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

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that this week is Anti-Poverty Week 2017;

(b) recognises that more than three million Australians are living in poverty and hardship;

(c) acknowledges that one in six children are living in poverty and almost half of all children living in poverty are in single parent households;

(d) notes that the main aims of Anti-Poverty Week are to encourage research, discussion and action to address poverty and hardship; and

(e) calls on the Government to commit to reducing poverty by at least 50 per cent by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government believes in a welfare system that tackles poverty by helping people achieve independence and breaks cycles of welfare dependency. The best way to make a child's life better is to ensure parents are not dependent on welfare. That's why the primary focus of the coalition government is moving people from welfare to work, and that's shown by the over 800,000 jobs this government has created. This government is protecting children from poverty by guaranteeing homelessness funding that Labor left without a single dollar in their last budget. Our commitment to protecting children is evident in our No Jab, No Pay policy that keeps children safe from horrible diseases. The coalition government will continue to deliver policies across government to provide security and opportunity for the children of this country.

Question agreed to.