Australia's foreign aid 'pathetic': Bob Geldof
November 19, 2007 - 3:02PM
Bob Geldof still thinks Australia is one of the meanest countries on Earth when it comes to its foreign aid program.
The outspoken singer gave an emphatic response when asked if Australia was shouldering its weight of the world's international aid.
"No, it's embarrassingly pathetic," the former Boomtown Rats frontman told a news conference this morning.
"In fact it is one of the meanest on the planet."
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has promised to increase Australia's overseas aid program - now just 0.3 per cent of GDP - to 0.5 per cent of GDP by 2015, if elected.
Geldof was still unimpressed, accusing Australia's leaders of breaking United Nations goals for foreign aid.
"For a country that keeps boasting about its huge growth, which is absolutely correct - it should boast and be proud of it - is 99.5 per cent not enough for you?
"You know, is that not enough for you?"
Sir Bob, in Brisbane to speak at tonight's QUT Business Leaders forum, made the comments as he was appointed - somewhat lightheartedly - as an honorary ambassador for Brisbane.
Geldof said Australia's commitment to foreign aid was well below the levels of other countries.
"I mean Britain will get to 0.51 per cent, which is the result of Live Aid by 2012, France by 2013, and the European countries ... will get to 0.7 per cent by 2015," Sir Bob said.
The man synonymous with Live Aid and Live 8 concerts said Australia was in danger of missing international agreements on foreign aid.
"If you don't get to 0.5 per cent by 2010, you don't get to 0.7 per cent by 2015," he said.
"And Australia has agreed to that in the Millennium Development Goals of the UN.
"So, in fact whoever is prompting 0.5 per cent - it is actually breaking an Australian promise to get to 0.7 per cent by 2015.
"And if people think that is a lot of money - what, is 99.3 per cent not enough for you all? Is it not enough?
"It's tragic."
Geldof spoke amiably to reporters for 30 minutes this morning, covering all things in his trademark relaxed style - except for Australia's record on foreign aid.
It is a point he also highlighted in 2005 in an interview with the ABC.
Back then, he said Africa received between $12 and $20 billion each year, equivalent to one third of the total world aid.
In 2005, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) estimated Australia would provide $67.5 million in the 2005-06 financial year.
Australia's total foreign aid program for 2005-06 was around $2 billion.
Geldof switched course several times during the morning, from his evening last night at a Brisbane salsa club to Brisbane's population growth, tourism and climate change.
He later accepted a plaque from Lord Mayor Campbell Newman recognising his role as an ambassador for Brisbane.
Geldof speaks tonight at the Brisbane Visitors and Convention Centre for QUT.
brisbanetimes.com.au
WHo cares what he thinks, and Australia needs all its cash here thank you.
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