I, and also on behalf of Senator Marielle Smith, move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges that this is Anti-Poverty Week 2019;

(b) recognises that many single parent families are living in poverty;

(c) notes that:

  (i) according to the Foodbank Hunger Report 2019, single parent households are most likely to experience food insecurity at a rate of 47%,

  (ii) since 2013, the rate of poverty among unemployed single parents has risen from 35% to 59%, and

  (iii) single parent families have a poverty rate of 32% which is a major source of child poverty;

(d) acknowledges that one of the keys to ending child poverty and helping single parents out of poverty is by raising the rate of Newstart; and

(e) calls on the Federal Government to help reduce the poverty rate of single parent families by immediately increasing Newstart and related payments.

I seek leave to make a very short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

Australia has a targeted and comprehensive welfare system which is sustainable as a result of the government's prudent fiscal management and our strong economy.

Question agreed to.