Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Earlier this week I met with representatives of Micah Challenge, which is a global alliance of church and faith based aid agencies. For decades it has been agreed within the international community that one of the key measures essential to eradicate extreme global poverty is for wealthy nations to provide just 0.7 per cent of gross national income to overseas aid. Currently Australia provides just 0.32 per cent with a commitment to 0.5 per cent by 2015. The importance of such an increase cannot be underestimated. For instance, a 2008 report Make poverty history estimates that if an additional $740 million was provided to health services in our region this could save 240,000 child lives, 260,000 maternal lives and 115,000 people, who would otherwise die from AIDS and other diseases. My question is: will the government commit to increasing our foreign aid to 0.7 per cent of gross national income as a matter of urgency?