House debates Questions without Notice
International Development Assistance
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:45 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. What is the government's policy on increasing official development assistance to 0.5 per cent of gross national income and when will the government reach that target?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Members:
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The question has been asked. We will have silence on my right as well!
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:46 pm
That particular aspiration was pushed out every year by members opposite when they were in government. It remains the aspiration of this government. The first duty of this government is to bring the budget back into sustainable surplus. Once the budget is back into sustainable surplus, then we will reconsider this matter of 0.5 per cent of GNI. In the meantime we will generally be increasing foreign aid by CPI.