Justice campaigner Tim Costello to lead G20 civil initiative

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Alleviating inequality must be the focus of global economic decisions to ensure no one is left behind when the Group of 20 meet, said the newly appointed chair of the Australian C20 Tim Costello.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced World Vision Australia chief executive Rev Tim Costello AO as Chair of the Australian C20 Steering Committee. The announcement comes as Australia prepares to assume the G20 Presidency later this year.

The C20 Steering Committee will coordinate civil society engagement with G20 world leaders, and will contribute to the official G20 Summit agenda in 2014.

"By establishing the C20, Australia has significantly raised the profile of civil society on the international stage," Mr Costello said. "This is truly a remarkable development that provides Australia with an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on the world’s premier economic forum and to ensure the diverse interests of global citizens are heard when world leaders gather each year.

"A vibrant and active civil society is one of the strongest elements of Australian democracy, so we have a lot to offer and a lot to gain by being engaged with our counterparts from the G20 countries."

Mr Costello said the G20 was a key driver for our future world and it was critical that Australia made the most of its presidency in 2014.

"The G20 is a remarkable collection of countries because despite its small membership it represents every continent and every culture and cuts across lines of religion and politics."

Mr Costello welcomed the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement of the important role civil society plays and thanked his 13 colleagues on the Steering Committee for their willingness to join the initiative.

"The C20 affords us the opportunity to showcase to the world how strong, free civil societies lie at the foundation of cohesive healthy communities and resilient economies.

"I welcome my fellow committee members who have been drawn from across the breadth of Australian civil society."

Foreshadowing a major component of Australia’s C20 engagement, Mr Costello said inequality would be a key platform.

"Inequality remains one of the defining features of our world today," Mr Costello said. "It not only holds back poor and vulnerable people, trapping them in poverty, it also holds back economic growth on a global scale.

"Genuine integration of civil society into the G20 conversation is the first step in addressing this tremendous challenge."

Mr Costello will travel to Russia on June 13-14 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and to address the Civil 20 Summit.

The Civil 20 Summit – to be held in Moscow – is the first gathering of its kind. It will be attended by over 350 civil society delegates representing G20 countries, and aims to promote dialogue between civil society and decision-makers, and to influence the G20 Summit agenda.

Media contact: Chloe Adams – 0427 413 816 / chloe.adams@worldvision.com.au

Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Foreign Aid, G20, Humanitarian, Julia Gillard, Tim Costello

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