NEWS & EVENTS
Aid Talks: The Politics of Development and Inequality
This will provide an opportunity to foster a more critical understanding of the impacts and assumptions of development and inequality and the role Australia plays. Each month speakers discuss a topical issue related to aid and development, and the broader global...
Australia to forge closer ties with Burma
Hosting the country's president Thein Sein, Ms Gillard praised the ''extraordinary'' progress towards democracy of Burma, also known as Myanmar.At a joint press conference with Mr Thein, she announced that Australia would lift some restrictions on defence engagement...
AID/WATCH in the news: Firms use tax money for aid projects
Aid and mining watchdogs have expressed concerns about the practice, arguing the corporations are wealthy enough to bankroll their own aid and that linking donations to controversial mine operations is a conflict of interest.Nine mining companies all operating in...
AID/WATCH in the news: When Aid Is Good For Business
The biennial Reality of Aid report was launched around the world this week, incorporating two chapters written by Australia’s AID/WATCH. The focus of the new report is the role of the private sector in aid provision and its impact on the effectiveness of aid in...
AID/WATCH in the news: Fraud just the beginning of aid program’s woes
AusAID has recently suspended its scholarships program in Afghanistan, pending investigation of fraud allegations in the program. GRM International, one of the largest private managing contractors in the world, was stripped of its management of the program, and the...
Paladin tangled in another controversy
Article originally appeared in the Malawi News BY CHARLES MPAKA Paladin Energy Limited and two other Australian mining firms operating in the country are under criticism back home for tapping into a tax-payer financed aid programme to shore up their corporate image...
Nothing new: ‘aid’ has long gone to business, immigration, military
The latest case of foreign aid being diverted to cover the processing of asylum seekers in Australia is part of a long, bipartisan trend of raiding aid “in the national interest”. Thulsi Narayanasamy and Gareth Bryant of AID/WATCH explain. Article originally appeared...
AID/WATCH E-Newsletter – December 2012
This first issue covers the following topics:20 years of AID/WATCHAid to AfghanistanMDGs and extreme povertyPublish What You Pay Campaign on the Extractive Industries Transparency InitiativeRead the December 2012 E-Newsletter.
Fraud just the beginning of aid program’s woes
Article originally appeared in Crikey By Matt Hilton AusAID has recently suspended its scholarships program in Afghanistan, pending investigation of fraud allegations in the program. GRM International, one of the largest private managing contractors in the world, was...
Firms use tax money for aid projects
Article originally appears in Sydney Morning Herald January 30th 2013 WEALTHY resource companies operating overseas are tapping into Australian taxpayer funds to set up aid projects potentially benefiting their corporate social responsibility credentials. Aid and...
AID/WATCH in the news: Nothing new: ‘aid
News that $375 million of this year's aid budget will be diverted to the costs of processing and supporting asylum seekers in Australia (and possibly offshore) is the second time in the space of weeks that the government has found itself on the edge of internationally...
Aid for checkpoints? The militarisation of Australia’s aid
The Australian Defence Force directly delivers about half of Australia’s aid to Afghanistan. There are myriad problems with this approach, writes Gareth Bryant from AID/WATCH. Article originally appeared in Crikey. At a Senate inquiry into Australia’s aid program to...