Padraic Murphy May 10, 2011
AUSTRALIA'S foreign aid budget will increase by almost $500 million next year in a bid to tackle extremism and reduce the numbers of refugees fleeing violence and poverty in the world trouble spots.
The mammoth $4.8 billion aid budget will go towards new schools in Indonesia as well as anti-violence and health programs across the third world.
And Pakistan – where Osama bin Laden lived for years under the noses of authorities - will receive $92.8 million next financial year.
Tell Treasurer Wayne Swan what you think - Live chat from 10am PLUS discuss the Budget with Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey from 11.30am
Taxpayers will pay the scholarships of 50 Pakistanis to study in Australia as well as for upgrades to eye hospitals in the country.
Other countries to receive large aid packages include PNG ($482.3 million), Indonesia ($558.1 million) and the Solomon Islands ($261.6 million).
The aid budget was $4.4 billion in 2009-2010 but is expected to grow by at least $1.9 billion over the next four years.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said most of the extra funding would be spent in Indonesia and the Pacific.
"I am committed to enhancing the transparency of our aid program. When people are able to access information, they are better able to hold those who are managing their money.... to account," Mr Rudd said.
The government said 6 per cent, or $251 million of its aid budget will be spent "on climate change and environmental activities.
"The money will be spent on initiatives to slow carbon growth in Australia's region The government is also funding 300,000 secondary school places in Indonesia and building 2000 schools as part of a campaign to "assist around 1500 Islamic schools to achieve higher accreditation and operate to a higher education standard".
"Reducing poverty is also in our national security and national economic interest. Poverty breeds instability and extremism in our region and globally and creates conditions that lead to more refugees," Mr Rudd said.
"It is for these humanitarian, national security and economic reasons that the government is committed to increasing our aid to 0.5 per cent of our gross national income by 2015-16," Mr Rudd said.
The government has also committed $10.5 million to win Australia a non-permanent seat on the UN security council that will include extra bureaucrats in New York and Canbera and "additional funding for small posts".
Budget papers also show DFAT's expense measures, including AusAid and border security will explode from $55.6 million last financial year to $909.9 million by 2014-15.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/australia-allocates-48b-in-foreign-aid-budget-up-nearly-500-million/story-fn8melax-1226053511863
AUSTRALIA'S foreign aid budget will increase by almost $500 million next year in a bid to tackle extremism and reduce the numbers of refugees fleeing violence and poverty in the world trouble spots.
The mammoth $4.8 billion aid budget will go towards new schools in Indonesia as well as anti-violence and health programs across the third world.
And Pakistan – where Osama bin Laden lived for years under the noses of authorities - will receive $92.8 million next financial year.
Tell Treasurer Wayne Swan what you think - Live chat from 10am PLUS discuss the Budget with Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey from 11.30am
Taxpayers will pay the scholarships of 50 Pakistanis to study in Australia as well as for upgrades to eye hospitals in the country.
Other countries to receive large aid packages include PNG ($482.3 million), Indonesia ($558.1 million) and the Solomon Islands ($261.6 million).
The aid budget was $4.4 billion in 2009-2010 but is expected to grow by at least $1.9 billion over the next four years.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said most of the extra funding would be spent in Indonesia and the Pacific.
"I am committed to enhancing the transparency of our aid program. When people are able to access information, they are better able to hold those who are managing their money.... to account," Mr Rudd said.
The government said 6 per cent, or $251 million of its aid budget will be spent "on climate change and environmental activities.
"The money will be spent on initiatives to slow carbon growth in Australia's region The government is also funding 300,000 secondary school places in Indonesia and building 2000 schools as part of a campaign to "assist around 1500 Islamic schools to achieve higher accreditation and operate to a higher education standard".
"Reducing poverty is also in our national security and national economic interest. Poverty breeds instability and extremism in our region and globally and creates conditions that lead to more refugees," Mr Rudd said.
"It is for these humanitarian, national security and economic reasons that the government is committed to increasing our aid to 0.5 per cent of our gross national income by 2015-16," Mr Rudd said.
The government has also committed $10.5 million to win Australia a non-permanent seat on the UN security council that will include extra bureaucrats in New York and Canbera and "additional funding for small posts".
Budget papers also show DFAT's expense measures, including AusAid and border security will explode from $55.6 million last financial year to $909.9 million by 2014-15.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/australia-allocates-48b-in-foreign-aid-budget-up-nearly-500-million/story-fn8melax-1226053511863
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