ID :
104517
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 08:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/104517
The shortlink copeid
Cut foreign aid to feed Aussies: Joyce
Opposition finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce has been heavily criticised after
suggesting aid to the third world should instead be spent on reducing food costs in
Australia.
Senator Joyce described as "galling" a decision by the Rudd government to give the
World Bank $150 million, a third of which he said would be used to reduce food
inflation in developing nations.
The comments were slammed by aid groups, which said they were worrying and showed a
lack of understanding of the way in which aid was delivered.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Senator Joyce said the
government should be giving more attention to "food inflationary aspects in this
world" rather than boosting funding to help the third world.
"It just seems to defy logic ... there's something galling by the fact that the
Labor Party went to the election saying they would ease the squeeze, that they were
going to put downward pressure on food prices.
"What happened to that? We ended up with the highest food inflation in the western
world. And in the middle of this, they're sending $50 million to help other nations
out.
"I just think they've got to do some helping back home and for the families of
Australia as well."
Caritas Australia chief executive Jack de Groot said Senator Joyce's comments were a
concern, adding that Australia lagged well behind other nations in terms of its
foreign aid commitment.
"These comments from the shadow finance minister are worrying as they illustrate a
lack of understanding about both how our aid is delivered and the impact it is
having," Mr de Groot said.
"Today, more than one billion people are going to bed hungry every night because of
a shortage of food. This is a far more fundamental challenge than the short-termism
of domestic food prices in Australia."
Senator Joyce's comments also appear to be at odds with a bipartisan commitment from
the coalition and Labor to boost foreign aid to 0.5 per cent of gross national
income (GNI) by 2015.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said meeting Australia's international development
assistance target of 0.5 per cent of GNI by 2015 was in the nation's economic and
national interest.
"The new Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, should confirm one way or the other
whether the Liberal Party is committed to this target as it was under Mr Abbott's
predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull," Mr Smith said.
In 2009-10, Australia is expected to provide $3.8 billion worth of official
development assistance - an increase from 0.32 per cent of GNI in 2008-09 to 0.34
per cent - which amounts to about one per cent of federal government expenditure.
Mr de Groot said Australia still lagged well behind other nations in terms of aid
funding.
Australia gives less than 40 cents for every $100 earned across the economy compared
to 60 cents in the UK and almost 80 cents in Denmark and Belgium.
suggesting aid to the third world should instead be spent on reducing food costs in
Australia.
Senator Joyce described as "galling" a decision by the Rudd government to give the
World Bank $150 million, a third of which he said would be used to reduce food
inflation in developing nations.
The comments were slammed by aid groups, which said they were worrying and showed a
lack of understanding of the way in which aid was delivered.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Senator Joyce said the
government should be giving more attention to "food inflationary aspects in this
world" rather than boosting funding to help the third world.
"It just seems to defy logic ... there's something galling by the fact that the
Labor Party went to the election saying they would ease the squeeze, that they were
going to put downward pressure on food prices.
"What happened to that? We ended up with the highest food inflation in the western
world. And in the middle of this, they're sending $50 million to help other nations
out.
"I just think they've got to do some helping back home and for the families of
Australia as well."
Caritas Australia chief executive Jack de Groot said Senator Joyce's comments were a
concern, adding that Australia lagged well behind other nations in terms of its
foreign aid commitment.
"These comments from the shadow finance minister are worrying as they illustrate a
lack of understanding about both how our aid is delivered and the impact it is
having," Mr de Groot said.
"Today, more than one billion people are going to bed hungry every night because of
a shortage of food. This is a far more fundamental challenge than the short-termism
of domestic food prices in Australia."
Senator Joyce's comments also appear to be at odds with a bipartisan commitment from
the coalition and Labor to boost foreign aid to 0.5 per cent of gross national
income (GNI) by 2015.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said meeting Australia's international development
assistance target of 0.5 per cent of GNI by 2015 was in the nation's economic and
national interest.
"The new Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, should confirm one way or the other
whether the Liberal Party is committed to this target as it was under Mr Abbott's
predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull," Mr Smith said.
In 2009-10, Australia is expected to provide $3.8 billion worth of official
development assistance - an increase from 0.32 per cent of GNI in 2008-09 to 0.34
per cent - which amounts to about one per cent of federal government expenditure.
Mr de Groot said Australia still lagged well behind other nations in terms of aid
funding.
Australia gives less than 40 cents for every $100 earned across the economy compared
to 60 cents in the UK and almost 80 cents in Denmark and Belgium.
