AUSTRALIA, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP
An Open Letter to the Australian Government and the Church
By Reverend Gary Hoban
Founder and Director, Refinery Life Australia Limited
4 November 2026
To the Prime Minister, the Parliament of Australia, the leaders of our churches, and the people of this nation:
Australia is standing at a crossroads.
Yesterday, the Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate to 4.85 per cent, the highest level since 2008. Inflation has risen to 4.3 per cent, and Australian families are once again being told to tighten their belts.
But how much more tightening can ordinary Australians endure?
How much longer can families carry the consequences of decisions made by those who appear increasingly disconnected from their daily struggles?
And where is the Australian Church while the foundations of our nation are being shaken?
To the Australian Government, I say: Wake up.
To the Australian Church, I say: Rise up.
The hour for complacency has passed.
Government Must Accept Responsibility
Australia cannot continue accumulating debt, expanding expenditure and making financial commitments without confronting their long-term consequences.
The Commonwealth’s projected $31.5 billion underlying cash deficit for 2026–27 should concern every Australian.
This government’s decisions are not the only cause of inflation. International pressures, supply constraints, energy prices and monetary conditions all matter. Previous governments must also accept their share of responsibility.
But the present government cannot indefinitely blame the past while making the decisions that shape our future.
Australians deserve a credible explanation of how public spending, taxation, regulation, energy policy and population growth are being managed.
Parents are working longer hours to maintain their households. Small businesses are struggling with costs. Pensioners are watching their purchasing power diminish. Young Australians are beginning to question whether the opportunities enjoyed by previous generations will ever be available to them.
A government that continually spends tomorrow’s prosperity to finance today’s promises risks transferring the burden of its decisions to children who have no vote in the matter.
Our grandchildren should not inherit a country burdened by debt, unaffordable housing and essential services that cannot meet demand.
Fiscal responsibility is not a rejection of compassion. It is part of responsible stewardship.
And leadership means accepting responsibility rather than continually manufacturing excuses.
Immigration Must Be Responsible, Not Reckless
Immigration is another issue that demands honest discussion.
Australia has benefited enormously from people who have come here seeking opportunity, freedom and a better life. Many have strengthened our communities and made substantial contributions to this nation.
But a successful immigration programme must be measured against our capacity to provide housing, infrastructure, employment and essential services.
In the year to March 2026, Australia’s population increased by approximately 393,000 people, with net overseas migration accounting for 292,100.
Every additional resident needs somewhere to live. Every growing community requires infrastructure, schools, hospitals, roads, energy and water.
When population growth outpaces the capacity to provide these essentials, Australians experience the consequences.
Compassion without responsible planning is not good government.
This is not an attack upon migrants. It is a demand that governments accept responsibility for the policies they establish.
We must be able to discuss immigration levels, border integrity and the expectations placed upon those who make Australia their home without being accused of hatred.
Australia should remain welcoming, but it must also remain responsible.
The Housing Crisis Is a National Disgrace
A generation of Australians is watching the possibility of home ownership slip further away.
Families are being forced into housing insecurity. Renters face extraordinary pressures. People are sleeping in cars or temporary accommodation while governments announce programmes that have yet to deliver relief at the scale required.
This is more than an economic crisis.
It is a crisis of national priorities.
We need housing construction, appropriate infrastructure, responsible planning reform and serious scrutiny of policies that artificially constrain supply or increase demand without providing accommodation.
We must also confront the consequences of treating housing primarily as a financial investment rather than a place where people build their lives.
A nation that cannot provide a reasonable pathway to housing security for working families must reconsider its priorities.
Australia’s Energy Crisis Demands Honest Answers
How can a nation blessed with extraordinary natural resources struggle to provide reliably affordable energy to its citizens?
Electricity, fuel and energy-intensive production costs affect almost every household and business.
Australians deserve an honest assessment of the economic consequences of our energy choices.
Energy security, reliability, affordability and environmental stewardship must all be considered. None should be dismissed through political slogans.
A nation cannot build a strong economy while ignoring the cost of the energy required to sustain it.
Our leaders must be willing to examine what works, what does not, and who ultimately pays for their decisions.
Freedom of Religion Must Not Become Surrender to Extremism
There is another subject that must not be avoided.
Australia must confront religious and political extremism, including Islamist movements that seek to subordinate democratic government and civil law to coercive religious authority.
Islamism as a political ideology must be distinguished from the peaceful practice of Islam by Muslim Australians.
Every person deserves the protection of the law, regardless of faith or background.
But no religious or political movement should be permitted to threaten freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, the rights of women, equality before the law or the safety of those who disagree.
Antisemitism must be confronted without hesitation.
The intimidation of Jewish Australians is unacceptable. So too are threats, harassment or discrimination directed against Muslims, Christians or anyone else.
Religious liberty must apply equally.
Our government must not accommodate extremist agendas merely because confronting them is politically uncomfortable.
Christian love does not require surrendering Christian conviction, and religious freedom does not require submission to religious coercion.
As Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbours, including those who do not share our faith.
But we are not commanded to abandon biblical truth to avoid controversy.
Protect Our Children and Strengthen Our Families
The condition of our families should concern every Australian.
We cannot ignore domestic violence, the exploitation of children, addiction, pornography, gambling-related harm and the growing pressures upon parents.
Nor should we dismiss legitimate concerns about parental responsibilities, children’s welfare, education and the influence of online platforms.
The family is one of the foundational institutions of society.
When families suffer, the entire nation suffers.
Government must protect children from exploitation and violence, respect the responsibilities of parents, and support families struggling under financial and social pressure.
The Church must also examine itself.
Where abuse has occurred within religious institutions, there must be accountability, justice and protection for victims.
We have no moral authority to demand righteousness from government while protecting wrongdoing within our own institutions.
Defend Australia’s Freedoms and Sovereignty
Freedom of speech, conscience, religion, lawful assembly and democratic participation must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of political convenience.
Australians should be able to question government policy, express lawful religious convictions and engage in public debate without intimidation.
We must also carefully scrutinise expanding digital surveillance, censorship powers and systems that create the potential for excessive government control.
Technology should serve the people, not become an instrument through which ordinary citizens lose control over their privacy and freedoms.
Public safety matters. So does liberty.
The government must be accountable to the people, not the other way around.
The Church Must Recover Its Prophetic Voice
I now turn directly to Australia’s pastors, Christian leaders and churches.
And I speak as someone who loves the Church and believes deeply in its calling.
We cannot demand repentance from Canberra while refusing repentance in our own congregations.
We have become skilled at holding services, building ministries, maintaining programmes and attracting audiences.
But have we become equally committed to prayer, holiness, biblical discipleship, evangelism and confronting unrighteousness?
Have we become more concerned with protecting our platforms than proclaiming the whole counsel of God?
Have we exchanged prophetic courage for cultural acceptance?
Have we become so afraid of offending society that we no longer challenge it?
I honour the many faithful churches and pastors who are standing courageously, serving their communities and proclaiming biblical truth.
But much of the wider Church must examine whether silence has become its preferred response to the moral and spiritual deterioration of our nation.
The prophet Isaiah declared:
“Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression.” — Isaiah 58:1, NKJV
The Church was never called to be merely another institution seeking public approval.
We were called to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, defend truth, love our neighbours and demonstrate the righteousness of God’s Kingdom.
We must care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger and those struggling to survive.
We must also be willing to confront injustice, corruption, deception and destructive ideologies.
Australia does not need a Church that simply reflects the culture. Australia needs a Church with the courage to challenge it.
No Political Party Can Save Australia
Let me make something absolutely clear.
This is not a declaration of unconditional support for any political party.
Labor must be held accountable. The Coalition must be held accountable. Minor parties and independents must be held accountable.
The Church must never exchange its prophetic independence for political influence.
We should neither excuse wrongdoing because it comes from someone we support nor condemn truth because it comes from someone we oppose.
Our allegiance belongs first to Jesus Christ.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” — Proverbs 14:34, NKJV
Political reform matters, but Australia’s problems cannot be resolved through political manoeuvring alone.
We need a renewal of integrity, responsibility, compassion and truth throughout our national life.
And we need a Church willing to lead by example.
My Appeal to the Prime Minister and Parliament
I call upon the Australian Government to demonstrate genuine national leadership.
Present a credible programme of fiscal responsibility and transparent reporting on public expenditure.
Confront the housing crisis with measurable increases in supply and infrastructure.
Ensure immigration settings are aligned with the nation’s capacity to accommodate population growth responsibly.
Develop energy policies that deliver reliability and affordability while addressing legitimate environmental responsibilities.
Protect religious freedom, reject political extremism and enforce the law without favouritism.
Defend freedom of speech, conscience, privacy and democratic accountability.
And above all, remember that the Australian people are not merely figures in an economic report.
They are the people you were elected to serve.
Public office is a responsibility, not an entitlement.
My Appeal to the Australian Church
I call upon the Church to do more than agree with these words.
Let us return to the altar of prayer.
Let churches begin praying earnestly and regularly for Australia, its leaders, its families and its future.
Let pastors preach the whole counsel of God without fear or favour.
Let congregations provide practical assistance to families struggling with housing, food, debt and essential living costs.
Let Christian leaders speak with courage, humility and biblical conviction, without surrendering compassion.
Let us raise a generation of believers who understand that Christian discipleship encompasses every area of life.
And let us examine our own hearts before demanding transformation from others.
Second Chronicles 7:14 calls God’s people to humility, prayer, seeking His face and turning from wickedness.
We must not treat that promise, originally spoken to Israel, as a substitute for responsible action in Australia. But its call to humility and repentance remains a profound challenge to the Church.
Before we demand courage from political leaders, we must demonstrate it ourselves.
Before we demand integrity from government, we must practise it ourselves.
Before we call the nation to turn, we must return wholeheartedly to the Lord.
Australia Needs a Reformation Now
I believe Australia needs more than economic recovery.
We need a genuine spiritual awakening that produces reformation in our churches, families, institutions and public life.
We need economic responsibility.
We need political accountability.
We need justice and compassion.
We need moral courage.
And we need a generation prepared to stand for truth even when standing carries a cost.
The Church cannot outsource its responsibility to politicians.
And the government cannot expect endless sacrifice from its citizens without examining the consequences of its own decisions.
Australia remains a nation of extraordinary opportunity, resources, freedoms and people.
But these blessings must not become excuses for complacency.
We have a responsibility to future generations.
We must defend what is good, confront what is wrong and be prepared to change what is failing.
To the Australian Government: Wake up. Govern responsibly. Restore accountability. Serve the people.
To the Australian Church: Rise up. Return to prayer. Recover your prophetic voice. Proclaim the truth.
To the people of Australia: Do not surrender to fear, hatred or despair. Demand accountability, defend freedom and take responsibility for the future of this nation.
This is not a call to hatred.
It is not a call to violence.
It is a call to truth, repentance, courage, responsibility and action.
Australia is worth contending for.
Our children and grandchildren deserve a nation where freedom is protected, families can flourish, justice is upheld and government serves with integrity.
The hour is late, but it is not too late.
Australia, it is time to wake up.
Reverend Gary Hoban
Founder and Director
Refinery Life Australia Limited
Prophetic Intercessors for Australia
Equipping believers. Strengthening the Church. Contending for nations.
About the Author
Reverend Gary Hoban is the Founder and Director of Refinery Life Australia Limited and leads Prophetic Intercessors for Australia. He is a Christian minister, author and teacher committed to equipping believers, strengthening the Church and calling the nations to prayer, repentance and biblical righteousness.
Through his preaching, writing and international ministry, Reverend Hoban challenges the Church to recover its prophetic voice, stand firmly upon the Word of God and engage courageously with the spiritual, moral and social issues confronting Australia and the nations.
Official Sources and References
The economic and population figures referenced in this open letter are drawn from official Australian Government publications.
1. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)
Statement by the Monetary Policy Board — 3 November 2026
The Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate target by 0.25 percentage points to 4.85%.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
Consumer Price Index, Australia — September 2026
Annual consumer price inflation reached 4.3%, up from 4.0% in August.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
National, State and Territory Population — March 2026
Australia’s population increased by 392,700 people over twelve months, including 292,100 from net overseas migration.
Read the ABS population report
4. Australian Government Treasury — Federal Budget 2026–27
Budget Overview — Budget Aggregates
The Commonwealth Budget forecasts an underlying cash deficit of $31.5 billion for 2026–27.
Read the official Federal Budget overview
Figures and publications current as at 4 November 2026. The opinions and calls for reform expressed in this letter are those of Reverend Gary Hoban.
