While the Federal Government has announced $321 million to help boost AFP and security services, as a means to fight terrorism, it has not denied that the spending will come from the foreign aid budget.
The foreign aid budget has been cut every year since the Coalition came into power.
ActionAid Australia interim executive director Michelle Higelin said that if the reports are correct, it will amount to a “shameful neglect of our commitments to the world’s most vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls.”
She noted that more than 20 million people are currently at risk of starvation in East Africa, a crisis that is most affecting women. “It is beyond comprehension that a Government committed to putting women and girls at the heart of our foreign aid would now consider slashing the aid budget, yet again, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis of this scale,” she said.
“Decreasing the availability of foreign aid increases the levels of insecurity and conflict faced by already vulnerable communities around the world. On the ground, this means more people forced to search for asylum, more child marriages, more women and girls forced into sex slavery – issues the AFP and security services are entirely unequipped to respond to.
“If this government was serious about stopping terrorism, people smugglers and drug traffickers, it would invest in the development and human rights of vulnerable communities. Addressing the root causes of poverty and conflict are critical to peace-building efforts and infinitely more effective than using the AFP and security services as band aids for the giant wounds of global inequality.”
World Vision has released a statement noting that any cuts would be short-sighted and irresponsible, with World Vision Australia’s Chief Advocate Tim Costello telling a press conference today that, “it’s not smart to fight terrorism by cutting aid”.
“It’s shouldn’t be an either or,” he said.
Australia needs a #VisionaryBudget but looks like more short-sighted cuts to #AustralianAid https://t.co/IKGsVnBDRo @JulieBishopMP #auspol
— Tim Costello (@TimCostello) May 8, 2017
“We need to fight terrorism and one of the best ways is to deploy our aid to build resilience in our region.
“Australia’s aid investments are good for Australia’s security as they play an essential role in supporting peace, stability and prosperity.
Snap press conference with @ACFIDCEO @SallyMoyle @TimCostello to discuss a possible fifth consecutive year of cuts to #AustralianAid pic.twitter.com/LMxLGA11XB
— Gareth Beyers (@MrBeyers) May 8, 2017
“It makes no sense at all to cut aid and undermine long-term efforts to build stability and resilience at a time when the world needs our support more than ever.”
He said Australia’s national interest are best served in a peaceful and prosperous world.
Oxfam Australia and Save The Children also said they’re concerned about the reported cuts.
We are alarmed by reports this morning that #AustralianAid will be cut by a further $470m in #Budget2017. Aid is already at a historic low.
— Oxfam Australia (@OxfamAustralia) May 8, 2017
Worrying to see reports of cuts to #AustralianAid in #Budget2017. A strong aid program helps most vulnerable. https://t.co/p1FGOYj0yW
— Save the Children (@savechildrenaus) May 8, 2017