MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Sullivan
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Kathy Sullivan MP, today congratulated the Hunter Valley community for its contribution to the Australian Government's official overseas aid program.
In a speech at a community and business forum in Newcastle today, Mrs Sullivan said Australians can take pride in the positive contribution the overseas aid program is making to improving the lives of our neighbours.
'The purpose of these forums is to let people in Hunter region know that their aid program really works and how Hunter Valley businesses can get involved,' Mrs Sullivan said.
During the forums at the Newcastle City Hall, Mrs Sullivan discussed the priorities of the aid program, which is managed by AusAID - the Australian Agency for International Development.
'Poverty reduction and sustainable development are at the heart of our overseas aid efforts. But giving aid is about more than good intentions and our moral obligation to help the disadvantaged.
'Aid is also about advancing our national interest. Improving the quality of life of people in our region also means improving the prospects for regional stability, trade, investment and creating jobs,' Mrs Sullivan said.
'New South Wales business plays an important role in the overseas aid program. In 1998-99, New South Wales businesses managed AusAID contracts worth over $233.1 million.
Hunter Valley businesses are making a direct contribution to the aid program. On the island of Taveuni in Fiji, the Hunter Area Medical Service is helping develop a community health service in an $11 million, five-year project. The University of Newcastle is working with the Government of Fiji to better manage its health system in a $10 million, five-year project.
The University of Newcastle has also attracted over a hundred of the more than one thousand AusAID sponsored overseas students enrolled in State tertiary education institutions this year,' Mrs Sullivan said.
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011/ 0411 287 258
Kirsten Hawke (AusAID) 02 6206 4971/ 0417 90 3429