The National Civic Council (or NCC) is a grassroots Australian political movement, although sometimes referred to as a think tank.
The NCC develops and promotes policy based on its ‘five primacies’ of the integrity of human life, support for the family unit, decentralism, patriotism (including economic), and Judeo-Christian values. It is usually considered socially conservative, whilst in economics it is critical of both socialist and economic-rationalist trends.
Contents |
The NCC evolved in 1957 from the Catholic Social Studies Movement (also known simply as ‘The Movement’) which was founded in the early 1940s by prominent Catholic layman B.A. Santamaria. The Movement worked closely with the Industrial Groups, which sought to combat Communist Party infiltration and influence within the trade unions). The Movement, and later the NCC, had links with the historical Democratic Labor Party.
Public debate continues to be generated through the NCC’s national magazine ‘News Weekly’. It also publishes a journal of religious opinion called ‘AD2000’. Various states maintain their own smaller publications, such as ‘Action’, ‘Comment’ and ‘FACTS’.
The Australian Family Association, an affiliate of the NCC, maintains a high profile on a range of social issues.
The NCC has offices in Melbourne (also its National Office), Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide and Perth.
NCC National President, succeeding B.A. Santamaria, is Peter Westmore. National Vice-President is Pat Byrne and there are also a number of State Presidents who coordinate local groups in each state.