JOIN OUR URGENT CALL!

Tell our leaders: Australian Christians Support Australian Aid

The Heads of Australia’s Christian denominations have written to our political leaders, urging them to protect Australian Aid ahead of the election.

Add your name to show that Christians across the country stand for compassion, justice, and a safer world for all.

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WHY THIS MATTERS

Micah is a coalition of Australia’s leading Christian international development agencies uniting the Australian Church to advocate for global justice.

As a wealthy nation, we have an incredible opportunity to love our neighbours well—through a generous and effective Australian aid program.

A World Turning Inwards

Right now, we are living through an uncertain and anxious moment—one that is causing many Western nations to turn inward and question their responsibility beyond their borders.

In the US, a handful of questionable projects have been used to justify wiping out the majority of US aid programs—with devastating consequences.

In the UK, pressure to increase Defence spending has led to cuts to aid, despite growing global crises.

What Australian Aid Achieves

Against this backdrop, it’s crucial to remind ourselves—and others—what aid truly is, what it achieves, and how little of our budget it actually represents.

Australian Aid is:

Medical teams rapidly deployed to Vanuatu after their recent earthquake.

The Papua New Guinea Education Program, which in just five years trained over 6,400 teachers and improved education for 360,000 children.

Support for mothers and children fleeing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.

Combating global pandemics like Ebola, Mpox, and whatever comes next after COVID-19.

Helping former aid recipients become strong trade partners, as seen in Vietnam and South Korea.

Driving a 41% reduction in malaria cases globally between 2000 and 2015.

Reducing child mortality under five by 60% between 1990 and 2020.

How much do we
really spend on Aid?

Many Australians are surprised to learn that Australian Aid is at a historic low.

JUST 0.65%

Aid is just 0.65% of the Federal Budget —nearly half of what it was under Prime Ministers Howard, Rudd, and Gillard, when it exceeded 1.12% during a period of bipartisan support.

REDUCED AID

Australian Aid has already been significantly restructured and reduced – This happened in 2013 when AusAID was folded into DFAT, making our program far leaner and more focused than those of the US or UK.

JUST 0.18%

As a share of Gross National Income (GNI), our aid sits at just 0.18% – ranking us 26th among OECD nations in 2023—down from 14th in 2015.

The Bottom Line

Australian Aid is already at a historic low. There is nothing left to cut—and this is not the moment for retreat.

Australia’s economic, security, health, and diplomatic interests are all better served by maintaining or modestly restoring our aid program.We need to remind our politicians of the facts—and make it clear that Australian Christians support Australian Aid.