ChildFund welcomes Senate Committee recommendations on Australia's aid program

A Senate Committee inquiry into Australia's aid program has recommended that bipartisan agreements be reached over long-term funding to Australia's aid program in order to achieve the target of 0.5 per cent by 2025. In the meantime, the committee also recommends that the level of aid not fall below 0.33%. Australia is currently spending just over 30 cents in every $100 of national income in overseas development assistance. Other recommendations included establishing a new policy framework for the aid program, allocating 10 per cent of aid funding to emergency and humanitarian assistance, and reversing funding cuts made to Pacific nations in the next budget. Nigel Spence, CEO of ChildFund Australia, said: "The Senate report provides some useful guidance on how Australia's aid program can remain a leader in the Asia-Pacific region both in terms of our contributions and use of innovation." Spence added: "We are also reassured to see the Prime Minister Tony Abbott confirm this week that overseas development assistance will increase in line with CPI in the next budget. This gives aid agencies such as ChildFund a foundation of predictability and stability from which to deliver programs to world's most vulnerable people. "We look forward to continuing to work with the government on the development of new benchmarks for our sector, and ensuring that organisations like ChildFund can continue to deliver direct support to children and families that is effective, efficient, and supported by so many thousands of everyday Australians." Download the full recommendations of The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report into Australia's overseas aid and development assistance program.