Media statement
For immediate release
Tuesday, 18 July 2006

Dunne calls for multi-party commitment on overseas aid

United Future leader Peter Dunne is calling for a multi-party commitment on boosting New Zealand's overseas aid levels.

Mr Dunne says that most political parties already agree with the principle of lifting New Zealand's level of overseas aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015, but a more firm commitment than that will be needed to actually achieve the goal.

"I think the most reliable way of ensuring this target is reached is for all political parties to formally agree on the objective, so that it can be part of official government policy, whatever the shape of governments in the future.

"Further, I think there could be agreement on the intermediate steps to be taken along the way to achieving the 0.7% goal.

"For example, there could be a commitment to reaching 0.5% by 2010," he says.

ENDS