Budget boosts foreign aid

Australia’s foreign aid budget is up from $3.8 billion to $4.3 billion next year.Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the change to a new international standard for calculating national income will deliver $2-3 billion more to aid in coming years, and that is on...

Solomons caretaker Deputy PM wants action on logging

Presenter: Jemima Garrett Speakers: Charles Toksana, a chief from West Kwaio, Malatia Province; Richard Irosaea, Premier of Malaita Province: Fred Fono, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister of Solomon IslandsGARRETT: Solomon Islands commercial forests are almost logged out...

Rich countries set to slash aid in 2010

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said aid from major industrialised nations is expected to shrink  from 2009 levels and miss an overall target.It forecast that official development assistance would come to only $US108 billion ($A116.3...

Australia backs carbon markets at talks

Parliamentary secretary for international development assistance Bob McMullan told the advisory group on climate change financing in London, convened by United Nations general secretary Ban Ki-moon, that carbon markets could provide the right economic incentives to...

Concerns over land reform policies in Melanesia

Presenter: Kate McPherson & Sam SekeSpeakers: Joel Simo, Director of the Land Desk at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre in Port Vila; Steven Sukot, Campaigns Manager for the Bismarck Ramu Group, PNG; Gary Lee, Co-Director of Aid/WatchMCPHERSON: Traditional land owners...