Senate debates

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

National Volunteer Week

3:35 pm

Photo of Joe LudwigJoe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate notes:

(a)
that from 10 May to 16 May 2010 is National Volunteer Week, the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia;
(b)
that one in four, or more than 5 million Australians, volunteer in their communities;
(c)
that Australian volunteers contribute more than 700 million hours of community service to many areas of society, including community health care, heritage and arts, environment conservation, emergency services, education, social justice and sports and international aid;
(d)
their service contributes approximately $42 billion to our economy each year, with the community value of their efforts far exceeding dollar measurement;
(e)
that volunteering promotes active citizenship, builds connections and creates stronger communities, shaping Australia into a country in which we can be proud; and
(f)
that as a nation we say ‘thank you’ to our volunteers, and volunteering organisations, for their contribution to all facets of Australian life.

Question agreed to.