This is a very important motion, as has already been stated by other colleagues, because it recognises and raises awareness of world poverty and the importance of the Millennium Development Goals. As such, it has a very important role to play in addressing and achieving those goals. The more we can bring attention to these issues, the more likely it is that they will be addressed in some serious and definitive manner.
At a time when so many resources across the globe are being invested in defence and conflict, it is heartening that this year world poverty has been placed firmly back onto the international agenda. Not since Bob Geldof united the globe in 1985 with his Live Aid concert has there been such international attention and awareness of the extent and gravity of world poverty. In July, we were again united through the Live 8 concert and the Make Poverty History campaign, which resulted not just in increased awareness but also in a commitment from the G8 Summit to boost aid to poverty stricken Africa by $25 billion and to cancel the debt of 18 of the most impoverished countries.
Throughout the year, the United Nations has also been prominent in raising awareness of and in addressing the Millennium Development Goals to halve world poverty. Although adopted in 2000, through massive awareness campaigns this year the Millennium Development Goals have become widely recognised. The progress in achieving these goals and deciding what now needs to be done to achieve them will be the subject of the United Nations world summit next week. Whilst the eight goals seem to deal with impossible problems, these goals can be achieved by addressing the issues of peace, security, development, human rights and fundamental freedoms in a single package and with unprecedented collaborative efforts.
However, it is not just the G8 countries or the United Nations that are thinking about these issues. People all over the globe are expressing concern about the urgent need to address extreme poverty and to provide assistance to the world’s most impoverished countries. I know the people in my electorate are very deeply concerned. When I go out to visit schools, students and young children raise their concerns with me. Community groups and my constituents generally also raise these issues with me.
My electorate is home to people of over 116 nationalities, so my constituents are from diverse backgrounds. When they talk to me, they often raise two concerns: firstly, for newer migrants, it is about their love of our country and their relief that they have been given the opportunity to start new lives in Australia; and, secondly, it is about their loved ones and about people they have left behind in troubled parts of the globe, such as the people from the Somali interrivine community, whom I have previously spoken about. Many Muslim Australians from countries in the Middle East and Africa constantly remind me of their concerns and of the need to address world poverty.
The recent efforts by the Australian government are to be commended. Increasing the Australian aid budget is sensible and appropriate and I support this motion, which ‘urges the Australian Government to continue to work towards the achievement of those goals’. It is also important to encourage the government to work towards increasing Australia’s contribution to the ultimate level of 0.7 per cent of our gross national income. As has been stated by other colleagues, we are still very much a lucky country and, as such, we have a responsibility to the rest of the world community that is living in poverty.
It is heartening to know that Australians are generous people—and we have proved this in our phenomenal response to the tsunami disaster—who recognise our responsibilities and obligations. Indeed, we respond quickly and generously at the personal, corporate and government levels to the needs of the world community. We all have a role in raising awareness of these issues and by doing so we can keep these issues on the government’s agenda and work towards achieving these vital goals. We can no longer afford to allow many millions of the human community to perish daily as a result of poverty while so many of us in other parts of the world live in comfort. I am very pleased to support the motion and congratulate the member for Macquarie.
