At the request of Senators Marielle Smith and Dodson, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that it is Anti-Poverty Week from 13 to 19 October 2019;

(b) recognises that:

  (i) in Australia, 739,000 children are living below the poverty line,

  (ii) the poverty rate is proportionately higher for children than adults, with one in six living below the poverty line, or 17.3% of all children, and

  (iii) all children deserve a fair start in life, no matter what their parents' circumstances; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to combat childhood poverty by lifting the rate of Newstart, ceasing their attacks on Medicare and the universality of our healthcare system, and by reversing their cuts to penalty rates to ensure working Australian families have a quality standard of living and a liveable wage.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

The government is committed to providing the best outcomes for children through our comprehensive and targeted social security system and welfare system. The government did not cut penalty rates. We're investing in an additional $6 billion over five years to guarantee Australians access to Medicare.

Question agreed to.