We all have the right for our voice to be heard

I am delighted to see ACOSS, along with a number of other leading organisations release Civil Society Statement of Concern – The Media and Mr Duncan Storrar.

This release highlights the way in which one person has been besieged by an army - the media.  In many ways he has been the victim of a gross witch hunt, when in reality, as he is entitled to, he merely asked a question about taxes and shared his personal position as it related to the impact of the increasing cost of living for his young family.

For this to then lead to a personal examination of character, and a questioning of his right to participate in debate, is a sad reflection of society’s propensity to take the easy path of blame and self-preservation, rather than the more complex approach of collaboration and joint commitment to making life better for us all.

We all have the right for our voice to be heard.   

This statement from community sector leaders is welcomed - I want to be part of a society that does not exclude one voice. 

In the words of Maya Angelou “If we have someone who loves us - I don't mean who indulges us, but who loves us enough to be on our side - then it's easier to grow resilience”