Last week saw the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics annual yearbook and it told us many things we knew.
In the year to June last year, food prices up way beyond the inflation rate. To a lesser extent, health costs, education costs and housing.
An average employee paying 3.9 per cent extra compared with the previous year, but earning four per cent more.
On food, and the extent of what I call the Woolworths factor, the yearbook showed food retailers turned over $84.5 billion in 2006/2007. 41 per cent of the total turnover of all Australian retail services. So you can imagine if food prices are not controlled, then inflation cannot be either.
And, interestingly, two thirds of Australians still claim a religious affiliation.
According to the yearbook 26 per cent of Australians are Catholic, 19 per cent Anglican and 19 per cent favour other Christian denominations. More than 30 per cent say they practise no religion, but followers of religions other than Christianity have shown the largest proportional increase.
But in this snapshot of the nation, some of the information is immensely disturbing.
On the health front we're told that 77 per cent of the population has one or more long term health conditions. Eyesight problems are the most common. One in five people report arthritis, back problems or hay fever. Ten per cent of Australians suffer asthma. One in 20 have diabetes.
But here's the rub.
A massive 2.1 million people, 11 per cent of the population, report having long term mental health or behavioural problems.
And remember, the New South Wales Government is closing a dedicated mental health facility at Callan Park.
Where do these people end up?
On the streets, in jail or dead.
If you add that to another statistic that came out at the same time, that last year 90 per cent of all people asking for supported accommodation in New South Wales were turned away, that is people with a disability needing somewhere to cater adequately for their disability.
90 per cent of all of them in New South Wales turned away.
And 2.1 million people in Australia, 11 per cent of the population with long term mental health or behavioural problems, and the New South Wales Government is closing a dedicated mental health facility at Callan Park.
We talk about surpluses and Future Funds and 2020 summits.
Well may we ask, what are we doing with all our money and wealth about the here and now?
