[Greens-Media] Julie Bishop's hypocrisy: celebrates #40yearsofaid while ripping more out of aid budget

[Jegatheeswaran, Brami (Jegan) (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

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MEDIA COMMENT
1 December 2014

Julie Bishop's hypocrisy: celebrates #40yearsofaid while ripping more out of aid budget
Commenting on media reports that the Abbott Government will announce more cuts to the foreign aid budget, Greens spokesperson for overseas aid Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"It is insulting that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is joining in celebrations of 40 years of overseas aid, when all her government has done since coming into office is rip $600 million out of the aid budget with another $7.6 billion in cuts expected over the next five years.

"This year's foreign aid cuts accounts for 21 per cent of the total budget savings measures, even though spending on aid is a tiny 1.22 per cent of Australia's total budget.

"Today's reports that the Abbott government is considering raiding the aid budget yet again show that it has again turned its back on the international poverty alleviation measures.

"When other countries have been able to meet the Millennium Development Goals of 0.7 per cent, Australia has no excuse for its measly 0.35 per cent commitment.

"Cuts to foreign aid go against the idea of Australia's fair go.

"We are a rich country. Australians expect our government to be contributing to the global effort to alleviate poverty and not use the aid budget as a cash terminal to facilitate the government's fabricated budget crisis," said Senator Rhiannon.
Brami Jegan for Lee Rhiannon 0487 350 880


Brami Jegan
Communications | Strategy
for Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon

72 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
p: (02) 9211 9523 | m: 0487 350 880

http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/

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