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20 May 2009
The Australian Greens offered a tribute to retiring ACOSS President Lin Hatfield-Dodds yesterday, with Senator Rachel Siewert describing her as: "a great Australian and a passionate advocate for social justice."
"Lin brings a strong sense justice and compassion to everything she tackles, and calmly, but with a strong sense of purpose and priority, seeks to negotiate the best and fairest possible outcome for disadvantaged Australians," said Senator Siewert.
"She has played a crucial role in building ACOSS up to be a strong and united national organisation that could speak with clear voice for the community services sector and their clients during a difficult period."
"Lin spoke out strongly against the excesses of misguided government policies such as Work Choices, Welfare to Work and compulsory income quarantining," she said.
Lin has been instrumental in the social sector reaching out and forming alliances with industry, unions and others in the wider non-government sector to advocate on wider issues in the national interest - including the Australia Fair campaign and putting the issue of 'climate justice' for low-income families most affected by rising energy costs on the agenda."
Lin has stepped down from the ACOSS Presidency to spend more time with her family while her father deals with cancer, but continues in her role as National Director of Uniting Care Australia - one of the largest community service organisations in Australia.
"Lin Hatfield Dodds is one of those rare individuals who combine a great brain with an enormous heart - she truly makes a difference," concluded Senator Siewert.
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