ODA

Question

Senator FARUQI: Is the government's target still to reach 0.5 per cent of GNI, or has that been dropped now? Senator Wong: That is the UN identified target. Mr Isbister: The Australian NGO community and the UN's 'safer and more secure world' are now pushing for a one per cent allocation of budget. I think there's a move away from the GNI-per-capita element. I think there's also a move away because how different countries report their funding for ODA is not always exactly like for like. I think, as the Foreign minister said, the government this year is probably-you can count on one hand the number of countries that have maintained their ODA or increased it. There have been some very significant reductions. In 2024 there was an estimated 24 per cent reduction in global ODA. I think last year-we'll find once the figures are through-will be very similar to that. So I think, as the Foreign minister said, in a tough fiscal environment, the Australian government maintaining its ODA, its current funding; actually increasing it by $112 million; and looking at how we focus it more in our region have been really critical things to meet the needs in our region. On the humanitarian, the government has increased its funding this year for humanitarian assistance. I might ask, based on your question, for our humanitarian coordinator Steve Scott to talk a little bit just on the JHCO work that does-it's how we're cooperating with Jordan on health assistance into Gaza. Also, as the Foreign minister mentioned, today the government announced an additional $15 million of assistance for Gaza, $10 million for Lebanon for the crisis and also $5 million for the Ebola situation in DRC and Uganda. I might ask Mr Scott to talk- Senator FARUQI: That's alright. I'll get that on notice. My time is limited.

Answer

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