Personal tools

Sections

You are here: Home › Archive › News & Media › Media releases › 2010 › Call to the parties: Commit to tackling global poverty

Call to the parties: Commit to tackling global poverty

2 August 2010

Release 6/2010

Call to the parties: Commit to tackling global poverty

Global poverty won’t be halved by 2015 unless Labor and the Coalition make an election commitment to lift the level of Australia’s overseas aid.

Australian development groups representing the 1.13 million Australians who currently support them are calling on both major parties to announce a clear timetable for increasing growth in the Australian aid budget to 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI).

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian aid and development organisations, made this request in its Call to the Parties: Better Aid, More Aid, Just Aid released today.

ACFID Executive Director Marc Purcell said: “The Australian Government has pledged to work with other nations to halve global poverty by 2015, and the best way for this goal to be met would be to announce a timetable for lifting Australia’s levels of aid to 0.7% of Gross National Income.”

“Extending the overseas aid program works in Australia’s interest. Providing assistance contributes to greater peace and security in our region and helps to reduce the displacement of people.”

“Strengthening developing economies gives Australia greater opportunities for trade, raises our international profile and enhances goodwill amongst our neighbours. Increasing funding to health, basic education and rural livelihoods will help build a more just world.”

“Australia can afford 70 cents of aid in every $100 of National Income. We have the lowest level of debt compared to other OECD countries, yet Australia’s level of aid puts us in 16th place among rich nations. Other countries have been spending 0.7% for many years – despite harsh economic times the UK has said that it will legislate for 0.7% and Ireland contributes 0.59%, almost double Australia’s assistance.”

“ACFID is also calling on all political candidates to commit to making Australian aid work better – critical to effectively alleviating global poverty. We ask the next Australian Government to promote the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.”

“Climate change will affect us all and we need to respond urgently. But the most vulnerable are poor people in developing countries. Support to meet the challenge of climate change in our region should be new money, not redirected from existing aid for poverty alleviation. It should be aimed primarily at assisting the most vulnerable communities,” Mr Purcell said.

The full report is available at 2010 federal election: ACFID Call to the Parties.

For further information: Marc Purcell; 0450 961 561

Call to the Parties: Better Aid, More Aid, Just Aid is authorised & published by Marc Purcell, Australian Council for International Development, 14 Napier Close, Deakin, ACT, 2600.