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

I thank Senator Xenophon for his question. I commence my answer to Senator Xenophon, through you Mr President, by indicating that Australia strongly supports the Millennium Development Goals and is committed to helping developing countries attain them, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2008-09 Australia will provide an estimated $3.7 billion in official development assistance. In practical terms this will mean greater investments in key MDG sectors such as health, education, water and sanitation needs and the environment. The government is working closely with other partners to raise awareness and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Micah Challenge specifically is playing an important role in Australia and globally on raising awareness of poverty, and the actions of the governments, churches and citizens can help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

This week I had a delegation from Micah visit my office, and I am sure they visited the offices of many senators during their annual campaign to encourage a greater focus on overseas aid spending. At the high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals in New York, Australia made a commitment to $250 million over four years to improve women’s and children’s health, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific. I can also say that the Australian government is a strong supporter of faith based groups through the Australian aid program. AusAID’s support of the Church Partnership Program in PNG has helped reduce the vulnerability of communities in Papua New Guinea. Faith based partnerships in Indonesia, in Afghanistan and in the Philippines are making an important contribution to Australia’s efforts to support poverty alleviation in those countries.

Senator Xenophon asked me specifically whether Australia will meet the international aid volume target of 0.7 per cent. It is true that the government made an election commitment to increase official development assistance to 0.5 per cent of gross national income by the year 2015. This is a very substantial increase on the level of 0.3 per cent which was inherited from the previous government. I can only say to Senator Xenophon that, beyond that, I am not aware that any further commitment has been made by the government, but I think it is certainly fair to say to Senator Xenophon—through you, Mr President—that the international aid target of 0.7 per cent remains an aspiration.