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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1187 standing in my name for today relating to the funding of Foodbank.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) in the last 12 months, four million Australians have experienced food insecurity, and three quarters of these people were categorised as having very low food security,

(ii) more than one and a half million people living in remote and rural regions have experienced food insecurity in the last twelve months, and Australians in regional and remote areas are 33% more likely to experience food insecurity than those living in major and capital cities, and

(iii) people who are most likely to be food insecure are people looking for work or who are in insecure/casual employment, renters, those in remote and regional areas and single parents;

(b) recognises that our income support rates are so low, charities and the social service sector are left to provide vital community services, such as access to food; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to assist with addressing food insecurity by committing to long-term funding to organisations such as Foodbank, OzHarvest and Second Bite; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to stop trying to make savings out of the Social Services budget and ensure that organisations and individuals receive adequate and appropriate funding.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens say they are concerned about Australians living below the poverty time, but at every opportunity they want taxpayer dollars spent overseas. Their foreign aid policy calls for over $12 billion to be spent on foreign aid, which is triple our current spending. One Nation will not be supporting this motion, because the Greens are not serious about helping Australians. Their hearts lie offshore.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has increased funding for food relief by $1.48 million over the next 4½ years, to $5.985 million. The government will work with providers to coordinate a collaborative approach to food relief for Australians in need.

Question agreed to.