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Micah Challenge
 



Federal Budget Report: Micah Challenge Australia

...The latest news from the campaign to inspire and equip Christians to speak out against poverty and injustice.

Dear Micah Challenge Supporters,

The federal budget was announced yesterday with mixed results. Micah Challenge welcomes the increase to the aid budget and particularly the renewed focus on maternal and child health, but would like to see a greater commitment in aid spending in order to see Australia meet 0.7% of GNI by 2015. We believe that as Christians in a nation with plenty, we have a responsibility to be 'Good Samaritans', and care for our poor neighbours. 

What are the implications of the 2009-10 Budget for the global poor?

  • Maternal and Child Health
Micah Challenge welcomes the proposed health spending increase to $595million. Health has been a key Micah Challenge campaign focus in 2008-9.

Within the health aid budget, Maternal and Child health spending will increase to around $370million, which is approximately 90% of the increase we were seeking. This is good news - initiatives such as training of skilled birth attendants will have a very real impact on the lives of women living in poverty, and will go a long way towards rectifying the appalling child and maternal mortality rates in our region. But more needs to be done to make significant progress on these important goals

Micah Challenge representatives are planning to meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss the proposed increase when we deliver the Mothers Day cards next month. Please make sure you send in your signed Mothers Day cards by the end of May, or click here to sign a card online.
  • Efforts to reach 0.7% of GNI
This budget has seen an increase in aid to $3.82 billion (up from $3.66 billion last year), taking the aid percentage from 3.2% to 3.4% of GNI (lower than the expected 0.35% projected last year). However, the previously announced timetable for reaching an overseas aid level of 0.5% of GNI by 2015 has slipped, which will place increasing pressure on subsequent budgets. Although the Government has announced it will not waver on its election commitment of 0.5%, and holds 0.7% as an 'aspirational goal', Australia remains one of six OECD countries not yet committed to increasing aid to 0.7%GNI by 2015.

How should I respond?

  • Write to the Treasurer
Send an email or letter to the Treasurer The Hon Wayne Swan MP, thanking him for the increases in aid spending, particularly towards health. Let him know you are writing as a supporter of the Micah Challenge campaign to ask the government to turn the 'aspirational goal' of 0.7%of GNI into a timetabled commitment to increase aid to the internationally-agreed aid target by 2015. Email Wayne.Swan.MP@aph.gov.au.
- Click here for suggested text for the letter. You may also like to contact your local MP with a similar letter and ask them to contact the Treasurer on your behalf.
  • Write to your local media
Writing to media is another important way we can use our voice for justice for the poor. A personal story or letter from a local resident has great news worthy value, and politicians keep a close eye on the local media of their electorate.

Please take time today to write a letter to the editor of your local paper, speaking from your personal perspective as a concerned resident. Be sure to emphasise that you believe the Australian Government should do more to help the poor, by making a solid commitment to reaching 0.7% by 2015.
- Click here to find details of all Australian newspapers online. Find the email address for the editor in the "contact us" section of your chosen newspaper's website.
- Keep your letter short - ideally 150 words - and try to find an interesting local angle
- Write to daily papers and your local paper - the more letters on an issue they receive, the more likely a letter on your issue will get published.
- Click here to download a media release you can adapt using your own quotes for your local media and denominational publications.
  • Pray
As Christians, we believe that prayer is essential to bring change. Please pray for our government today, that God will give them the wisdom and compassion to make just decisions about how to spend Australia's aid budget. Also thank God that this government is continuing to increase the level of aid spending, despite the tough economic climate. Click here for ideas for praying for the poor.

Visit www.micahchallenge.org.au for a detailed budget analysis.

______________________________________________________________________

Micah Challenge Australia

T: 02 9453 1586
c/o Locked Bag 122 Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
www.micahchallenge.org.au
www.heartlifevoice.org

Micah Challenge is a global campaign to mobilise Christians against poverty, in the spirit of Micah 6:8 "...what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God", and in support of the Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty by 2015.
 
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