Treasurer Scott Morrison Must Stop The Clock on Further Aid Cuts

14 April 2016

MEDIA RELEASE

Treasurer Scott Morrison Must Stop The Clock on Further Aid Cuts

Aid groups today called on the Turnbull Government to “Stop the Clock” and reverse a scheduled $224 million cut to the aid budget. The expected cut will reduce Australia’s aid budget to its lowest ever level and make Australia one of the least generous developed countries in the world.

In a creative action to protest further cuts to Australia’s aid budget today, advocates from Campaign for Australian Aid, Micah Australia, TEAR Australia and Baptist World Aid made Treasurer Scott Morrison’s office look more like a movie set.

Volunteers gathered giant clocks in front of the Treasurer’s office, before ‘the Doc’ from the Back to the Future series arrived in the famous DeLorean car with a message for Mr Morrison: “Great Scott, Stop the Clock!”

“Aid organisations, along with 1.59 million supporters, are calling on the Government to stop the clock and reverse the final scheduled $224 million cut to the aid budget,” said Micah Australia’s National Coordinator, Ben Thurley.

With the help of his famous time machine, the Doc’s theatrical appearance aimed to warn the Treasurer today about the impact the cuts will have if they go ahead at Budget time.

“We’ve had a bit of fun here today, but the reality is much more serious. If we want to stop our nation becoming the least generous we’ve ever been, our time is running out,” said Mr Thurley.

According to Mr Thurley, the budget cut would mean fewer children in poorer countries would be vaccinated and enrolled in school, fewer people would have access to safe water and there would be less life-saving assistance for vulnerable men, women and children in conflict and crisis situations.

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To organise an interview with Mr Thurley, contact Sarah Cannata on 0407 536 133.

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.

Micah Australia is a coalition of churches and Christian organisations raising a powerful voice for justice and a world free from poverty.