Greens motion calls on government to support young people to build an equitable future

The 22nd to 30th of October is Children's Week as recognised by the UN.

Children's week is a week to celebrate children and their rights, talents, voice, and contributions to society.

Abigail put forward a motion in parliament to call on the government and all members of parliament to commit to supporting children by building a more equitable future.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD (14:42): I seek leave to amend private members' business item No. 2032 standing in my name on theNotice Paper by omitting "to commit to" and inserting instead "to continue their commitment to" in paragraph (2).

Leave granted.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Accordingly, I move:

(1)That this House notes that:

(a)22 October to 30 October 2022 is Children's Week, which celebrates children and their rights, talents, diverse voices and valuable contributions to society;

(b)according to Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which this year's theme for Children's Week is based upon, all children have the right to a standard of living that supports their wellbeing and healthy development; and

(c)according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund [UNICEF] Australia in a report entitledChildren's Voices in a Changing World published in 2021:

(i)governments, leaders, policymakers and all levels of society have a responsibility to take bold action to ensure a clean, safe, equitable, accessible and sustainable future;

(ii)young people overwhelmingly want action today to safeguard the world they will inherit, and see themselves as also having a responsibility to protect the world for future generations beyond them;

(iii)the majority of children and young people believe the greatest threat to the future wellbeing and livelihood of children and young people in Australia is climate change, and believe that other major threats include unemployment and limited job prospects in the future, the economy, poor educational outcomes, poverty, discrimination including racism, domestic and family violence, homelessness and the continuing disadvantage and lack of historical recognition of First Nations populations; and

(iv)almost all of the children and young people surveyed by UNICEF Australia were politically engaged, keyed into social movements and ready to be part of the solution, but they also worry that our current leaders are not taking strong enough action today.

(2)That this House calls on the Government and all members of Parliament to commit to supporting children and young people in our communities by taking strong action to build a safe and equitable future.

Motion agreed to.

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

No matter who you are or what you do, everyone has the right to share in the wellbeing of our country.

But at the moment the essentials so many of us need – a place to call home, food on the table, and everyday essentials like electricity, internet, medicine and water – are simply out of reach.

Instead of supporting us, our government is choosing to prop up huge corporations with massive subsidies, and to give away our collective wealth through record tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to live paycheck to paycheck or trapped in the dehumanising bureaucracy of our existing welfare system.

Now, in the midst of a pandemic, and following quickly on the heels of the bushfire crisis, more of us than ever before are experiencing what it’s like to lose our jobs, be without a home, or worry about where the food for our next meal will come from.

It’s time for us to choose to prioritise the wellbeing of everyone.

And that’s exactly what the Universal Wellbeing Payment will do.

It’s a regular payment made to each of us to ensure our minimum standard of wellbeing. No means testing, no bureaucracy, no strings attached.

It’s the amount you’re owed simply for being a participant in our society.

It means you are free to live your life and contribute to society as you see fit, whether you’re a carer, an artist, a student, a parent, an entrepreneur – you can get on with what you need to do, knowing that you will always be supported regardless of your income.

It means that we’re choosing to structure our economy for the benefit of all of us, not using our collective wealth to prop up the interests of big business and the wealthy few.

It means you will always have what you need to live a good life, no matter what.

The Universal Wellbeing Payment is for everyone. Help us make it happen.

For more information, head to universalwellbeingpayment.com.au

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Greens motion calls on government to support young people to build an equitable future

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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