FOREIGN AID POLICY

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (15:52): Today I rise to talk about an issue very close to my heart; that is, Australia's foreign aid policy and its obligation to make world poverty history. Seven years ago, Australia and the other member nations of the UN committed to the Millennium Development Goals: a set of eight goals focused on reducing international poverty. I had high hopes when Australia initially signed on. It is well known that Australians are amongst the most generous people in the world when it comes to privately contributing to overseas aid. In fact, we are rated the second best in the world, just behind the Irish.

I thought that the government of a country of such generous citizens would do everything in its power to maintain its humanitarian profile and moral obligation to assist those in need. But, like many things to do with the Howard government, my optimism was very quickly extinguished. When Australia's aid contribution dropped to 0.26 per cent of gross national income just one year later I feared the worst; and six years later I am not surprised to learn how badly Australia is failing to meet its international commitments under these goals. Where once Australia was a leader in international development assistance, we have now fallen woefully behind.

The 2007 Millennium Development Goal 8 Review, which looks at Australia's progress in meeting its obligations, makes for sobering reading. I could not have imagined a worse result than Australia receiving a pitiful five out of 20 on the Make Poverty History Report Card. Unfortunately, it is one that is well deserved. We only need to look at the facts. We as a country now rank 15^th out of 22 OECD countries. We as a country now only contribute 0.3 per cent of our gross national income to foreign aid. The Howard government, while committing to increase our contribution to a meagre 0.34 per cent by 2011, has refused to make any policy beyond this date.

The Prime Minister in stating that his government 'will reassess its position at this time' means, effectively, that his government has thumbed its nose at the commitments they agreed to. Despite its trumpeted billions of dollars in surplus and the fact that Australia is enjoying record economic conditions, the Howard government seems curiously unable and unwilling to reach out its hand to our poorest global citizens.

This is not what Australia signed up to. It is simply not good enough. Perhaps it can best be summed up by the Treasurer's own brother, the Reverend Tim Costello, who on Lateline just 12 days ago said:

We're saying to the government you're out of step being at the bottom of the league table...we think this should be bipartisan because it's a moral, not a political issue.

The reverend also stated the following day:

We'll be telling all the churches that Kevin Rudd is way ahead of the Prime Minister on this issue. It's not too much of an exaggeration to say this issue is life and death.

I do not think you can get any more candid than that. When your own brother thinks that you are, (a) out of step, (b) immoral and (c) should be actively campaigned against, you know you are in trouble. I am delighted, however, to say that Labor has stepped up to the mark and pledged to do the right thing.

Labor has made a commitment to the UN interim target of 0.5 per cent of gross national income by 2015 and has agreed to abide by Australia's commitment to the millennium development goals. This is not just a feel good pledge with no real significance. It will have a real impact. It will save the lives of 140,000 children and provide clean water and sanitation for 37 million people in the Asian region. I would have thought that that demanded a more definite response than the Prime Minister's 'Let's wait and see in four years' time.'

The choice at the coming election is clear: we can vote for a government which has allowed Australia's reputation as a generous and compassionate country to continue to deteriorate or we can vote for a Rudd Labor government which is committed to Australia playing its part in ensuring that everyone throughout the world receives the best chance of a happy and healthy life.