On the eve of the 2015-16 Federal Budget, a special edition of Aid & Development Links rounding up commentary on Australia's aid budget. A reminder that if you have something to contribute to these weekly links, suggestions and comments are welcome. Email: sdunstan@lowyinstitute.org.
- Child Fund Australia CEO Nigel Spence warns in the SMH that aid cuts will hit vital projects for children in 13 countries.
- Budget cuts mean that vital training for health workers, sight-saving operations and improved vision for children will not go ahead, say Vision 20 20 members (which includes Fred Hollows Foundation, Royal Australiasian College of Surgeons and more).
- The speculated budget cuts to Indonesian aid aren't worrying the Indonesian Foreign Minister.
- But the projected cuts will hit projects in Cambodia and Nepal.
- News that Julie Bishop has been practising the powers of Elsa, heroine of the hit children’s movie Frozen, to protect her portfolio from cuts in tomorrow’s Budget.
- In the lead up to the budget, NGO's have been taking a media offensive. Read Ashlee Betterridge's round up of their media blitz.
- Before the budget is announced tomorrow evening, it's worth re-reading ACFID's submission to the 2015-2016 Budget, or their more recent press release. Also good is Robin Davies February post predicting the nature of the aid cuts;
- On Wednesday 13 May, Stephen Howes, Anthony Swan and CEO of CARE Australia Dr Julia Newton-Howes will unpack the budget implications for Australian aid at at special ANU event from 9am. See website for live streaming details.
- And finally, if you haven't already watched, Charlie Pickering's clever satirical take on the state of Australian aid for ABC's The Weekly.