John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, it is a critical issue. I note that, in a letter dated 4 June sent to aid groups in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean Minister for Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare, Nicholas Goche, ordered NGOs to suspend their field operations until further notice on the basis that a number of NGOs were ‘breaching the terms and conditions of their registration’, namely being involved in domestic political activities. Multilateral agencies are advising NGO partners to comply with the directive while trying to have it reversed. I can say that the majority of Australia’s humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe is provided through contributions to the World Food Program, which distributes food through registered NGOs. Australia expects to provide more than $13 million to Zimbabwe in 2007-08, around $10 million of which is for essential food aid through the WFP. (Time expired)