Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Bartlett, move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that 15 October to 21 October 2006 is Anti-Poverty Week;

(b)

acknowledges that the main aims of Anti-Poverty Week are to:

(i)

strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia, and

(ii)

encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments;

(c)

expresses concern about the unacceptably high levels of poverty in Australia and the growing gap between rich and poor;

(d)

recognises that children growing up in poverty face poorer health, education, employment and life outcomes (the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling suggests that more than 10 per cent of Australian children can be said to be growing up in poverty);

(e)

acknowledges that a disproportionate percentage of Indigenous Australians live in poverty and that studies show that nearly half of all Indigenous children live in families where incomes are below the Henderson poverty line;

(f)

supports using Australia’s strong economy to improve the living standards and life chances of all Australians; and

(g)

urges the use of poverty impact statements in government reporting and decision-making.

Question negatived.