Aid agency CARE Australia denounces the next instalment of projected cuts to the aid program, announced in today’s Federal Budget.

CARE Australia chief executive Sally Moyle said while this year’s aid budget had been increased by 2% – or – $84 million, by 2020-21 the projected growth has been cut, clearly in contrast to the massive increases to defence and security.

“The decision to divert funding away from the aid program to Australia’s security agencies is short sighted as well as inhumane,” she said.

“The government should not be siphoning funds away from international development in the name of national security.”

Ms Moyle said an Australian aid program with fewer resources would be less effective.

“Foreign aid helps create a stable and prosperous region. This is particularly important for Australia, where 18 out of our 20 closest neighbours are developing countries.”

Ms Moyle said beyond our own national interest, this next round of effective reductions to our aid program makes a terrible statement about who we are as Australians. She added that this budget falls well short of Australia’s responsibilities at a time of growing global need.

“Now is not the time to be forgetting the millions facing starvation in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria, or turning away from those reeling from the war in Syria.”

“It will be the world’s poor who suffer as a result of these cuts.”

CARE Australia is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. www.care.org.au

-ENDS-

For interviews contact Nerida Williams on 0412 449 691 or nerida.williams@care.org.au