The destruction of Cyclone Yasi and the devastating floods that have hit so many of our communities have shocked the nation. The recovery effort to help the victims of these natural disasters will be critical. Every effort must be made to provide assistance for people who, in some cases, have lost everything.
World Vision offered its international aid expertise to support relief efforts, including pre-positioning our rapid response disaster team as Cyclone Yasi gathered pace. No effort should ever be spared to help Australians in need.
Yet some have seized on these events to argue that Australia should cut its level of overseas aid, citing the cost of recovery efforts at home. Such a move would be a grave mistake.
Australia is able to help those in need at home
and abroad. Cutting overseas aid would not only hurt poor communities, it would impact Australia. Aid fosters economic growth that ultimately benefits Australians. Australia earns an estimated $130 billion in export dollars from countries that receive aid. Stability and economic growth benefits all countries.
In Australia there is bipartisan political support to lift our level of overseas aid to 0.5% of gross national income by 2015.
It is an effective and affordable commitment. It represents 50c in every $100 of our national income.
Lifting aid to this level also reflects Australia's commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, the world's blueprint for combating severe poverty – which still kills more than 8 million children every year.
Both the Government and the Opposition have so far kept to their commitment on aid. But there is now pressure to break their promise.
It is important people know the real facts about overseas aid and its value to the global community. It’s equally important that those who support overseas aid make their position known. Let me encourage you to
contact your Federal member of Parliament and make your support for aid known.
Cyclone Yasi and the devastating floods have shown how tragedy can hit any of us. We all need a 'hand up' in times of crisis. But we must not let compassion end at our borders. Such a stance is short-sighted and dangerous.
Tim CostelloChief Executive, World Vision Australia
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