Additional comments from Labor Senators

1.1Labor Senators thank those who have given evidence and provided submissions to the committee, particularly those with, or advocating on behalf of, lived experience.

1.2The evidence makes it clear that those on the lowest incomes are under pressure and too often struggling to make ends meet.

1.3The evidence also makes it clear that poverty is a complex issue and its causes are multifaceted. To make a meaningful and sustainable difference, all must be addressed. Child poverty, in particular, requires early intervention and investment, including through early childhood learning, development, education and care.

1.4Labor Senators recognise that disadvantage is a complex problem which no single policy, government department, organisation or entity can solve on its own. Any meaningful policy response to disadvantage must acknowledge this.

1.5Labor Senators also reaffirm the importance of empowering communities and the people who live in them to tackle disadvantage.

1.6Labor Senators believe policy responses to poverty in Australia must be broad and comprehensive, reflecting the complexity of circumstances people face. There must be sustainable pathways to lifting people out of financial crisis and into a life of opportunity and self-determination by tackling factors including but not limited to:

Access to affordable and crisis housing;

Providing access to quality education;

Securing employment;

Women's and family safety;

Access to health care, when and where people need it; and

Affordable medicines.

1.7Labor Senators note that all of these issues are current priorities of the Albanese Labor Government. We acknowledge the significant work underway to explore every policy lever available to tackle the pressures that are affecting more Australians' ability to make ends meet.

1.8Labor Senators believe in a strong social safety net that keeps people out of poverty, whether they are young, unemployed, working age, escaping family or domestic violence or in retirement.

1.9As was made clear in its response to the Royal Commission into the Robodebt scheme, it is the Albanese Labor Government’s position that the social security system is a vital component of Australia's safety net, providing both income support and access to services for Australians who need it. Many Australians need this support at different times in their lives, for many different reasons. There is no shame in this.

1.10Labor Senators acknowledge the significant changes to the income support system made in the 2023-24 Budget, which included:

expanding qualification for Parenting Payment (Single) to single principal carers whose youngest child is aged under 14 years (PPS) (up from under 8 years);

increasing the rates of working age and student payments by $40 per fortnight, including Jobseeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment (Partnered), Austudy Payment and Disability Support Pension (youth);

expanding eligibility for the higher rate of Jobseeker Payment to recipients aged 55 years and over who have been on payment for nine or more continuous months (reducing the qualifying age from 60 years); and

increasing the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent.

1.11Recent government policy changes such as these have made a meaningful difference for Australians on low incomes, and those who face increased risk of disadvantage.

1.12We also note the government established the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, to provide advice to ahead of every federal budget, on ways to boost economic inclusion and tackle disadvantage.

1.13In the 2023-24 budget, the Albanese Labor Government also announced an overhaul of the way Australia tackles entrenched disadvantage by investing almost $200 million to deliver a comprehensive agenda to target investment in those communities doing it the toughest. The Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage Package will better enable government to partner withphilanthropy, to listen to and empower local leaders, and work with communities to direct services in a way that meets their needs in a shared decision-making framework.

1.14The Albanese Labor Government has also made considerable investments to help Australians manage cost of living pressures, including through:

energy bill relief;

cheaper child care;

historic investments in Medicare bulk billing to make it cheaper for people to see a GP;

fee-free TAFE training;

building more affordable homes;

expanded paid parental leave; and

investing in cheaper medicines.

1.15The Albanese Labor Government is taking action through the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, to address the root causes that force so many children and women into a cycle that often ends in poverty.

1.16Labor Senators also acknowledge the work being undertaken by the Albanese Labor Government through the development of the whole-of-Commonwealth Early Years Strategy.

1.17Labor Senators believe that secure work is one of strongest forces for poverty reduction and social mobility. We acknowledge the release of the Employment White Paper, Working Future: The Australian Government’s White Paper on Jobs and Opportunities that outlines the Albanese Labor Government’s vision for a dynamic and inclusive labour market. One where everyone has the opportunity for secure, fairly paid work and people, businesses and communities can be beneficiaries of change, and thrive.

1.18Labor Senators recognise the particular challenges in accessing such work in remote areas, especially for First Nations Australians.We note the Albanese Labor Government’s recent announcement of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program that will help close the gap in employment outcomes by creating 3,000 jobs in remote Australia. This $707 million investment is the first step in delivering on the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to replace the failed Community Development Program with real jobs, proper wages, and decent conditions.

1.19Labor Senators reaffirm that disadvantage and poverty cannot be solved with quick fixes, a narrow focus or through a single portfolio, but can only be tackled through persistent, whole of government, long term approaches thatempower communities and the people who live within them. We also reaffirm the importance of the work being done at the state and territory, and local, government level as well as the work done by those organisations dedicated to supporting Australians living with or at risk of disadvantage.

1.20Labor Senators believe tackling disadvantage should be prioritised by any government and acknowledge the significant reforms the Albanese Labor Government has taken to date.

1.21Labor Senators again thank all who participated in this process. We hope that this report contributes to the national debate on tackling poverty but more importantly to meaningful policy reform that makes a difference in the lives of Australians experiencing or at risk of disadvantage.

Senator Marielle SmithSenator Louise Pratt