Ending child poverty in Australia - Although one in six Australian children live in

Ending child poverty in Australia 1 Introduction Although Australia is a rich country, one in six Australian children live in poverty.1 Australia has the 13th highest youth poverty rate in the OECD, surpassing the UK, Germany, and Canada.2 Child poverty can take a lifelong toll. [...] (2022) The impact of poverty on the developing child: A narrative review; Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) & The University of New South Wales (UNSW) (2023) Poverty & Inequality in Australia: Submission to Inquiry into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia, Partnership-Poverty-Inquiry-s. [...] 13, 15 Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) & The University of New South Wales (UNSW) (2023) Poverty & Inequality in Australia: Submission to Inquiry into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia Ending child poverty in Australia 8 Australia’s poverty data void The Australian Government has no offi. [...] Four in five Australians agree that income support payments should be raised to a rate that does not cause any child in Australia to live in poverty 81% 11% 8% Total agree Total disagree Don’t know / Not sure Source: Australia Institute polling Ending child poverty in Australia 13 Conclusion The persistence of child poverty in one of the world’s most prosperous countries is indefensible. [...] In addition to increasing the rate of income support payments, the Australian Government can establish child poverty as a national priority by adopting a clear and official definition of poverty that would allow for the creation of a national poverty line, and by regularly collecting and publishing data on poverty that would help keep governments accountable.