The Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Senator Russell Trood, who tabled the report in the Senate today, said that the Australian aid delivery in the region lacks a clear focus and is often poorly planned.

“The committee found that Australia could certainly do more to ensure that our aid programs are targeted into areas that are likely to provide the best means for these countries to achieve positive, long-term economic and human development.

 “Australia is the main source of Aid to the Pacific, but there is a poignant lack of commitment to translate lessons learnt from previous engagements in the region into policies and procedures,” Senator Trood said.

The committee found that AusAid often attempts to do too much in the region, which leads to a lack of focus and dissipation of energy, which in turn weakens the impact of the aid programs.

In tabling the report, Senator Trood expressed his disappointment at the lack of support and cooperation that the committee received from the Foreign Affairs Minister’s office.

He said that despite numerous requests, the committee was not able to visit the region.

“Despite efforts of the committee to press the Mr. Smith’s office on numerous occasions, we regrettably did not even receive a courtesy of a response.

“This was an immense frustration to the committee’s activities and meant that we were not able to visit the region and consult with various individuals who had the knowledge and special information that might have been useful to us in developing the recommendations for this Inquiry,” he said.

 “Given the substantial aid contribution Australia makes to the region, one would have hoped that the Foreign Minister would have a vested interest in ensuring that the aid money is spent in the most efficient possible manner.”