Child poverty can be reduced with one question

It’s been almost four decades since a former Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised that ‘by 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty.’

Although he later admitted to regretting making the vow, it was a powerful declaration that child poverty is unacceptable. To be fair, while child poverty wasn’t eliminated, it was reduced by 30 per cent.

But as we mark Anti-Poverty Week in 2025, the cold, hard facts show we still have a very long way to go towards fixing child poverty in Australia.

One in every six children is growing up without the basics of food, safe housing or the chance to thrive at school. The percentage of children living in child poverty is higher than any other age group — a figure that is difficult to comprehend in one of the most prosperous nations on earth.

In part, it comes down to a lack of investment in social infrastructure to support our most vulnerable communities. This is something NCOSS noted as a missed opportunity in the 2025-26 NSW Budget, which delivered minimal funding for essential community services and crisis prevention, particularly for those on low incomes, experiencing domestic and family violence or trauma, or who are at risk of homelessness.

When we talk about building communities, we’re not talking about bricks and mortar or poles and wires — we’re talking about investing in the community sector to help prevent people from experiencing poverty, homelessness or trauma before it occurs.

Our ‘Impossible Choices’ cost-of-living report last year revealed the struggles of vulnerable households, especially for single-parent families who are the hardest hit in housing stress, in not being able to afford quality meals for their children or who were unable to make an essential payment.

The report also showed three-quarters of these households sacrificed spending on their children — on educational needs, recreational activities and with greater food insecurity.

But here’s the good news: poverty is not inevitable. We’ve seen real progress when governments commit to act, which is why we’re calling for legislation to track and report on child poverty every year.

It’s simple: what gets measured, gets fixed. This law would make sure every Federal Budget answers one question: “How are we reducing child poverty?”

We need action. We need accountability. And we need it now — because every child deserves a fair start. Every week that ticks by is another week a child goes without the basics.

Join us in calling on the government to pass legislation and help end child poverty by 2030.