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

I am happy to give a full account of what our aid funding does in assisting some of the least developed nations of the world, including small island states, cope with the challenge of climate change. I recently discussed in New York with Pacific island states the assistance we provide to assist them deal with the living and breathing reality of climate change. I might say that they appreciate the sincerity of this govern­ment. We can talk seriously in world fora about what we have done on the reality of climate change. I draw the attention of the senator to reductions in aid spending by other OECD nations via a reduction in aid spending across OECD averages. The fact is that Australia stands out in these circumstances by increasing aid spending. Aid spending here is going up, not down.