2015-09-02
Thomas Delaney
As epidemics and 'natural' disasters — in reality linked to climate change contributed to by our scandalously high emissions rates — destroy the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, it is a matter of both compassion and justice that we provide significant Official Development Assistance. Instead this budget gave Australian aid its biggest cut in history.
In a world plagued by conflict, Australia is contributing not to peace but to militarisation. Having previously sent troops into Iraq and Afghanistan in futile wars, we continue to spend obscene sums on armaments.
Aid and defence: international comparisons
By 2016-17, foreign aid will make up just 0.22% of our Gross National Income (GNI), a woeful figure in comparison to the UN recommendation of 0.7%. Not only is Australia failing to live up to its commitments, it is falling behind the aid spending of other OECD countries — for instance, the UK recently increased its aid budget to 0.7% of GNI.
In contrast, defence expenditure has soared under the Abbott government, and is projected to reach over $30 billion by next year. At around $3 per person per day, we spend quadruple the global average of $0.70.
Are submarines more important than schools, or fighter jets more valuable than food? Yet every day, each of us spends more on the military, than what billions of people living in poverty have to subsist on.
Cold-hearted economic rationale
We know some boys like to play with toy guns, but is it really appropriate for our PM to spend billions on new military hardware while millions of people live in desperate poverty? Why are we spending more on our military even as we cut the aid vital to sustainable development and, indirectly, conflict prevention?
Treasurer Joe Hockey stated it bluntly:
“Defence and national security commitments totalling $1.3 billion are more than offset by savings in our foreign aid budget of $3.7 billion. Where we have made savings we have worked hard to ensure that there will be no negative impact on the Australian economy.”
So our government has decided to make 'savings' in our foreign aid spending — the part of the budget deemed most dispensable to the economy — in part to finance our military expenditure. In effect, the Liberals are planning for a world of greater inequality and deprivation.
Perhaps this is the reason we're increasing the defence budget: so that we'll be better prepared for conflicts over increasingly scarce resources. Is this the world we want to live in?
Party policies
How do Australia's political parties compare in their aid and defence policies? The Australian Labor Party (2011) National Platform included an 'aspirational' goal of raising aid spending to 0.7% of GNI by 2020, while the topic was not even mentioned in the Liberal party's 2013 pamphlet, "Our plan: real solutions for all Australians". Both major parties support a large defence budget.
Meanwhile, Greens policy in these areas is progressive. We call for Australia's aid contribution to be increased to 0.7% of GNI by 2020. In our Peace and Security policy, we call for 'a reallocation, and where possible, reduction in Australian military expenditure consistent with the defensive security needs of Australia and the peace-keeping role of Australian forces'.
The Greens have an opportunity to stand out from the ethically defunct policies of mainstream politics. As a party with an optimistic vision for the future, we should not accept a world riddled by poverty and conflict, but rather work towards peace and equality.
Next steps
What can we do to promote more compassionate, peaceful and just policies in our defence and aid spending? We need to raise attention to the seriousness of our foreign policies — both with our own friends and family, and in broader society. Let's campaign for:
- a decrease in defence spending (eg to 0.7% of GNI by 2020). Reducing our defence spending is morally imperative if we're serious about peace — and economically prudent too!
- an increase in aid spending (eg to 0.7% of GNI by 2020). We should make the Abbott government's irresponsible and heartless cuts to international aid an election issue.
Do we need a large military to ensure peace and security? Opinions differ, but I believe that, as M.K. Gandhi said: “Peace will come not from a clash of arms but through justice lived and done.”
Do we have a responsibility towards marginalised communities in other countries? Some would rather ignore poverty overseas, but in our globalised world, we can no longer do so.
Campaigning for just and compassionate policies is seldom easy, and the proposal to shift our foreign policy away from defence towards aid will encounter resistance. However, if we are seriously concerned for the welfare not just of Australian citizens but also our international neighbours, then we must be prepared to take up this fight — non-violently of course!
Thomas Delaney, 18, is a new Greens member, South Brisbane branch. He was born in India and has lived there in marginalised urban communities, with his development worker parents, for most of his life. He is currently a disability support worker in West End.