetable for reaching the bipartisan commitment to increasing aid to 0.5% of Australia's Gross National Income.
"We're pleased that there is still a bipartisan commitment to increasing Australia's aid budget to 0.5% of Gross National Income in place, yet we're using this event to call on Mr Abbott and his party to specify a date by which this target should be reached," said John Beckett, National Coordinator of Micah Challenge.
"By acting now, we have a chance to influence and shape the policies of a Party who could be in government as we approach the 2015 finish line for the Millennium Development Goals. And in doing so we have an opportunity to save and improve the lives of millions of the world's poorest people."
Dave Rowe, the Senior Pastor of organising church Seaforth Baptist, says his local church is passionate about issues like global poverty because they believe that followers of Jesus are marked by bringing hope and life into this world.
"As the church, we believe we have a mandate to speak up for those whose voices are not heard in our community and our world," said Mr Rowe.
"This is a unique opportunity to do just that, as well as help our local community sense the heart of God for humanity. This is a message of hope for the people of Warringah as much as for the world's poor."
More details at www.halvepoverty.org.au
The 'Halve Poverty' event forms part of Micah Challenge's national Finish the Race campaign, whereby Christians from across Australia have been urging federal politicians to ensure Australia does its fair share towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals which aim to halve global poverty by 2015. More details at www.finish2015.com.au.