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

When the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, called me in January with a request for assistance, I underlined that Australia was committed to helping and that, as a Security Council member, Australia supported the rapid deployment of AFISMA troops.

On 29 January the Minister for Defence and I announced $5 million to assist AFISMA. This will help fund transport, communications, medical supplies and other equipment. I also announced $5 million in aid for critical items such as medicine, food, water and shelter. This is on top of our $44 million in support of the Sahel region announced in 2012. Some $10 million of that $40 million went to Mali. I am proud to say that, when other countries suspended their programs because of the coup that took place in March, Australia was one of the few countries to say: 'The humanitarian arguments are overwhelming; we'll continue aid.' Our commitment to help those in need in that country remains. (Time expired)