❓ Hon Philip Scott questions the Minister for Community Services about the increase in child poverty in WA and the impact of federal immigration policies. The Minister acknowledges the report and highlights government efforts to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 1080Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Child poverty—Immigration
1080. Hon Philip Scott to
the Minister for Community Services:
New data from the Child Poverty in Australia 2025: The current and future
impacts of rising rates of financial deprivation on child wellbeing report
shows the number of Western Australian children living in poverty has increased
157% over the past decade.
(1) Given this finding, can the minister confirm
that after eight years of Labor government, there are 104,000 kids in WA
currently living in poverty?
(2) Can the minister explain how the federal government's
current rate of immigration is helping to alleviate childhood poverty in WA?
1080. Hon Philip Scott to
the Minister for Community Services:
New data from the Child Poverty in Australia 2025: The current and future
impacts of rising rates of financial deprivation on child wellbeing report
shows the number of Western Australian children living in poverty has increased
157% over the past decade.
(1) Given this finding, can the minister confirm
that after eight years of Labor government, there are 104,000 kids in WA
currently living in poverty?
(2) Can the minister explain how the federal government's
current rate of immigration is helping to alleviate childhood poverty in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(2) I
acknowledge the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and Valuing Children
Initiative's report Child Poverty in Australia 2025 . The Commonwealth government
has an important role to play in addressing child poverty through the income
support, social security and emergency relief systems it administers. The Cook
Labor government complements this by delivering targeted cost-of-living
measures, including a further $963 million in relief in the 2025–26
state budget.
honourable member for some notice of the question and provide the following
answer on behalf of the Minister for Community Services.
(1)–(2) I
acknowledge the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and Valuing Children
Initiative's report Child Poverty in Australia 2025 . The Commonwealth government
has an important role to play in addressing child poverty through the income
support, social security and emergency relief systems it administers. The Cook
Labor government complements this by delivering targeted cost-of-living
measures, including a further $963 million in relief in the 2025–26
state budget.
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