Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Is there a Keanu Reeves emoji, perhaps! Let me ask a couple of questions about foreign aid. Can the minister confirm that the Abbott and Turnbull governments have now cut the overseas aid budget by $11.3 billion since coming to power in 2013—a 24.2 per cent reduction? At the same time as you have committed to a $65 billion tax cut for big business, the 2016-17 budget has delivered the weakest levels of Australian development assistance in history, spending just 23c in every $100 of our national income on foreign aid. Can I ask the minister as well, under her leadership, has the Abbott government and Turnbull government abandoned Australia's bipartisan commitment to GNI growth and put the aid budget on an ever-decreasing trajectory that, on current forecasts, will dip to just 0.17 per cent of GNI?

Does the minister agree with Caritas that these humanitarian crises happening around the world combined with rising inequality and the growing impacts of climate change mean that Australia's leadership in this area is more important than ever and that, by continually slashing our overseas aid program, we undermine progress in these areas that are fundamental to human development and stability? Does the minister also agree that Australia's aid program plays a critical role in supporting tens of millions of people to move out of poverty and live a life of dignity and that, by continually reducing our overseas aid program, we undermine our standing in the world and our ability to help end global poverty as it goes against our values? This comes at a time when other countries are not cutting aid, and DAC totals of aid-giving are rising, putting Australia at odds with the global commitments made with the Sustainable Development Goals. Does the minister agree that the Turnbull government's cuts to development assistance are already a source of international embarrassment for Australia and are at odds with the generous spirit of the Australian people?

Can the minister explain why she has again failed to stand up for her portfolio, given these latest cuts will only worsen our already embarrassingly low level of international development assistance and harm our efforts to alleviate poverty and make our region safer and more secure?

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