Date:  23 July 2007

Kevin Rudd has emphasised the importance of Australia’s aid with the re-establishment of International Development Assistance (IDA) as a senior portfolio under Shadow Minister Bob McMullan.

Under Labor, Australia’s aid program will be refocused on implementing the Millennium Development Goals - global goals Australia committed to in 2000 – which pledge to halve extreme world poverty by 2015.

Labor’s aid program will address the causes of insecurity in our region, increasing support for basic education, health, civil society, multilateral and international engagement, and adaptation to climate change.

Labor is committed to reducing poverty without compromising good development practice.