Mr Chairman

All nations know too well the human face of social exclusion – the life of crippling disadvantage and isolation. This challenge must be addressed through a policy of social integration – or, as we call it in Australia, social inclusion.

Achieving a more inclusive society requires tackling the most entrenched forms of disadvantage and discrimination, promoting respect and diversity, fostering equality of opportunity and the participation of all people.

We recognise that the economic crisis, as well as the food and security crisis, has made it challenging for some countries to achieve their own goals in this regard. Through our international development assistance program, Australia seeks to help the most vulnerable countries in their efforts to address social inclusion challenges. For example, we recently announced funding of over $460 million for a food security initiative, of which one quarter will be used to strengthen and expand social protection programs to help vulnerable people withstand natural and economic shocks.

But no region or nation is immune from these issues. Recognising this, Australia has recently stepped up its work to combat our own domestic challenges. As noted by the Secretary-General in his report, the Australian Government has developed a policy design and delivery toolkit for use by public agencies, from the town and city level through to state and national authorities. The toolkit aims to help in the task of translating social inclusion principles and priorities into the daily practice of government and public administration. In this way, it promotes a coherent approach to economic and social policymaking. Implementation, monitoring and evaluation are key components.

In September 2009 our political leaders committed themselves to tackling social inclusion issues, prioritising children at risk of disadvantage, disengaged young people, jobless families and those differing locational disadvantage. This followed our establishment in 2008 of a national social inclusion board. Of course, we still have some way to go to fully address social inclusion in our own country, but establishing these foundations are a start and will have a lasting impact.

It is important for each individual to take responsibility for his or her own life, but we recognise the playing field is never level. Everyone has a different starting point in life. Everyone should have the best possible chance at life by replacing obstacles with opportunity.

For example, the obstacles to employment and independence faced by people who live with disability; the seemingly insurmountable obstacles faced by a child growing up in poverty or a dysfunctional family; the challenges facing remote communities in reaching government services and employment opportunities.

For Australia, social inclusion is not only a fundamental issue that goes to our values and character as a nation– it is also a matter of responsible economic management. The principle of social inclusion has been the mainstay of the comprehensive reforms achieved over the last several years in Australia.

This principle is at the heart of Australia’s reforms to invest in early childhood education and schools, to make workplaces fairer and to cushion the impact of the global economic downturn with employment, training and stimulus measures to protect jobs. The principle is central to our commitment to halve homelessness by 2020.

And the principle was at the heart of Australia recognising the importance of paying attention to childhood and youth in social inclusion when in November 2009 the Australian Government issued a formal apology to the ‘Forgotten Australians’ – half a million Australians who grew up in foster homes and government institutions – many of them cold, harsh places.

We would like to take the opportunity to highlight that for the most marginalised Australians - Indigenous Australians - we are re-setting Indigenous policy to build new relationships based on respect and trust. We have acknowledged through our National Apology to Australia’s ‘Stolen Generation’ the injustices of the past; and have acknowledged too, the decades of failed policy with the terrible legacy of intergenerational poverty, despair and hopelessness.

We set ourselves specific and measurable targets to close the gap of disadvantage - in housing, health, education and employment - understanding that closing the gap requires a sustained commitment. We have backed these goals with unprecedented spending - more than $4.6 billion - and a concerted national effort to improve health and education, to get people working and to get houses built.

Empowered for the first time to take responsibility for their future, new Indigenous leaders are emerging, including Indigenous women - recognising that if there is to be real and lasting solutions they must be owned and driven on the ground

Mr Chairman

Globally, too many are held back by entrenched disadvantage, which in many cases has been compounded by the global financial crisis. In Australia, we are determined to address entrenched disadvantage through a proactive and positive approach to ensuring social inclusion.

On 28 January the Australian Government launched a national statement on Social Inclusion called ‘A Stronger, Fairer Australia’. The purpose of the statement is to set a policy agenda for ensuring every Australian has the capability, opportunity and resources to participate in the economy and their community taking responsibility for shaping their own lives. Or as our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said on Australia Day on 26 January, ‘Australia’s national spirit is built on the idea of a fair go for all and the power of each individual to make their own story’.

We look forward to working constructively with others to make this vision a reality for peoples of all nations.