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

Senator Day, it is indeed true that at the leaders event during the UN climate change talks in Paris the Prime Minister announced that Australia would provide at least $1 billion to build climate change resilience and reduce emissions over the next five years. That commitment is equivalent to around five per cent of the aid program for each of the next five years.

These funds are from our overseas development budget and will fund programs that work towards the achievement of the overarching goals of that aid program, to drive economic growth and reduce poverty in our region. There are already significant climate related programs underway within the aid program. No aid programs have been scaled back to fund these climate activities. Future activities will be financed according to priorities agreed with partner governments. The Australian government is working with developing countries to ensure the greater predictive ability of finance flows. (Time expired)