C20 calls on G20 to act on inequality, tax avoidance and climate change

The C20 (Civil Society 20) is calling on G20 leaders to take action this weekend to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in society.

C20 chair Tim Costello said the group was looking for an outcome on Sunday that clearly demonstrates G20 leaders’ commitment to fairness by taking concrete, measurable action to reduce inequality and address climate change.

“It will be a sad legacy of the Australian presidency if we go backwards in the fight against poverty by failing to tackle growing inequality,” Mr Costello said.

“The G20’s Brisbane Action Plan must build on the formal commitment made in St Petersburg last year for inclusive growth to be a central focus of G20 decision making.

“Otherwise meeting the 2 per cent growth target will be a hollow achievement and leaders will be judged as indifferent to those most in need.”

Mr Costello said the G20 group of nations has enormous relevance for poverty reduction.

“More than half the world’s poor live in G20 countries, and seven out 10 of all people live in countries where inequality has increased since the 1980s,” he observed.

“There is a yawning divide between the richest and the poorest that is undermining the global fight against poverty, and eroding trust in governments.

“This is why the C20 is calling on the G20 to take action that will result in growth in the incomes of the bottom 20 percent of households, and for growth plans to be jobs-rich.”

‘Why do tax havens even exist?’

Mr Costello argued that the need to reduce inequality also requires urgent tax reforms.

“The G20 will be rendered irrelevant if it cannot deliver outcomes that benefit those beyond an exclusive economic elite,” said Mr Costello.

“That includes making our international tax system fairer by closing the loopholes that make it easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to dodge their tax obligations.

“The G20 needs to ask itself a simple question: Why do tax havens even exist?”

AUDIO: G20 under pressure to crack down on corporate tax dodgers (The World Today)

The C20 also argues that climate change is a critical economic issue confronting the G20 and must be discussed as a standalone item on the G20 agenda.

Mr Costello condemned the decision by the Australian presidency to ignore the impact of climate change on the global economy as a retrograde and damaging step.

“This G20 will ultimately be judged by the fairness test,” he said.

“Whether that’s fairness to future generations by facing up to climate change; fairness to the bottom 20 per cent of poorest households; fairness to 75 million young people unemployed worldwide; or fairness to taxpayers by declaring tax havens immoral.”

The Australian C20 Steering Committee comprises representatives of international and domestic civil society organisations including World Vision Australia, ACOSS, WWF, Oxfam, Transparency International, the National Council of Churches, and the National Employment Services Association. A number of individuals are also involved in the C20.

The C20 has focused its engagement with the G20 around the four key areas of:

Inclusive Growth and Employment;

Infrastructure;

Climate and Resource Sustainability; and

Governance (including tax and financial transparency).