PM Signs National Compact with Third Sector

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was a surprise guest today for the signing in Canberra of the National Compact with the Australian Not for Profit Sector.

He joined the Minister for Families, Housing and Community Services, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens to co-sign a special canvas to symbolise the National Compact agreement between the Not for Profit sector and the Federal Government. World Vision’s Tim Costello was the fourth signatory on the special Canvas.

Another 24 representatives of the sector signed a second, larger canvass during the event, which was attended by almost 200 guests.

The Prime Minister says that since coming to office in December 2007 his government has sought to embrace new ways of governing – including forming innovative partnerships with the Third Sector to tackle the nation’s long-term challenges.

Rudd says that for too long, policy debates about how to address many of the greatest social challenges have centred around a false choice between government action or relying on private charities.

He says the most difficult challenges of disadvantage and social exclusion cannot be solved either by governments or charities

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens with the signed canvas

alone. Nor can they be solved by the business community alone. Instead, government and the sector need to work together – bringing the resources and coordinating capacity of government together with the social capital of community organisations and the entrepreneurial spirit of business.

Rudd welcome the publication of the National Compact: working together which he says recognises the diverse and very substantial contribution of the Third Sector to Australia today, and its even greater potential for the future.

The National Compact agrees that Australian Government and the Third Sector will work together to improve social, cultural, civic, economic and environmental outcomes, building on the strengths of individuals and communities. The collaboration will contribute to improved community wellbeing and a more inclusive Australian society with better quality of life for all.

The National Compact represents a commitment by the Australian Government and the Third Sector to genuinely collaborate to achieve this shared vision. The Compact’s shared principles provide a foundation for action to improve working relationships, strengthen Sector viability and develop and deliver better policy and programs.

Compact signatories from the Sector agree to work with all Australian Government agencies to achieve these goals.

The signing coincided with the launch of the National Compact website where organisations across Australian can sign on to the Compact.

The website is at www.nationalcompact.gov.au/

A second website called Working Together will also allow organisations to discuss issues around the Compact.