Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

In 2015, our Australian aid program activities resulted in agriculture and fisheries production increasing in our region by over US$57 million and close to 443 poor women and men adopting innovative agricultural and fisheries practices. So many of our region's poor are engaged in agriculture and therefore investment in agriculture is a highly effective way of achieving our aid objectives of enhancing prosperity, reducing poverty, increasing economic growth and therefore increasing the viability of and prosperity in our region. Strong economies in our region contribute to regional peace and security and offer increased trade opportunities not just for those countries but also for Australia.