Speaking truth to the G20

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 9 Feb 2014.

Later this year in Brisbane, Australia will host the inaugural C20 Summit, fully integrated into the G20 economic summit. The C20 is a group of civil society organisations seeking to represent community voices, including those living in poverty around the world.

Chair of the C20, the Reverend Tim Costello, said the group had begun to plan how civil society might directly influence G20 policy for the common good.

Reverend Costello said civil society included faith-based organisations which in Australia played a major role in the delivery of welfare services.  He said:

Civil society is acutely aware that making greater global prosperity a reality is not just about increasing economic growth; it’s about improving the lives of as many people as possible, not just the wealthiest. Just like [the biblical leader] Daniel with the powers of his day, my prayer is that we will do this work well.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.