Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Owens:

That the House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

that 12-18 October marks Anti-Poverty Week with the United Nations declaring Friday 17 October as International Anti-Poverty Day; and

(b)

that the last time Australia contributed .5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) was in 1974-75 and that the contribution has declined since then to as low as .25 per cent from 2000-04;

(2)

recognises:

(a)

the Federal Government’s commitment to lifting the nation’s contribution to .5 per cent of GNI by 2015; and

(b)

that the majority of the world’s poor live in our region;

(3)

commends the excellent work done by Micah Challenge and Make Poverty History in bringing this matter to public prominence; and

(4)

calls on the Government to continue to play a leadership role in our region and to honour our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals.

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