Anti-Poverty Week

The majority voted against this motion to increase the base pension rate and increase the foreign aid budget.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the week beginning 12 October 2008 is Anti-Poverty Week,

(ii) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are over represented amongst those living in poverty in Australia,

(iii) people living on income support payments including single parents, disability support pension and the age pension are over represented amongst those living in poverty in Australia, and

(iv) Australia currently gives foreign aid to the value of 0.32 per cent of gross national income; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) support the development of effective benchmarks to measure poverty,

(ii) institute policies that seek to eradicate poverty and strengthen social inclusion,

(iii) increase the base pension rate by $30 per week which would have the added benefit of directly increasing cash flows during this time of economic crisis, and

(iv) increase the amount of foreign aid to 0.7 per cent in line with the recommendations of the United Nations.