Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Moore, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) Micah, a movement of Australian Christians, churches and organisations, are raising their voices for a world free from poverty – this week hundreds of Christian delegates from across our country gathered in Parliament House for 'Voices for Justice 2018', to share their concern for the world's poor, oppressed and displaced and to advocate for doing more for the world's poorest, those trapped in slavery and the displaced,

  (ii) significant progress has been made in recent decades as the world increased its focus on the problems of global poverty, however, these gains are fragile as climate change, conflicts and governance concerns are threatening to push more people into poverty and vulnerability and undo the progress to this point, and

  (iii) since September 2013, the Australian International Development Assistance budget has been reduced by the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government, and is now at 0.22% of gross national income; and

(b) calls upon the Federal Government to consider the voices of the Micah delegates and their concerns about the need for investment in a global response to ending the desperate impact of poverty.

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 coalition government supports Micah's aspiration for a world free from poverty. Our national interests are served by contributing to sustainable economic development and poverty reduction. Australia's total official development assistance budget of $4.2 billion supports countries to improve their governance, capacity building and economic development, including $1 billion over five years to support developing countries build their climate change resilience. We are stepping up our support for a more secure and prosperous Pacific by providing $1.3 billion in development assistance and $3 billion to support infrastructure initiatives.

Question agreed to.