Many thanks to everyone who came to PIAC’s Social Justice Dinner on Friday night and contributed to making it such a great success. We came close to reaching our fundraising target of $100,000, which will be used to help us achieve justice for disadvantaged people.
Photos of the evening are now on PIAC’s Facebook page.
The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel and Chas Licciardello were hilarious hosts and Graeme Innes gave a truly inspiring speech focussing on the benefits of an inclusive society. ‘We won’t have a fully functioning community until we accept all its members,’ he said. Graeme also stressed the importance of PIAC’s work and everyone’s responsibility to be an advocate for equality, quoting Lieutenant General David Morrison’s powerful statement, ‘the standards you walk past are the standards you accept.’
CEO, Edward Santow, spoke on PIAC’s recent work in relation to mental health and insurance. PIAC received reports that people were, because of their of actual or perceived mental illness, either being offered cover that is more expensive or being denied cover altogether, sometimes only because they have seen a counsellor for a short period.
‘We’re running a number of cases for people who are suffering unfair discrimination. I’m confident that not only will we win, but that in one of these cases, we’ll establish a precedent that will stop this appalling discrimination,’ said Edward Santow.
‘But we can’t do it alone. We need to raise $100,000 to do the work that will achieve justice for our clients, as well as force the broader change needed to make Australia truly the country of the fair go.’
If you weren’t able to make it on Friday, it’s not too late to donate. Contributions over $2 are tax deductible.