Australia’s aid program has increased massively over the last decade, but its future is unclear, and aid policy has become controversial. The Labor Government has repeatedly delayed its target to lift aid 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI), and just this month slashed $900 million from the forward estimates for aid. The Coalition has not put any date to achievement of 0.5. There are also major aid policy and effectiveness issues at play, including aid for asylum seekers, aid to PNG, and aid to Africa. Labor has introduced a number of aid reforms, but the Coalition has called for “an increased focus on accountability, transparency and a reassessment of priorities within the aid program” (Julie Bishop at ANU, June 2012). The Greens support a lot more aid, and want an independent evaluator for the sector.

In this special 2013 Election forum, the ACT candidates discussed their parties’ approaches to aid. This event was sponsored by the Development Policy Centre and Oxfam ACT, with the support of Oaktree and Make Poverty History.