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

Yesterday, Senator Rhiannon called for Australia's aid budget to be maintained so we can end world poverty. I am pleased to report that the government is going well beyond maintaining the aid budget. Tonight's budget will deliver the largest aid budget in dollar terms that this country has ever seen, increasing it year on year by 9.6 per cent, or $500 million. That is a record aid budget, Australia's largest aid budget in 25 years as a percentage of gross national income, one that will reach 0.37 per cent of GNI, up from 0.35 per cent in the previous year—yes, a budget that increases by 9.6 per cent year on year.

Yesterday Senator Rhiannon claimed that Australia is not keeping pace with other OECD donors, but the average among OECD member countries fell by four per cent last year. Australia is increasing its aid by 9.6 per cent. Simple truth: under this government the aid program has grown, grown in every year it has been in office, grown in an economically sustainable way. In fact, the figures speak for themselves. Here is a graph that demonstrates aid under the coalition and under Labor. Compared to the Liberal record, their overseas aid budget never reached 0.3 per cent of gross national income and was usually under 0.25 per cent. Overseas aid has risen in every year of this government, in total over $2 billion since 2007-08, an increase of over 60 per cent. That is a record that not only members of this government but all Australians can be greatly proud of. (Time expired)