December / 2024
View in Browser

Next year is going to be significant for the Don Dunstan Foundation, with some of the most challenging and complex policy issues on our agenda. When he formed the Foundation, Don didn’t want an organisation to simply perpetuate his memory – he wanted it to make a difference, to make the world a better, fairer place.

Twenty-five years after the Foundation began, we are grappling with the consequence of global issues at a local level. Primary among them is climate change. No matter what the culture warriors tell you, the reality of global warming is hitting home – literally – today. Extreme heat – which has caused more deaths in Australian than any other natural hazard – is increasing.

The CSIRO explains its data this way:

The very high monthly maximum temperatures that were recorded under 2% of the time in 1960−1989, are occurring 11% of the time in 2009−2023. That is about 6 times as often. Similarly, the very high night time temperatures, which are also a major contributor to heat stress, and occurred 2% of the time in 1960−1989, now occur about 10% of the time – 5 times as often.

Vulnerable people are being affected most by these here-and-now impacts of climate change. Action is needed now to help people whose homes are inadequately built and cooled. Immediate action is also needed to prepare for what is to come.

We’re planning a series of policy forums including government, the private sector, community groups and people with lived experience to build consensus about what more we can do to address these issues – together. Likewise, we’ll be tackling the housing crisis – which is heavily connected to climate justice – as well as Aboriginal empowerment. The Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration – one of our most anticipated events – will once again be a highlight of Reconciliation Week.

In October next year, we’ll be joining with many in the community to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of one of the Dunstan Government’s most significant legislative reforms – the decriminalisation of homosexuality. As well as a celebration, it will be a time to take stock of how far we have come, and what is left to do.

All of this won’t be possible without the community’s support. You can donate to our work via this link, or talk to us about becoming a volunteer at one of our events.

Thanks for reading and supporting the Foundation this year. We’ll be back in the new year with more news about our work.

David Washington

Executive Director

Jay Weatherill's warning on the Australian social project

This year’s IPAA Dunstan Oration was delivered by former Premier Jay Weatherill – and he had a warning about democracy and social support in Australia.

He told the gathering at the Adelaide Marriott Hotel last week that “economic thinking and policy-making in Australia, I would argue, is now possibly 25 years out of date”.

“As a result, the essential services citizens rely upon have become more expensive and less universally available,” he said.

“The tragedy is that the out-of-date design and delivery of many of these services are 'baking in' social and economic inequality.

“It must be our number one priority in public policy to re-constitute and extend universal essential services to meet the 21^st century needs of our society.

“The degree to which universal services have been undermined by privatised markets, vouchers, subsidy systems and funding freezes is quite astonishing.”

Examples he gave include the unattainability of Medicare bulk-billing for many people, the privatised electricity market leading to barriers to the energy transition, investor subsidies and tax breaks leading to expensive housing, high-priced or unavailable childcare, and chronic underfunding of the public school network leading to teachers needing to fill the gap through unpaid overtime.

The leader of the Thrive by Five campaign at the Minderoo Foundation used the Oration to further his pitch for a national system of early years education.

Jay said the creation of an early childhood development system was the “last great plank” of the “social insurance project” begun by Labor in response to the disastrous 1890s depression.

“That historic mandate has actually never been more important,” he said.

He said market policies that have risen around the world, including in Australia, had led to a “direct threat to the democratic system”.

Childcare wasn’t a “market” but an “essential service” in a world where most families needed two incomes to survive.

“… if you don't look after basic needs, voters will start think democracy doesn't deliver and they will start to look for alternatives.”

Jay Weatherill’s full speech will be uploaded to the IPAA (SA) website.

Impact and change: Our year in review

This year was a significant year for the Don Dunstan Foundation, as we celebrated our 25th birthday and planned the next phase in our work.

And there is much work to do, as our state, our nation and the world face huge political and policy challenges.

This year we developed a new strategic plan. From 2025, our focus areas will include climate justice, Aboriginal empowerment, housing and homelessness, the arts and civic society. We’ll also continue to promote Don Dunstan’s legacy. Next year, marks the 50th anniversary of one of his government’s most significant achievements – the historic decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Our approach on all of these issues will be to influence policy by developing evidence-based ideas, building consensus and advocating for change that makes South Australia a fairer place.

We’ll have a new website in the first part of 2025 to make it easier for our community to engage with our work.

Looking back on 2024, the Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration was a highlight. This was the first Oration after Dr O’Donoghue’s death, and it was a privilege to honour her life and legacy. A compelling oration delivered by Professor Tom Calma AO was aptly titled “Looking Back to Look Forward: Lessons from the past to influence actions of the future.”

Our Inaugural Housing Symposium brought together key stakeholders to address critical housing challenges in South Australia.

This year’s Raise a Glass Event doubled as both our usual annual celebration of the end of the six o’clock swill, but also our 25th anniversary party. The event featured an address by Attorney-General Kyam Maher and was a reminder of how Don's reforms continue to shape South Australia.

We continued our support for the arts by awarding the Don Dunstan Foundation Emerging Artist Prize at OUR MOB and the SALA Don Dunstan Foundation Award. These awards recognise and support talented artists who are making a significant contribution to the cultural landscape.

This is just a taste of what we’ve achieved this year. None of it would have been possible without the support of donors, volunteers, interns and partners, as well as our dedicated Committee of Management. Thanks to everyone. 

Enjoy the holidays and we’ll be back in touch in the new year.

Copyright © 2024 Don Dunstan Foundation.

All rights reserved.