[Greens-Media] Indonesia needs aid not debt

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

15.03.05

Indonesia needs aid not debt


Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today criticised the government's aid
package saying Indonesia needs more aid not further debt. 

Half of the $1billion allocated by Appropriation (Tsunami Financial
Assistance and Australia-Indonesia Partnership) Bill 2004-2005 currently
before the Senate consists of a loan to Indonesia. The Greens say this
should be converted to aid.

"The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayments for every $1 it
receives in aid", Senator Nettle said.

"Every dollar that is spent in repaying debt is a dollar that could be
spent on addressing the AIDS pandemic, sending a child to school,
installing water and sewage systems in rural areas, job creation."

"This appropriation bill will make the problem worse by lumbering
Indonesia with a further half billion dollars in debt at a time when it
can not even deal with the debt it already has."

"This is why we are asking the Senate to support an amendment that would
spell out clearly the Senate's opposition to increasing Indonesia's
debt."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146