1 May 2025
The Safer World for All campaign has expressed disappointment at today’s announcement that the Coalition would cut Australia’s aid budget if elected—despite rising global instability and growing public support for aid.
Rev Tim Costello, Executive Director of Micah Australia, said:
“This is a deeply disappointing announcement. Real security isn’t only built through defence spending—it’s built through trust, stability and long-term partnerships. That’s what aid delivers, and why it must not be allowed to fall further behind.”
“Australia is facing a more complex and challenging world. At a time when other global donors are retreating, this is a moment for principled leadership, not retreat. We urge the Coalition to reconsider—and to help restore the bipartisan commitment to aid that served Australia so well for decades.”
“Public support for aid is growing because Australians understand what’s at stake. Polling by RedBridge shows that when voters learn aid is less than 1% of the budget, they support modest increases—especially when they realise 99% remains focused on domestic priorities.”
Matthew Maury, CEO of ACFID, said:
“This decision risks weakening one of Australia’s most effective tools for peace, prosperity and stability. A strong aid program is not just generous—it is smart, strategic, and deeply aligned with Australia’s national interest.”
“We acknowledge and appreciate that the current Government has held the line on aid in difficult fiscal conditions. We continue to urge all political leaders to work together on a long-term plan to restore aid to 1% of the Federal Budget—reclaiming the ambition that once united leaders across the political spectrum.”
“As Admiral Chris Barrie recently said – When we allow aid to stagnate or fall behind, we weaken our security—especially in our region where climate disruption is becoming the biggest threat to our security. Investing in aid is one of the smartest security strategies we have. It builds resilience before crises escalate into conflict.”
Australia’s Aid Investment in Structural Decline
Australia’s aid investment has fallen to just 0.65% of the federal budget, down from 1.12% under Prime Minister John Howard—the very leader Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described in his recent foreign policy address at the Lowy Institute as his greatest foreign policy influence.
As a share of Gross National Income, aid now sits at just 0.18%, placing Australia 26th among OECD nations in 2023, down from 14th in 2015.
Ten of Australia’s top 15 export markets today are countries where we once provided foreign aid—a reminder that smart, values-driven development partnerships build trust, open markets, and deliver long-term dividends for Australia.
And when we fail to invest early, the cost of responding to instability is far greater. Australia’s RAMSI intervention in Solomon Islands ultimately cost over $2.6 billion—a stark contrast to what sustained development investment could have achieved in prevention.
Australia’s economic, security, health, and diplomatic interests are all better served by maintaining—or modestly restoring—our aid program.
A Call for Constructive Dialogue
Despite today’s announcement, Safer World for All campaign leaders say they remain committed to working constructively with all parties, including the Coalition.
“We value the role that past Coalition Governments have played in shaping Australia’s aid program—whether through the response to the Boxing Day Tsunami, the Pacific Step-Up, humanitarian relief for Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic response, or sustained engagement in the Indo-Pacific,” said Rev Costello.
“This is not a moment to turn our backs. We urge all parties to strike a better balance—because a stronger aid program means a safer world, and a more secure Australia.”
ENDS.