Aid are essential to save life,I agree that the delivery must be done without wasting the resources.The same criticism of use of tax payer money,that many of commentators had post here is a valid one,and for all others government spending.
How you really control local government spending for example? The state and the bureaucrats citizen don't even go to council meeting!
Aid is more important that ever as what you do for others will be done to you!Nation now pour will remember who help them.
Some of you had connected Aid with forced abortion as a form of help,that is a crime against humanity,word wide especially rick country are facing now the result of that wrong politic.
They face unsustainable demand for the old population and lack of labour (see Germany).The Aid to the needing must be increase and in long term will be a blessing as Australia will benefit in the future, with economical positive interchange and politically will be better respect,consequently political weight in the world.
As Christian I firmly include AID as a command from God: second commandment "Love your neighbour as yourself" = if you was the one sick,hungry,thirsty. How you be like to be treat?
Grace and peace,ciao

luigi gigi,

'As Christian I firmly include AID as a command from God: second commandment "Love your neighbour as yourself" = if you was the one sick,hungry,thirsty. How you be like to be treat?
Grace and peace,ciao'

Could not agree more luigi however the command is to Christians not for the Government to use tax payer money on many dubious progams. The command is for beleivers to be generous and sacrificial in their giving. Far better to support programs where people can be ministered to body, soul and spirit for lasting results. Their are numerous ministries working for the poor that we can all donate to. Secular Governments are bad at giving aid, bad at education and often have few godly values.

The author of this thread will be dissappointed, the government has not increased foreign aid this year.

That saved $3 billion expenditure for next financial year.

Charities that work overseas are not impressed.

Yeah runner,

There is also a commandment about not killing. I am only aware of a couple of sects that forbid their members to hold combatant roles.

When "christians" start acting like the "commandments" are more than suggestions, I might consider them.

Rusty.

luigi gigi: second commandment "Love your neighbour as yourself"

Second Comandment? 2 Cmd is, "No Images." The one you quoted is the one from Jesus. & you a good Italian Catholic school boy.

Rusty: There is also a commandment about not killing.

1st. Cmd broken, by Ra Moses, when he ordered his bro to massacre the Idolators.

Banjo: saved $3 billion expenditure for next financial year.

Great stuff! One of the suggestions I sent to every Politician I could. "Charity begins at home." If you can't look after yourself then you have no hope of helping others.

Banjo: Charities that work overseas are not impressed.

Of course not. They'll lose their lucrative salaries.

Pelican: That sort of aid creates a vicious cycle perpetuating the status quo and does little for the citizens.

You are so right.