2019-11-19
Greens Foreign Aid Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to the Government's announcement of a review of Australia’s foreign aid.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The Government must take this review as an opportunity to reset their approach to foreign aid to one that puts social, economic and climate justice at the heart of all our aid programs.
“At an irresponsibly low 0.2% of GNI, Australian aid has shrunk dramatically to well below the average for OECD countries. Our aid budget must be raised to at least meet our UN obligation of 0.7% of GNI.
“We know the Liberals’ political repurposing of aid for Australia’s self-interest and budget cuts have decimated our foreign aid program. The goal of aid should be to make the world a more equal and just place for all.
“Aid should never be used purely as a tool to further national interest. At the heart of our foreign aid program should be poverty reduction, climate resilience and social justice for our neighbours and other recipient communities,” she concluded.