Brisbane Launch of Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement February 2026

On February 10th Archbishop Shane Mackinlay launched the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Social Justice Statement, ‘Cost of Our Living: Economic and Social Justice for the Common Good’ in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission event highlighted that the Cost-of-Living Crisis impacts all Australians but is devastating for those with additional challenges including single income families, pensioners or those battling health conditions.

More than 90 people in St James Hall in Cooparoo and 30 online were moved by the distressing statistics Archbishop Shane shared. The figures show that those already struggling in society are disproportionally plagued by rising rent and inflation. The Archbishop encouraged the audience to walk beside the suffering in our communities with compassion. This compassion must be felt in our depths, so that we can engage and encounter people in the way Jesus did.

The reflection on the Statement was given by St Vincent de Paul staff, Patricia McMahon (State President) and Katherine O’Regan (Manager of Advocacy and Government Relations), who highlighted the amazing work of the Society in meeting the increasing needs in our communities. They highlighted the need for people who are struggling to be seen, respected and included, while their immediate physical challenges are supported.

The speeches were followed by thoughtful reflections and questions from the audience to the panel of speakers with James Hodge (St Vincent de Paul’s Director of Mission). Even the sound of the heavy rain could not drown out the passion in the room as the audience reflected on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching promoting human dignity, the common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, and a preferential option for the poor. As followers of Jesus we celebrated a statement that invites us to see the issue, discern our response in the light of the Gospel and calls our Catholic community to action on behalf of justice.

“Trusting in the Spirit, all of us in parishes, schools and agencies across the country can help to lift the cloud of gloom which overwhelms so many of us today and replace it with hope for a stronger, compassionate, more resilient and fairer country.”