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