Charity groups paint a sad and scary portrait of modern Australia

AUSTRALIA is selfish, inward-looking and less prepared to help neighbours and the needy around the world.

Only 48 per cent of Australian women feel safe walking alone at night, we volunteer less and give less to charity despite being one of the richest nations, and eight people commit suicide each day.

These are the damning findings of a landmark report from the Community Council for Australia, to be released today.

The 60-page document contains sobering reading about the nation we live in.

CCA chairman and World Vision chief advocate the Rev Tim Costello will unveil the report today at the National Press Club in Canberra.

Written with 60 leaders of charities and not-for-profit groups, the report provides state-by-state snapshots of our performance in a range of areas such as incarceration, suicide, education, housing access, safety and com- passion. Mr Costello said the most surprising finding to him was that only 48.1 per cent of Australian women felt safe walking alone at night, well below the OECD average of 60.6.