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

Developing countries are the hardest hit by violent extremism, and indeed over 95 per cent of terrorism related deaths have occurred in developing countries over the past 15 years. The promotion of stability in our region is at the heart of Australia's overseas development assistance. It is important that violent extremism undermines our basic development goals. It harms economic growth because it means that fewer people can escape poverty in those countries. It prevents women participating fully in society. It destabilises governance efforts, complicating the delivery of services on the ground. It facilitates the illicit movement of drugs, money and arms, thereby weakening security in those countries. It means that development agencies cannot do their work on the ground. And, of course, it contributes to political instability.