Senate debates

Monday, 10 February 2020

Motions

Newstart Allowance

6:26 pm

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) there are over 3 million people in Australia living in poverty including over 700,000 children,

  (ii) Newstart and Youth Allowance have not had an increase in real terms for over 25 years,

  (iii) the Government's continued failure to act has meant that those trying to survive on Newstart are falling even further behind, prompting the Australian Council of Social Service to call for an urgent $95 increase in Newstart, and

  (iv) the Government's position on Newstart is out of step with community expectations; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to make it a priority to help address poverty in Australia by immediately significantly increasing Newstart and Youth Allowance.

Question agreed to.