Following the release of the Australian federal budget, Make Poverty History has commended the Government’s sustained commitment to increasing overseas aid and continuing to support the world’s poorest people.
In 2007, thanks to your campaigning alongside MPH and civil society groups, a commitment was agreed to by both major parties to increase Australia’s overseas aid budget to 0.5 per cent of national income by 2015.
Now is a good time to thank the Government for maintaining their commitment and remind them how important this issue is to all of us!
Send a thank you message to Treasurer Wayne Swan and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd for the increase to 0.35 per cent in overseas aid for this budget year, and their renewed commitment to 0.5 per cent by 2015.
Dear Treasurer Wayne Swan & Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd,
I believe that a bipartisan commitment of 0.5% to overseas aid is extremely important. This commitment puts Australia in a stronger position to do our fair share toward the Millennium Development Goals, and sends a clear message that we are committed to aligning ourselves with other wealthy nations’ contributions.
I recognize the recent budget allocation of 0.35% to Australia’s overseas aid for 2011-2012, and thank you for taking steps toward increasing overseas aid. I also recognize and support your renewed commitment to increasing overseas aid to 0.5% of our Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015.
A commitment of 0.5% will help to transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of poor people living in poverty around the world. I thank you for your hard work in taking the steps toward achieving 0.5%.
May 24th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
We can and do make change if we commit. There should be no such thing as Poverty in the 21st Century. But please don’t forget those in your own ‘house’. Australians. As one on Disability – making ends meet is very difficult. Cleaning ones own house puts the ripple effect into place more quickly and firmly than clean everyone elses and not your own. I pay the same utility prices as everyone else though I am deemed ‘under the poverty line’ – way under. When you handed out $900 a couple of years ago, to anyone UP TO $150,000 – I was deemed ‘to pour’ to receive it as I didn’t make enough to pay taxes. Though I do pay normal everything else. When food, petrol, utilities, clothes, insurances, cars, medical etc go up, I pay the same as someone on $150,000. Back then I could have done with a set of tyres and tune up for my car, or health insurance for better medical cover which I need being on Disability. Someone on $150,000 may have taken a few friends to dinner – I can’t remember what that is like as it’s so outside my budget of trying to live ‘normally’. I don’t go to movies, or rent them. I don’t go out to dinner etc. I might buy a piece of clothing once a year – searching charity shops mostly. I’m studying to better myself with my Disability – an extra $2,800 it cost me last year in materials. As you can imagine, I had to cut back further which makes my head spin. So please do not forget your Australian household. Don’t help other coutries to the detriment of Australia’s ‘poverty’ citizens. Think of us also please. I ask for concideration of what we receive on disability pensions – less than a pensioner. When there are two pensioners in a house, the light goes on for them as me. There isn’t any difference if there is one in a room or 6. I don’t receive all the benefits (Pensioner Discounts on food etc) that a pensioner does. I worked for 35 years paying my taxes before my accident. My rent is adjusted according to my Disability Pension that’s true, but 25% of my fortnightly income compared to someone on two pensions, or $40,000 makes the difference that sometimes I live on so little as 25% is a huge sum to my living. Maybe Pensioners, Disability Pensioners, could be charged 15% of ‘income’. I use to go for drives to get out of the house, I no longer do this as petrol is so expensive. My Disability Pension doesn’t go up according to the increases in ‘living’. Please Don’t forget us! Please. I love helping charities, standing up for humanity, feeling a little left out here in Australia though. Still, I am happy we are helping others in even more dire circumstances. I guess I am concerned that it isn’t out of the realms of posibilities that Australia will have it’s own need of help from the dire circumstances of poverty. Lets not end up being the ones calling for aid. Look after the poverty in Australia before it has spiraled out of control PLEASE. Thank You. Trudy
May 24th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Thank you for increasing Australia’s aid budget. We are wealthy and have a moral obligation to help others. Keep up the good work. Pete Best
May 24th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I think it’s great to send a thank you letter for the increase in budget spending for overseas aid. It is too easy to send the letters of appeal but forget to say thank you when our government hears and acts on what we say.
May 24th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Thank you for increasing Australia’s aid budget. We are a wealthy country with compassionate people and we have a moral obligation to help those who dont have access to basic nutrition or clean drinkable water. Keep it coming. Kind Regards
Jackie
May 24th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
I agree that while we have a great moral obligation to care for our external neighbours, we also have an obligation to care for our needy internal (i.e. Australian) people. It is a question of balance, though I realise it is not as simple as it sounds. Great wisdom is needed, as well as great compassion, on the part of Government as well as on the part of individuals.
May 25th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
I saw video clips from the World Vision monthly email newsletter recently of families living in Kenya and Mozambique. My heart goes out to those people. We have so much to be grateful to God for to live in Australia but may we never forget our brothers and sisters in developing nations like Kenya and Mozambique. It must be so tough for them in those countries, particularly for the children. My prayers are always with our brothers and sisters in developing nations.
May 27th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
This is such a great move. Makes me proud to be Australian! We need to keep the momentum going though until we reach our long-term goals. I hope we will become known as the most generous nation on earth through our aid to the world’s neediest people.
May 31st, 2011 at 7:53 am
The best way to fight Terrorism and hatred overseas is to show grace, war creates hatred that last 1000′s of years but grace sow seeds of hope. In some countries hatred for the West’s way of life is well deserved. When companies in the West exploit poor country’s people and resources taking the lion share, then these people get angry and start to act out and terrorism springs to life. One of the best ways to fight hatred is to show real kindness, feed their children, educate them and provide health care. Then give a worker fair pay and we are on the road to peace. It’s a smart investment not just a right investment. War costs a lot of money and the hatred it creates lasts and is passed on to generation after generation but so does good will, compassion and grace.
Thanks,
Brett
September 12th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Awesome guys. This will really help poverty and thanks for increasing Australians budget.