New International Development role welcomed – World Vision

Monday, July 1, 2013

World Vision Australia has welcomed the Government’s appointment of The Hon Melissa Parke MP to the newly created international development portfolio.

This morning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced changes to the Ministry, including Ms Parke’s role as Australia’s inaugural Minister for International Development.

World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello said the decision fulfils a long standing call from the aid and development sector.

“This new role will serve to strengthen the effectiveness of the aid program by providing dedicated ministerial oversight,” Mr Costello said.

“Ms Parke is very well placed to step into the role with a background as an international lawyer with the United Nations serving in Kosovo, Lebanon, Gaza and New York. Ms Parke has been engaged in issues of aid and development during her time in Parliament and has displayed a deep understanding and interest in the portfolio.”

The Government’s appointment of a Minister for International Development marks bipartisan support for a dedicated minister to oversee Australia's aid program. In 2010, the Coalition announced it would introduce a similar role if it forms Government.

“This appointment will facilitate greater collaboration between the aid and development sector and the Government to address poverty in the developing world,” Mr Costello said. “The bipartisan agreement will work to strengthen existing efforts on making the Australian aid program even more effective.”

Ms Parke’s appointment comes as the crisis in Syria continues to escalate. Australia has already committed funds to the increasing humanitarian need, but as the conflict deepens it will be critical that further funds are available to NGOs and multilateral organisations to assist the 6.8 million people in need.

Mr Costello said that with the PM’s commitment to fresh policy thinking, he hoped the Government would review the current diversion of $375 million from the aid budget to fund onshore asylum seeker costs.

“We ask the Minister for International Development together with the Minister for Immigration, Tony Burke, to review the diversion of aid. The purpose of Australian aid is to assist the world’s neediest countries to overcome poverty, not to fund domestic policy priorities.”

Media contact: Gabrielle Brophy – 0407 575 112 / gabrielle.brophy@worldvision.com.au

Media Releases, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Australian Government, Foreign Aid, Humanitarian, International Development, Kevin Rudd, Tim Costello

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