Australia urged to rethink aid cuts

Following news that the new Australian government under Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be cutting back on Australia’s foreign aid assistance to the Asia Pacific region, many say Australia should ‘rethink’ its policy. One of these is Australian senator John Madigan who says the aid cut will affect many vulnerable Pacific island nations who desperately need Australia’s assistance— more than countries like Indonesia where Australia is heavily spending its aid money. A development agency has stated that it appears Mr Abbott’s Coalition does not consider the Pacific that important. Analysts also say the proposed cuts ‘will have severe impact’ on Australia’s international standing, with some branding the policy ‘short-sighted’, especially as it would ‘strain’ the Pacific. UNICEF had earlier condemned the proposed cuts.