Time to Legislate to End Child Poverty by Toni Wren

In a compelling article for The Canberra Times, Toni Wren, spokesperson for the End Child Poverty campaign and Principal Adviser to Single Mother Families Australia, advocates for legislative action to eradicate child poverty in Australia. She emphasizes the necessity of a national plan, underpinned by laws that guarantee every child access to essential resources for their development.

Wren reflects on the progress made in the 1990s under Prime Minister Bob Hawke, noting that while child poverty wasn't entirely eliminated, it was reduced by 30% through policies such as increased family payments and the introduction of rent assistance. However, she points out that many of these measures have been rolled back, leading to over 820,000 Australian children currently living in poverty—a number that has risen by more than 100,000 since the pandemic. Wren calls for renewed commitment and legislative measures to address this pressing issue.

Read the full article on The Canberra Times.

The Valuing Children Initiative echoes this sentiment, highlighting the importance of collective action. We encourage individuals to sign the End Child Poverty petition and organisations to pledge their support.

By implementing comprehensive policies and enacting supportive legislation, Australia can work towards ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive, free from the constraints of poverty.

Download the article here