House debates Private Members' Business

Australian Aid to Pacific Nations

Monday, 17 March 2014 House of Representatives

Matt Thistlethwaite

Matt Thistlethwaite Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs

11:30 am

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes the:

(a) importance of the Australian aid program to sustainable economic and social development and poverty alleviation for Pacific nations;

(b) contribution of the Australian aid program to Australia's national interests through support for regional stability, security and prosperity;

(c) Foreign Minister's verbal commitment to not cut Australian development assistance to Pacific nations; and

(d) announcement by the Foreign Minister on 18 January 2014 that $650 million will be cut from Australia's development assistance in 2013-14, including $61.4 million cuts to the following Pacific country and regional programs:

(2) calls on the:

(a) Foreign minister to meet her commitment to not cut Australian development assistance to Pacific nations; and

(b) Government to reverse its $4.5 billion in cuts to Australia’s aid program and reinstate funding to levels published in the 2013-14 budget.

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