Friday, 6 July 2007

0.7% Aid commitment – halftime stock take

With July 7 representing the half way point of the UN Millennium Development Goals, it is time to see which political parties are committed to achieving the agreed 0.7% GNI aid target - and who is not.

“United Future is putting up its hand, confirming we are committed to the 0.7% target,” says leader Peter Dunne.

“As it stands New Zealand is in the bottom six contributors in the OECD which is a shameful, embarrassing reality for a country that prides itself on being a good international citizen.

“We give only 0.27% currently. United Future is pushing to increase this level to 0.5% immediately and up to 0.7% within the next few years. The public deserves to know which parties would support this, and which will not.

“The Government claims that they provide tax cuts because of the high dollar and inflationary effects of such a move. But what is stopping the Government increasing our aid contributions while they are sitting on this surplus?

“With volatility in the Pacific and further abroad, it is now even more important that we are seen to be doing our bit internationally.

“But ranking 6th worse in the OECD makes us look like we are freeloading – which is embarrassing for New Zealand and New Zealanders,” says Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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