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

At the request of Senator Di Natale and Senator Dodson, I move:

That the Senate—

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

(b) recognises that:

  (i) the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports that the mortality rate for the poorest Australians is 1 times as high as for people in the highest socioeconomic group, and that the most economically disadvantaged Australians live on average, up to 5 years less than the wealthiest,

  (ii) around 41% of people in the lowest annual household income group avoid or delay a visit to a dentist due to cost, which puts them at greater risk of more severe poor oral or general health in the future, as well as reducing their ability to find employment and housing, and

  (iii) people living in rural or regional Australia, including First Nations peoples, are most likely to be impacted by poverty, have the worst health outcomes and face the greatest financial barriers to accessing health care;

(c) notes that:

  (i) around 1 million people in Australia rely on the inadequate rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance,

  (ii) this year, a Monash University study found that Newstart recipients are six times more likely to face poor health outcomes, and twice as likely to be hospitalised than wage earners, and

  (iii) the Australian Medical Association has backed the call for a raise to Newstart, recognising that the payment is insufficient for someone with chronic or other illness; and

(d) calls on the Federal Government to do more to address the social and economic determinants of health, including immediately increasing Newstart and Youth Allowance.

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 Australians, particularly families and children. That's why the government spends a third of the Commonwealth budget on our highly targeted and comprehensive social security and welfare system and is committed to supporting more Australians into jobs through programs like Jobactive and pursuing policies to support economic growth.

Question agreed to.