Making it happen gets Progressive support

The Progressive Coalition is making it a priority in government to reduce child poverty and move the 'Agenda for children' forward. Matt Robson, Progressive MP welcomes the 'Making it Happen' report of fourteen NGOs on implementation of the 'Agenda for children'.

"We welcome the 'Making it Happen' report released to day by fourteen community organisations as a constructive contribution to dealing with the urgent issues of child poverty and the well being of our children.

"The government is making progress in this area. While we are not moving as quickly as the Progressive Coalition would like, we are taking the right steps. The announcement of four more PHOs offering free health care to under 18 year olds is one of these steps.

"We are well aware that almost one in every 3 children need our help to get their families out of a life in poverty. It is Progressive policy to help them immediately with an inflation adjusted family support but we need to do more than just that. The government is working on this.

"Poverty needs to be addressed on at least three fronts at once: employment, health and education. When people have jobs, with decent rates of pay they can afford healthy food and good homes. When children have good health, they perform better at school and in the long term are more likely to get a good job. When education is free and after school care is affordable our children and our friends have a better chance of succeeding in their goals.

"The Progressive Coalition policy to address poverty, 'No one left behind' sets out six cornerstone commitments which are achievable in a Coalition Government to make significantly more progress on eliminating poverty:
* Inflation adjustment for family support,
* Everyone under 20 in jobs or training by 2005,
* Winter energy rebate for beneficiaries, superannuitants and low income earners,
* Commission of Inquiry into balancing work and family,
* Free GP visits for school kids and superannuitants,
* Keep fees frozen and progressively remove fees for first year tertiary students" said Matt Robson, Progressive MP.

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