International Development Assistance

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Richard Di Natale (Vic), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) affirms that the best way to support our Pacific neighbours is through genuine aid and development funding and meaningful action on climate change;

(b) notes with deep concern that our aid budget is at the lowest levels it has ever been as a proportion of Gross National Income (GNI);

(c) is further concerned that both the Liberal and Labor parties have joined the debt-trap diplomacy bandwagon, and that Overseas Development Assistance loans often do not support good development outcomes and are at odds with Australia's aid policy; and

(d) as Prime Minister Morrison prepares to attend the APEC Leaders' Summit in Port Moresby on 17 November and 18 November 2018, calls on the Government to unequivocally support Australia's grant-based aid program and commit to reaching an aid budget of 0.7% of GNI by 2030, as per our international commitments.