George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Day, I think Australia should be proud of being one of the world's leading foreign aid donors, as we are. You said so yourself: 13th. Of course, I am not in a position to comment on the aid policies of the United Kingdom and China, but I can tell you, Senator, that the coalition is committed to delivering an aid program which is not only generous but also targeted and effective.

I do have to mention that, sadly, the government has had to deal with a budget position inherited from the Labor Party. The aid program will continue to contribute to international efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foreign Minister recently led the Australian delegation at a special UN summit in New York, in September of last year, which reached consensus on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We cannot commit to a prescriptive, time-bound aid target as a percentage of GNI until Australia is in a fiscally strong position to support that aspiration. (Time expired)