Great Australian Raid Budget Fails World’s Poorest

9 May 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

Great Australian Raid Budget Fails World’s Poorest

For the fourth consecutive year, the Government has raided the Australian aid budget. Following cuts in 2014, 2015 and 2016 that take Australian aid to its lowest level ever, the Government is raiding the aid budget yet again in 2017 with a further $303.3 million cut.

“This is the Great Australian Raid Budget. It’s a budget that takes from people living in the poorest parts of the world to help fund handouts for wealthy individuals and big corporates,” said the Director of Campaign for Australian Aid, Tony Milne.

“Not only has the Government reversed last year’s promise of small increases to the aid budget, but they are raiding the aid budget to fund “other priorities” such as their tax cuts for big corporates.

“This is a budget to appease One Nation, not a budget that is about our common humanity.”

Mr Milne added: “Millions of people in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria are facing starvation, while millions more are seeking asylum from war in Syria. Yet the Government continues to raid Australia’s aid budget, which currently sits at an historic low.

“Stripping an Australian aid budget that has already been cut to the bone, fails people living in the poorest parts of the world and increases inequality.”

Campaign for Australian Aid is encouraging supporters to call their local MP to stand up for people living in the poorest parts of the world:http://budget.australianaid.org/  

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If you’d like to arrange an interview or photo opportunity with Mr Milne, please contact Sarah Cannata on 0407 536 133.

About Campaign for Australian Aid

The Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Australia coalitions, for all Australians who believe we can and should do more as a nation to end extreme poverty around the world. It represents over 65 aid and development organisations, church, business and community groups.