Social Inclusion

Penny is the Greens spokesperson for the Social Inclusion portfolio.

Arthur Boyd's beautiful tapestry, displayed in the Great Hall of Parliament House.

Well… we made it! On Friday, we marked the end of this year’s Senate sitting calendar and Parliament has now risen for the summer.

Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 10:52

Above: Penny with artist, Kathie Curtis and her wonderful painting "Flowers" (acrylic on canvas).

As we are marking this year’s Social Inclusion Week, it is a good time to think seriously about those members of our community who are living in the margins and not fully on the page.

While many of us are blessed, and can be thankful for that, there are many who are not.  During this special week in the calendar we are reminded of those people who are not as fortunate, who are disengaged, disadvantaged and unable, temporarily or more long term, to find a way back in.

Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 12:28

Greens spokesperson for Social Inclusion, Senator Penny Wright, has moved a motion in the Senate today to commemorate Social Inclusion Week and remind Australians that we all benefit from a fair and inclusive society.

 "It is important for us to acknowledge that despite the relative wealth in our country, there are many who are facing isolation and exclusion and the reasons for this are varied and complex," Senator Wright said.

Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - 15:31

Senator WRIGHT: I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 19 November to 27 November 2011 is Social Inclusion Week, and

Posted on Monday, November 21, 2011 - 23:00

Greens’ spokesperson for Social Inclusion, Senator Penny Wright, is alarmed by a report that Adelaide has the highest rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance recipients experiencing rental stress in Australia.

68% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance recipients living in Adelaide are experiencing rental stress according to a study, Housing Costs through the Roof: Australia’s Housing Stress by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling at the University of Canberra.

Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - 08:43

To coincide with Anti-Poverty Week, Greens spokesperson for Social Inclusion, Senator Penny Wright, is calling on Australians to think about why so many of us are now affected by poverty and severe hardship and how this fits with Australia being the land of the 'fair go'.

Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2011 - 11:51

Social Justice Sunday falls on the last Sunday in September and Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, has called for a halt to increasing incarceration rates throughout Australia.

“The imprisonment rate in Australia is outpacing population growth. We need to pause and reflect on what is happening in our society and address why this is happening,” Senator Wright said.

Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2011 - 14:23

Greens Senator Penny Wright this evening made her inaugural speech, setting out her vision for a “kinder, fairer” Australia that addresses “the growing gulf between those who are doing well and those who are not”.

“I want to see an inclusive Australia – where all people can participate fully and achieve their best,” she said.

“Services such as good quality public transport, housing, health and education allow everyone to share the benefits of living in a community and having their basic needs met.

Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 - 18:15

Transcript after the break

Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 - 17:49

New Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright will deliver her first speech in the Australian Parliament tomorrow evening.

In the speech Senator Wright will lament a society of “have-lots” and “have-littles”, describing the need to value “each person fully, irrespective of their income or status, dismantling barriers and creating conditions that enable people to participate fully in the life of the community”.

“Universal quality public education is crucial for a fair and thriving society and I have witnessed the increasing fracturing of schooling and the exodus of parents from the public system with regret,” Senator Wright says.

Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 - 15:51

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Authorised and printed by Senator Penny Wright, Parliament House Canberra