Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Instability in our region has strategic consequences for Australia. Therefore, by working to build stable and secure societies we are helping to counter violence, we are helping to counter radicalisation and we are helping to counter transboundary threats that can affect Australians and our national security. Our programs are well targeted. About 90 per cent of our aid is directed to the Indo-Pacific region, especially in our immediate neighbourhood of South-East Asia and the Pacific.

Instability is a brake on growth. By helping to remove this brake, our aid supports economic activity in our region, which in turn leads to more trade and investment opportunities which not only benefit our neighbours but of course benefit Australians as well. By investing in the resilience of communities, we are also helping their long-term stability.