Senate debates

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Questions on Notice

Foreign Affairs and Trade (Question No. 1231)

Photo of Lee RhiannonLee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 21 September 2011:

Will a representative from AusAID or the Minister's office be attending the Global Microcredit Summit in Spain in November 2011: (a) if so, who will be attending the summit; and (b) if not, why is there no representative attending and what plans are in place for the Minister or AusAID to engage in the outcomes and learnings from the summit.

Photo of Bob CarrBob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(a)   AusAID was unable to attend the Global Microcredit Summit due to competing priorities at the time.

(b)   A number of AusAID's microfinance partners participated in the Summit as panel members. These included the Consultative Group on Assisting the Poor; International Finance Corporation; Women's World Banking; United Nations Capital Development Fund; and the International Labour Organisation.