I'm really hoping the Labour government upholds their election promise to increase international aid in the 2012-2013 budget. There has been a pretty big emphasis on reaching surplus and cutting wherever possible, I hope they don't forget the turmoil the rest of the world is currently in.

I'm pretty sure we only give 0.35% of the national budget to international aid and it was promised to increase this to 0.5%.

I suppose it is not only about the money, but the effectiveness. We need more than the "throw money at it until it goes away" attitude. Our government needs to commit to combating global poverty.

I know we have our tough times here, but I think we can make more sacrifices to help out our friends offshore.

You have to be kidding.They are borrowing money in your name to keep you as their debt slave.You already owe $16,000 + interest as an individual because of the labor lunacy.Labour debt $160 billion and growing by $ 100 million per day.

You don't borrow money to give it away.

A rich country like Australia should be putting at least the UN-recommended 0.7% of GDP into international aid.

Hear this message.
You cannot afford to give aid.

YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY !

As a country we could give a lot more aid. Just close the Climate Change gravy train and you free up billions. The only problem is that most of us have little confidence that the money wont go to highly paid bureaucrats and corrupt third world leaders. INdia has many millionares and yet many wont help their own people.

After the climate change gravy train has been derailed, it will be time to get the big one.

Yes time to stop the UN gravy train. Rather than listening to it's recommendation on aid, we should resign from this huge corrupt bureaucracy, & keep all the money at home.

Perhaps when we stop hearing all the clamoring for more money for some home grown need, or perceived need, we could look at some foreign aid again, until then forget it.