I'm not really surprised by the outcome of this debate. Until there is a recognition that foreign policy is truly global and that what is happening in Syria today, or Egypt, or in the European Union, is just as important to this country's long-term interests as trade with China or where boat people will eventually end up, we will have people like Carr and Bishop using Foreign Policy in Australia as a football with which to score points with a domestic audience - and politicians are not alone in the game. Even the author of this article reveals his particular bias in his final paragraph by pushing the Macedonian barrow.

In this time of coming austerity more and more electors consider that spending on foreign aid and the United Nations is a luxury we can no longer afford. China managed its rise without foreign aid, and massive continuing aid to Africa has resulted in no noticeable improvement. Whichever party is elected next month the principle should be that charity begins at home.

< citizens and multicultural communities >

The growth of two Australias that is being promoted by ethnic communities who with the benefit of public funding, have become the tail that continually wags the political dog.

Australians do not want migrants to import the separateness and centuries old strife from their places of origin.

What has Macedonia got to do with Australian foreign aid, and why does the author live in Australia and not "Macedonia" !!