Foreign Aid: Civil National Service
Extract from the WEEKLY HOUSE HANSARD Database Date: 28 October 1996 (14:30)
Ms HANSON--"My question is directed to the Prime Minister. I believe, along with millions of other Australians, that as the leader of Australia your first and main obligation is to the people of Australia. Would you consider reducing our foreign aid, which runs at approximately $1.5 billion a year, to create a civil national service for our youth, to enable them and others to gain employment, as well as personal and social gains, through the building of roads, bridges, railway lines, reafforestation and water conservation systems, to name a few national projects?"
Mr HOWARD--"I say in answer to the honourable member for Oxley that I think the current level of foreign aid by Australia is appropriate. I think this is an important question and I think the honourable member is entitled, like any other honourable member, to ask questions in this parliament, and I will endeavour to answer it as comprehensively as I can. I think the present level of foreign aid is right, both in terms of Australia's national interest and in terms of the humanitarian obligations which this country has, as a relatively wealthy country amongst the nations of the world."
"With regard to national service, I have always taken the view, and my party has long taken the view, that it would be appropriate to reintroduce national service in this country of a military kind if there were such a military threat or a change in Australia's strategic circumstances as would warrant its introduction. I have never believed that it is appropriate to use the armed forces of Australia for purposes other than the defence of Australia or as an aid to the civilian power. That is a longstanding principle which I think has been followed by both sides of parliament."
"I understand why, in times of difficulty--in particular, in areas of economic and social difficulty in Australia--some Australians would look suspiciously upon the provision of foreign aid. The other side of the coin is that there are many countries that receive foreign aid from Australia whose living standards are absolutely appalling by any measure. There are other countries whose relations with Australia are important and therefore the provision of foreign aid to those countries not only carries a humanitarian component but also is in Australia's national interest."
"It is equally true that on occasions Australians legitimately feel that foreign aid is sometimes not as effectively used as it might be. I can understand the anger in that. I can understand the anger of Australians who give money voluntarily to great organisations like World Vision and so forth, seeing the political perfidy of regimes in different parts of the world which allows that aid to be literally wasted on the wharves, airports and railway sidings of countries whose citizens are suffering appalling deprivation."
"So I would say to the honourable member for Oxley and, through her, to those of her constituents and, indeed, the constituents of any other honourable member who feels that somehow or other foreign aid is being wasted, that I think in the long run that is a short-sighted, mistaken view. I do think that this country has some moral obligations. There is also a national interest for Australia involved in the provision of foreign aid. Who could argue that the economic, social and strategic stability of Papua New Guinea is other than of immense significance to Australia? Who could argue that the stability of many other countries around the world which may receive assistance from Australia is not important?"
"I think the honourable member's question does place an obligation on governments and all political parties to make absolutely certain that foreign aid is directed in the most efficient manner, that there is political pressure applied to those countries that have intolerable regimes, who use starvation and the wasting of civilian populations as a method of achieving ends. The shameful record of regimes in Africa on this stands as an absolute blot upon the performance of governments around the world. We should never be reluctant to condemn that sort of behaviour."
"I can understand the feelings of Australians who think that their taxes are wasted in relation to aid to those countries. But the answer is not to turn our back on foreign aid; the answer is to try to get a more effective aid delivery system and an aid delivery system that returns optimum benefits to the Australian people while discharging our humanitarian obligations."
Ms HANSON--"My question is directed to the Prime Minister. I believe, along with millions of other Australians, that as the leader of Australia your first and main obligation is to the people of Australia. Would you consider reducing our foreign aid, which runs at approximately $1.5 billion a year, to create a civil national service for our youth, to enable them and others to gain employment, as well as personal and social gains, through the building of roads, bridges, railway lines, reafforestation and water conservation systems, to name a few national projects?"
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