Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to add to an answer that I gave earlier to Senator Stott Despoja concerning the United Nations Association of Australia first annual report card on the Australian government’s performance at the United Nations. I wish to inform the Senate that we are the 13th largest financial contributor to the United Nations and contribute $US100 million to the United Nations annual peacekeeping budget. In 2007-08, Australia will deliver an estimated $3.2 billion in official development assistance, 20 per cent of this through multilateral funds, including 10 per cent through UN agencies and programs. We are, of course, an active and respected participant across a wide range of core UN functions and we are strongly committed to the ongoing reform efforts. In relation to Australia’s commitment in Cyprus over 40 years, I am informed that the Australian Federal Police have served in Cyprus with distinction, and our officers serving there have numbered 1,100.