Conversations in the last few weeks have spent little time focusing on Australia’s level of commitment to international aid and development. There has also been a lot of detail about nothing when it comes to a tangible timeline and our solid commitment to alleviate the impacts of climate change on the world’s poor.
Every minute 17 children die of preventable diseases, but it appears there have been more important issues in the minds of politicians.
You might have a different opinion. So below, we have provided a handy table which sums up what each of the major parties stance is on foreign aid and what their party proposes to do to increase the level and effectiveness of our overseas aid.
| Foreign Aid Policy Guide | Spend on foreign aid | To improve the quality of foreign aid |
| Labor | 0.5% of GNI by 2015-2016.
Depending on the Australian economy beyond this time, Labor will continue to increase our commitment until we reach 0.7%. |
Labor has not yet agreed to appointing a Minister for International Development, who would work to increase the effectiveness of our aid. |
| Coalition | To match the Government’s commitment of 0.5% by 2015-2016.
Supports 0.7% goal only as an international aspiration but will not agree to a timeline on this. |
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop has committed to appointing a Minister for International Development if elected. |
| Greens | The Greens support increasing Australia’s commitment to 0.7% by 2010. | They will advise the next Government to establish a Minister for Overseas Aid and international development. |
As well as this MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY have just released their 2010 election scorecard to help you make a more informed decision at the polling booths. So make sure you have a read!
Article written by Alana Faigen.
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Great summary
I think it's great that you are looking at the different parties' policies because there has been too little attention on this important issue in the campaign. But why no mention of Tony Abbott's $300 million cut to foreign aid, including $178 million to help poor countries adapt to climate change? http://tiny.cc/xlow3 We should be holding him to account for this.
nice one!! i saw the ayccc climate change one too.
wasnt the 300 million supposedly taken out because that was to go toward poor counries to help combat climate change? (which labor had included in their foreign aid budget).
The Liberals announced the $300 million cut to climate change-related aid programs in their reply to this year's budget.
A lot of people were hoping that they would announce that they would redirect that money for some other aid purpose (e.g. child and maternal health) but they haven't.
So it's just a $300 million cut from the foreign aid budget. It doesn't really bode well for whether they will live up to their promises to get to 0.5%.
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