April 2025 News Update

Voting together for a safe, free, and flourishing future for all

At Common Grace, ahead of our major meetings, we always take a moment to pause and acknowledge Country. It’s a joy and a blessing to do so — to ground ourselves in gratitude for the lands where we gather and the God who created them, to honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have cared for these lands for tens of thousands of years, and to acknowledge their Elders, past and present. It’s also a moment to lament. To recognise what we’ve lost as a nation, and the pain and injustice felt by our First Nation’s people due to our failure to fully reckon with our history.

This month, even as we paused to celebrate the joy and hope of Easter — a pause I deeply needed — much of our nation's public conversation has, unsurprisingly, been dominated by politics. As we now approach the final days of the election campaign, it has been sad and frustrating to see Welcome to Country ceremonies become a target for political division. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s comments about these ceremonies being "overdone" are troubling not just for their content, but for their context — this debate was sparked by protests led by known neo-Nazis at an Anzac Day service. Rather than simply leaving his comments with an emphasis on denouncing such hate, the Opposition Leader seems to be stirring division in what appears to be a last minute hope for electoral gain. This comes even as many First Nations people are still hurting after their last bruising encounter with our national politics: the Voice referendum. 

The former Coalition MP and first Indigenous Affairs Minister, Ken Wyatt, has rightly called on politicians to “stay out of it”, recognising these ceremonies should foster unity rather than division and that politicising them is unhelpful. 

We believe as followers of Jesus we are called to be a community that leans into truth, reconciliation, and justice. We believe this means listening to and honouring the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who constantly strike me with their resilience, wisdom and grace.

As we approach the ballot box, may our advocacy continue to orient itself towards solidarity with all those that are feeling the weight of injustice and rejection...May we continue to work together, speak out together and vote together for a safe, free and flourishing future for all people and all creation.

Common Grace have put together a range of resources to help you engage faithfully and creatively in the 2025 Federal Election.  Learn more about how you can take action in this final week of the election campaign here

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April 2025 Updates

Join us for National Reconciliation Week 2025 (27 May - 3 June) This year we invite you to explore the theme ‘Reconciliation as Responsibility: Come to the Feast’. Sign up now to receive resources to help you and your church community or small group listen deeply, and take practical steps towards justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

It is with deep gratitude and prayers that we share the news that Bianca Manning, Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator, will be taking a season of sabbatical leave from her work at Common Grace. Read Safina’s message of thanks and prayer for Bianca as she takes this season of rest here.

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Save the date - Refugee Week 2025 will be held from the 15th-21st of June. Join us as we learn about the experiences of people seeking asylum, celebrate the contributions made by refugees to our communities, and consider how we can move our nation towards justice. Stay tuned for resources to help you and your church engage in this special week.

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We welcome the Government’s $2.3 billion commitment to help over one million households, small businesses, and community facilities add battery storage to their solar energy systems. This is the kind of ambitious action that we have been calling for through the #RenewAustraliaForAll campaign. Learn more about our climate policy goals here.

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As we prepare for the Federal Election, we encourage you to consider how your candidates view violence against women, and to explore their party's policies in relation to gender equality, and domestic and family violence. See what Labor, Liberal,Greens and the Nationals have to say about domestic violence as part of their policy platforms.

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We are excited to announce that we will gather again for our 'Let Justice Flow' Conference. 1-3 November 2025, on Ngunnawal & Ngambri Country, Canberra. Join us as we connect as a movement, yarn together, and go deeper in understanding and relationship, advocating to see justice flow across Australia and beyond. Tickets will be on sale soon.

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Thank you for walking with us and for being part of this movement for change.

With deep gratitude,
Gershon Nimbalker

Common Grace National Director