16 October
Media release – Australian Council for International Development
Greens’ commitment to rebuilding the aid budget embraced by aid sector
The peak body for Australia’s aid organisations today embraced the commitment by the Australian Greens to rebuild the Australian aid budget.
Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development, Mr Marc Purcell said the aid budget was now woefully inadequate following the $11.3 billion in cuts made by the Australian Government.
“The Australian Greens call for the Government to increase the aid budget to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2025 would allow Australia to deliver on its Sustainable Development Goal commitments,” Mr Purcell said
“Australia has an important role to play in reducing poverty and inequality in our region and the world and we need a robust Australian aid program to help tackle the challenges affecting poor communities,” he said.
“We welcome the Greens commitment and vision to rebuilding the aid budget and we call on all political parties to commit to working towards an aid budget of 0.7%.
“In his speech to ACFID’s 2015 National Conference, Senator Richard Di Natale embraced the Sustainable Development Goals as a way to address issues of poverty and inequality at home and abroad.
“He also committed the Greens to doubling humanitarian crisis funding and to scaling up funding to support developing countries to deal with climate change.
“The Greens have a strong understanding of the need for Australia to engage with the world and play to our strengths to help those most in need,” Mr Purcell said.
