Members statements
Poverty
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (13:45): We should all want to see a world free of poverty. Earlier this month, last week in fact, I attended the Sambell Oration, an annual event run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence. I want to congratulate the BSL not only for delivering great services to those in need but for maintaining thought leadership through activities such as this. This year the orator was Professor Sabina Alkire, an Oxford University professor and internationally recognised expert in poverty measurement, who shared insights into her multidimensional poverty index, a comprehensive tool for understanding poverty. 2025 will mark 50 years since the Henderson report into poverty in Australia. This landmark report sought to create the first attempt at a systematic method for measuring poverty. While much has changed since 1975, too many still live in poverty. Professor Alkire’s index seeks to create a modern and improved poverty measurement, insights from which could be used to help drive reductions in poverty both here in Australia and abroad. It is about time that Australia had a national uniform measurement of poverty. The research undertaken by Professor Alkire shows a pathway to achieve this. With better insights into poverty, governments will be better equipped to create the policy to eliminate poverty in our communities.