Latest Foreign aid

International aid agency Oxfam Australia has welcomed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s announcement of a new Minister for International Development.

International aid agency Oxfam Australia says Prime Minister Julia Gillard has failed an important test in keeping her promise to increase support to the world’s poor.

Tomorrow’s federal budget was the first time her commitment to increase overseas aid levels to only 50 cents in $100 of national income would have been seen in the budget papers.

Oxfam Australia is urging the Australian Government to honour its commitment to grow the overseas aid program in next Tuesday’s Federal Budget.

The continued decline in aid spending to help the world’s poor, according to new figures released overnight, underscores the need for Australia to keep its promise to increase support for the world’s poorest people, Oxfam said today.

International aid agency Oxfam Australia is calling on Australia’s political leaders to keep their aid promise to the world’s poor, after the UK Government this week announced it would meet its commitment to lift overseas aid spending to 0.7 per cent of its national income.

The release of a Coalition discussion paper canvassing $800 million in funding cuts reinforces that aid diversion is becoming an alarming trend in Australian politics, according to Oxfam Australia.

International aid agency Oxfam Australia has welcomed a new government report showing that good aid works, saying it highlights the importance of meeting Australia’s commitment to grow the overseas aid program.

Oxfam Australia has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a September election, saying it hopes the certainty will ensure leaders focus on issues to help the poorest and most vulnerable, in Australia and overseas.

Investment in disaster risk reduction will protect homes from being destroyed or washed away. It will reduce the risk of crop losses – people’s source of food and income. And, most importantly, it will help to save lives.

International aid agency Oxfam Australia is calling on the Australian Government to overturn its decision to divert funds from the overseas aid budget, following Treasurer Wayne Swan’s announcement that a budget surplus was unlikely this financial year.