MEDIA RELEASE: AID TO IRAQ

Labor welcomes today’s announcement of additional Australian aid funding to the people of Iraq who have been displaced by violence.

The $5 million announced by the Prime Minister is in contrast with his Government's decisions to cut country program funding to Iraq. 

In its Budget last year, the Abbott Government cut country program funding to Iraq to zero. 

The Abbott Government has slashed Australia's foreign aid funding at each of the three Budget updates since coming to government, including $3.7 billion cut in the December update.

This is on top of the $7.6 billion in cuts announced in the Budget.

Under the Abbott Government Australian aid will plummet to its lowest level as a proportion of national income in 40 years.