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

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

That the Senate—

(a) notes that it is Anti-Poverty Week from 13 to 19 October 2019, and 17 October 2019 is the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty;

(b) recognises that:

  (i) everybody has a right to a roof over their head, food on the table and a dignified life,

  (ii) Australia is a party to seven core international human rights treaties—the right to social security is contained in article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

  (iii) one in six Australian children is living in poverty and relying on food banks every week,

  (iv) people in our community are denied dignity when they are forced to live on $40 a day on Newstart for extended periods because the jobs are simply not there,

  (v) it is difficult to look for paid work if you are homeless and hungry.

  (vi) people living on Newstart are trapped in a daily struggle to make ends meet which makes it hard to think about the future they aspire to, and

  (vii) increasing Newstart is a long overdue part of addressing growing income inequality, and it would also be a real boost to our economy; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to make it a priority to help alleviate poverty by immediately increasing Newstart.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Morrison government understands that having a roof over your head and food on the table is crucial to the welfare of all Australians. That's why we provide the states and territories more than $1.5 billion a year through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to support their delivery of key services, as well as invest $45½ million for emergency relief annually as part of our comprehensive more than $170 billion welfare and social security program.

Question agreed to.