Equality Speaks
Australia may have dodged the bullet that has put the US, Britain and most European economies on life support, but our 2009 collection of essays shows that – despite our enviable economic position – Australia is not the egalitarian paradise that many believe it to be.
Equality Speaks features an eclectic mix of writers who highlight a common challenge – to use our (relatively) stable economic times to make the shift to a fairer Australia. It brings together some of our sharpest minds to look at paths to a more equal Australia in areas like transport, homelessness, education, women, tax, refugees, work and employment amongst others. It includes new research on the distribution of wealth in Australia.Transport
"For most people mobility, through either public or private transport, is linked to increased social, employment and education participation." O'Keefe, Pickette and Thomas
Having limited or no transport significantly reduces your ability to participate fully in everyday life. It is also important for accessing health care and for maintaining a sense of independence. A number of studies have shown that the links between social disadvantage and a lack of transport are particularly significant in urban Australia compared to other countries.
In their contribution Shannon O’Keeffe, Rod Pickette and Andrew Thomas explain that the urban sprawl of Australian cities has resulted in some of the longest commuter travel distances in the world. This has entrenched Australia as a very car dependent country, with 80 per cent of us using cars to get to work and only 14 per cent catching public transport. While houses are more affordable in urban fringe communities, the true cost of living there is masked by the additional high cost of car ownership and lack of transport alternatives. In these (usually lower income) communities, a disproportionate share of household income is spent on cars, and recent fuel rises have been felt harshly.
The authors argue that there is an urgent social and environmental justice aspect to improving public transport for all.
Download Chapter 4 Transport49.04 KB
