World Vision welcomes Labor pledge to increase aid funding

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

World Vision Australia has today welcomed the Labor Party’s commitment to increase aid funding

to international development agencies.

Labor announced overnight that if elected it will increase the annual base grant funding for fully accredited NGOs in the Australian NGO Cooperation Program by $32 million over the forward estimates.

World Vision Australia CEO Claire Rogers praised the news and called for bi-partisan leadership on Australia’s foreign policy and a united approach to addressing the major global challenges of displacement, inequality and climate.

“The aid budget is broken, and we must fix it. Existing commitments don’t cut it,” Ms Rogers said. “What we need is a promise to increase the Australian aid budget by 10 per cent each year to

demonstrate to our partners that we are serious about dealing with the pressing global challenges of

climate, displacement and inequality,” Ms Rogers said.

“The Pacific is one of the most climate vulnerable regions in the entire world. We have a responsibility

to do all that we can to build resilience against threats to our region,” she said.

“Without adequate aid people are often forced to flee their homes. People don’t leave home lightly. Displacement is currently a reality for over 68 million people seeking safety and a place to call home, and around half of those are children,” Ms Rogers said.

“Aid allows people to stay.”

As evidence of the impact of Australian aid, in the last 25 years, the number of people in developing countries living on less than $1.25 a day has dropped from 47 per cent in 1990 to 14 per cent in 2015.

“Australian aid has been effective in poverty reduction but more needs to be done to maintain

momentum and ensure we don’t take a step backwards given the rising inequality gap and record global displacement levels,” Ms Rogers said.

For more information or for interview requests, contact:

 

Angus Smith, Public Affairs Mobile: 0409 571 059

Email: Angus.Smith@worldvision.com.au

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