Julie Bishop address to Council 2010
ACFID 2011-12 Budget Round-up
Are we on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals?
Yes. To help halve global poverty by 2015, Australia needs to stick to the timetable of lifting aid to 0.5% of our national income. Both sides of politics have made this life-saving commitment. This year, our aid budget has kept to the promised timetable by moving to 0.35% of our national income for overseas development assistance.
Is our foreign aid budget disaster-ready?
No. Good responses but improvement needed in disaster risk reduction. In the past 12 months we have witnessed the massive impact that disasters have had within the poorest communities in the world. It is disappointing that increased spending for responding to such humanitarian emergencies is minimal. The Government has not provided a designated focus on reducing the risk of disasters and safeguarding the investment Australia makes to overseas development.
Although Australia has met international commitments on climate change financing, the aid program fell short in supporting the broader impacts of climate change at the community level. Helping poor communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change is a vital part of the Government's election commitment to tackle climate change and give priority to the most vulnerable people in our region.
Are we reaching the poorest people?
Yes, but need stronger disability-inclusive focus. In an unprecedented move, the Australian Government will be reaching the poorest in the world through increasing funding to the world’s poorest nations (Least Developed Countries).
But in many cases, the most marginalised people in the world are those in poverty who have disability. Without a meaningful spending program for those with a disability, the poorest of the poor will be continually marginalised without Australian support.
Australian NGOs and volunteers work with communities and partners directly in developing countries. Increased funding to Australian community organisations and volunteers by $244 million over 4 years means that the poorest will have a voice and resources.
Are we lifting women out of poverty?
Yes but more still needs to be done. We know that when women are lifted out of poverty, they bring their families and often their communities with them. The focus on girls’ education is very welcome: nearly half of the girls in South Asia get no schooling at all and this funding will help to address that problem.
ACFID also welcomes announcements of $96.4 million over 4 years new funding to support victims of violence against women, especially women’s crisis centres in the Pacific. The important work of UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund deserves Australian support, including $5.3 million for the Global Trust Fund to End Violence and the Pacific Fund to End Violence.
However, ACFID believes a sustained focus is needed on women’s leadership in the Pacific – this is missing in the 2011-12 Budget. In this region, only 2% of all elected leaders are women. The Pacific also has some of the worst rates of domestic violence in the world. An Australian Ambassador for Women’s Rights would be a strong statement about Australia’s commitment to women in our region.
Is our aid focused on the health basics?
A mixed report. New funding to reduce child mortality through women's and children's health initiatives in Africa and the Middle East is very welcome and in line with the government's previous announcements to the African Union.
New funding for the water and sanitation sector of $433.1 million over 4 years is an investment. This will improve basic health. Funding for water and sanitation initiatives is fundamental to saving people's lives - 4,000 children die each day from preventable diseases caused by poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene and unclean water.
While Australia contributes to the international Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, specific funding is still required to stem the flow of HIV infections in our region.
Long Term Afghanistan Aid Commitment Applauded
ACFID’s Dr Susan Harris Rimmer discusses the Federal Budget with Albion Harrison-Naish from 2ser’s AidWorks