David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm currently hosting Rory, a work experience student from Melrose High. I asked Rory, 'What should we keep front of mind in this House?' Her thoughts were:

Imagine, you, your family, your friends are forced to live out of your car or not know where your next meal will come from.

Well, this is the … reality for many of the Australians who live below the poverty line. As the cost of living rises dramatically, more people are falling under the poverty line.

It might seem like it doesn't affect anyone you know, but it's more likely than it seems.

According to a 2020 ACOSS report it's 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 6 children.

Those are the horrifying figures that really put it into perspective. That it could be you. It could be your family. It could be your friends.

This issue runs deeper than individuals, it affects the people around them and the communities that they're a part of.

And I'm sure that we can all agree … that no person should have to live a life in which they wonder if they'll be able to pay rent or have to make a choice between food and medicine.

Thank you, Rory.

That's why last night's budget includes measures that will help vulnerable Australians: an increase to JobSeeker, an increase in rent assistance, greater support for single parents, energy bill relief and a tripling of the bulk-billing subsidy—a Labor budget that both delivers targeted cost-of-living relief and broadens opportunity. The parliament has the opportunity to pass legislation that would drive the single-biggest improvement in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.

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