8th May, 2015
The Australian Christian Lobby has expressed its dismay over media speculation that Australia’s foreign aid will be further cut in next week’s federal budget announcement.
Lyle Shelton, the ACL’s managing director, said the nation’s bi-partisan Howard-era Millennium Development Goal promise to lift aid to 0.7 per cent of gross national income was in "tatters" following the previous Labor Government’s decision to defer promised aid and the current Coalition Government’s decision to cut almost $8 billion on foreign aid over the next five years.
"Our aid has become a soft touch for budget cuts because poor people overseas don’t vote and few in Australia care enough to raise their voices," he said.
"Australia has to live within its means but most of us have mortgages and are still able to find something in the household budget to give to the poor. The nation should do the same."
Despite the cuts which have occurred – and the "obvious ire" of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop when leaks emerged in March that foreign aid was "in the frame again" – Mr Shelton noted that there has been "little public reaction to the prospects of further cuts".
Mr Shelton pointed out that the UK, whose economy is in a "worse position than Australia’s", had already met the 0.7 per cent of GNI promise. He urged people to email Treasurer Joe Hockey and indicate their wish for him to leave foreign aid alone next week. Mr Hockey can be reached at www.joehockey.com/enquiries/.
– DAVID ADAMS
