Pressure on Government to Stop Cuts to Aid Budget

The Campaign for Australian Aid, with the support of more than 65 aid and development organisations, said it would ramp up pressure on the Federal Government over the next month to reverse the final scheduled cuts to the the country’s falling aid budget.

“We are calling on the government to reverse the final scheduled $224 million cut to the aid budget so that Australia does not become the least generous we’ve ever been with the lowest aid budget ever,” Campaign Director for Campaign for Australian Aid, Tony Milne, said.

The campaign is backed by aid agency leaders, including World Vision CEO Tim Costello.

“A third of the aid budget has been cut in the past two years, negatively impacting some of the poorest people in the world – children’s schooling, basic health care such as immunisations, HIV/AIDS prevention and sanitation have all been affected,” Costello said.

“Australian aid is an investment in reducing global poverty, in strengthening democracy, and providing health as well as education for the world’s poor.”

Oxfam Chief Executive Helen Szoke said a more equal world was possible, and Australian aid helps to ensure everyone has the same chance to secure a safe, happy future for themselves and their families.

Caritas Australia CEO Paul O’Callaghan said that with over a million Australians each year reaching into their pockets to donate to aid, Australia must question why the government isn’t continuing the decades-long tradition of helping to reduce global poverty.

The Campaign for Australian Aid’s stop the clock campaign is calling on its 1.59 million supporters to petition the treasurer to reverse the government’s budget decision. 

The Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Australia coalitions. It represents more than 65 aid and development organisations, church, business and community groups.