Foreword
Australia prides itself on being a good international citizen. This is demonstrated through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) program.
This 2009‑10 Budget underlines the Government's ongoing commitment to increasing Australia's ODA to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015-16.
Through this Budget total Australian ODA will increase to 0.34 per cent of GNI, from 0.33 per cent in 2008‑09.
The Budget is also a necessary and practical response to the needs of millions of people in developing countries severely affected by the global recession.
It is in Australia's national interest that the Government continues to increase the level of Australia's aid. By applying this increased aid to generating employment, protecting vulnerable populations and maintaining essential health and education services in developing countries, we are laying the foundations for recovery and future prosperity, including in Australia's own region.
The Budget funds key initiatives to boost food security through rural development, to increase investment in economic infrastructure, to improve governance and to support faster development progress in the Pacific. Funding will also support a greater commitment to Africa and South Asia, and for the international community's efforts to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
To guide the direction of Australia's international development assistance over coming years, a new policy statement has also been developed and is introduced within this Budget Statement.
SIGNED
SIGNED
Stephen Smith
Bob McMullan
If www.budget.gov.au responds slowly or you are having trouble downloading a document, try one of the Budget Website Mirrors
Note: Where possible, Budget documents are available in HTML and for downloading in Portable Document Format(PDF). If you require further information on any of the tables or charts on this website, please contact The Treasury.
