[Australia] Hawke says 1m still live in poverty

From ABC Australia

Former prime minister Bob Hawke is calling for a royal commission into the causes of poverty in Australia.

Mr Hawke says that in such an affluent country, Australia's poverty levels are a blight.

In Adelaide for a conference on poverty, Mr Hawke says there should be a bipartisan look at the factors that contribute to poverty.

"Surely it could be agreed by the Government and the Opposition that this is a real issue," he said.

"We're a very affluent country but there are, at least by the most conservative estimates, a million people living in poverty.

"Another reputable organisation has it at over 2 [million].

"Now, surely there must be agreement that this is not right - let's have a royal commission."