Page 3055 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007

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That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Stanhope from moving a motion concerning Australian Anti-Poverty Week.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister for the Arts) (3.56): Mr Speaker, I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) unanimously support the aims of Australian Anti-Poverty Week to:

(a) strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia; and

(b) encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments;

(2) reaffirm its commitment to reducing poverty and the negative impacts of poverty on individuals and families; and

(3) undertake opportunities to engender a stronger understanding amongst citizens of the ACT that it is a community responsibility to work to continuously reduce the social, economic and health-related causes of poverty.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I raise this motion today to reaffirm our collective commitment in continuing to address the causes and impacts of poverty on a significant number of Canberrans. In a wealthy community, poverty disadvantage may be well hidden. The 2006 census data confirm that ACT residents have the highest median family income of any jurisdiction: $1,773, compared to the national average of $1,171. ACT residents are also better educated and generally healthier than other Australians. But, in the midst of our relative wealth, there are members of our community who suffer.

We need to think about what poverty means in the everyday lives of people who are not able to participate in the activities that most people take for granted. Poverty

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