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The Make Poverty History report card reported today illustrates the stark difference between the alternative governments, when it comes to the campaign to making poverty history.

In comparing the aid policies of the major political parties, the report card has highlighted the relative strengths of Federal Labor’s aid policy, and articulated the numerous areas where Australia’s aid is currently falling short of decent international standards, under the Howard Government.

Extract from Kevin Rudd's speech addressing the Lowy institute:
Australia’s national self interest demands that we ... tackle poverty in our region, as part of a wider strategy to deal with the impact of terrorism, climate change, pandemics and refugees on Australia ... if we fail to do so ... we will face even greater costs in the future...

[It] is also ... the right thing to do because poverty is the enemy of all humankind.
(View the full speech)

Brendan O'Connor, Member for Gorton, VIC (Taskforce Chair)
Bob McMullan, Member for Fraser, ACT
Sharon Bird, Member for Cunningham, NSW
Carol Brown, Senator, TAS
Kate Ellis, Member for Adelaide, SA
Jennie George, Member for Throsby, NSW
Sharon Grierson, Member for Newcastle, NSW
Chris Hayes (Secretary), Member for Werriwa, NSW
Steve Hutchins, Senator, NSW

That a Caucus Task Force on The adverse effects of the Government’s extreme Industrial Relations changes be established in order to:

1. Establish the adverse effects of the Government’s extreme industrial relations (IR) changes on individuals, families and communities, in particular:
   1. the adverse effects on women;
   2. the adverse effects on young people;
   3. the adverse effects on regional communities; and
2. Identify specific cases of the abuses of these laws.

The Federal Labor Parliamentary Task Force into the impact of the new Industrial Relations laws has been travelling the country and listening to community groups, churches, unions, employers and most particularly ordinary, Australian working families who face the brunt of these extreme and unfair laws.

The Taskforce has delivered its interim report to Kim Beazley.

This is the text of a speech given by Bob to the 2nd Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. It focuses on international trade and finance.