Politicians from all three major parties united today to talk about their experience of participating in the Oaktree Foundation’s Live Below the Line Campaign.
Senator Carol Brown, Cassy O’Connor MP, Julie Collins MP, Elise Archer MP and Lord Mayor Damon Thomas attended the political Live Below the Line campaign day at Parliament House after having spent the past 24 hours (6:00PM Thursday – 6:00pm Friday) feeding themselves on just $2, the Australian equivalent of the international extreme poverty line.
The event comes off the back of Minister ffor Community Development, Cassy O’Connor passing a motion in support of Live Below the Line and ending extreme poverty, in Parliament last week.
The motion moved recognised the work and dedication of the Tasmanian Live Below the Line team and called for all state politicians to support the campaign.
“[That The House] Commits to supporting the “Live Below the Line” project by making a stand and living for one day (19 April 2012) on only $2 to show tripartite and collective support to end extreme poverty”.
Cassy O’Connor MP said even after 24 hours of living off $2, it is a timely reminder of how much we take food and choice for granted in Australia, “It’s only been 24 hours and I can’t wait for 1 minute past 6:00pm to eat something…anything”.
This year Live Below the Line is raising awareness and funds for educational programs for those living in extreme poverty in Papua New Guinea. In only its third year and with a national target of $2 million, Tasmanian Live Below the Line Manager Amy Fogarty says the campaign is ambitious but very achievable.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s suppose to be and with the support we are receiving from politicians, businesses and the general public we know we can make it happen. With the funds raised we will be building a school in the community of Kumbareta, students are already enrolling and it’s not even built yet; this is the kind of difference Australians are making with this campaign”.
The Oaktree Foundation is Australia’s largest youth run aid and development organisation. It is through campaigns like Live Below the Line that they aim to make sustainable positive change in the lives of the 1.4 billion people living below the the extreme poverty line.
Oaktree Foundation
