Office of the Speaker of the NZ House of Representatives
Rt Hon Trevor Mallard

MEDIA RELEASE
For release: 22 August 2018

Social Services and Community Committee investigates Australia’s approach to tackling Child Poverty and improving Social Housing

New Zealand’s Social Services and Community Committee is across the ditch this week exploring Australia’s innovative models of service delivery for children and families experiencing severe material hardship and deprivation. The objective of the visit is to directly apply the knowledge gained to the Committee’s scrutiny of the Government’s child poverty and social housing legislation.

The delegation of MPs’ led by Committee Chairperson, Gareth Hughes, includes Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Deputy Chairperson), Dan Bidois, Hon Alfred Ngaro, Greg O’Connor, Maureen Pugh, and Hon Louise Upston.

The varied programme begins in Canberra where the Committee will engage with its counterpart committees in the Australian Federal House of Representatives and Senate, in addition to meeting with the Speaker, Hon Tony Smith, and observing the Australian Parliament in action.

Another key focus of the programme is meeting with indigenous-led organisations that provide social services within their communities. Before returning home, the Committee will visit Melbourne to meet with non-government organisations and community groups that provide frontline support to children and families experiencing poverty. The Committee looks forward to gaining fresh insight into how New Zealand compares with its closest neighbour in the provision of support to its most vulnerable citizens.

The programme runs from 20-24 August 2018 and is part of the Official Select Committee Exchange with the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia. New Zealand looks forward to hosting the Australian Senate Community Affairs Committee later in the year.

ENDS

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