Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week, I met with representatives of the Micah women's network, who were in Canberra to raise awareness of the urgent humanitarian needs throughout the world and to call for Australia to increase overseas aid from 0.65 per cent to one per cent of the federal budget. Australia now ranks 28 out of 32 OECD countries for aid generosity, according to Micah. A combination of US cuts to foreign aid and an increase in global conflicts has left some 305 million people throughout the world in desperate need. Trade tensions and tariff wars, extreme weather events, conflict and climate driven displacement and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region are all adding to human misery.

There are currently 59 active conflict zones in 35 countries, and one in six children live in a conflict zone. The spiralling crisis in Myanmar, where Micah is calling for $110 million emergency package, is particularly concerning, whilst 1.9 million people face catastrophic hunger in Gaza and Sudan. Overseas aid is not simply a moral humanitarian response; it is a critical strategy to ensure Australian safety, security and stability. Overseas aid is an effective strategic investment that pays real dividends to Australia. There are now an estimated 305 million people throughout the world in humanitarian need, and the numbers are growing.

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