Doing Enough to Fight Global Poverty?

A group of West Australian Federal political figures will take part in a Not for Profit forum tonight to debate whether Australia is doing enough to help fight global poverty.

Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, will join WA Labor Senator Louise Pratt and WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to discuss whether Australia is doing its fair share to end extreme poverty.

The debates are aimed at encouraging all political parties to increase Australia’s contribution to overseas aid.The forum, convened by the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge coalitions, is one of 50 similar events occurring nationwide in the lead-up to the Federal election.

Oxfam Australia CEO and Make Poverty History co-chair Dr Helen Szoke will also take part in the forum.

She said the event would highlight the necessity of Australia increasing its investment in tackling extreme poverty.

“Australian aid has helped to save lives and improve opportunities for some of the world’s poorest people, but with one in eight people still going hungry every day, much more needs to be done,” she said.

“We urge Australia’s political leaders to make sure Australia’s overseas aid program continues to grow, so that we can help more kids go to school, more women get the care they need to deliver healthy babies, and more communities access clean drinking water.”

Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge are calling for all political parties to commit 0.5% of the national income to overseas aid by 2016, on the path to a 0.7% commitment by 2020.
Currently Australia gives around 0.37% of national income to overseas aid.