Insight topics
Aid & Development
8 articles found : Show all articles

Peter McCawley (1944-2023): A Trailblazer in Australia’s Engagement with Asia
Peter McCawley was one of the great trailblazers of Australia’s relations with Indonesia, writes Howard Dick. As Australia regrettably reverts to being a “more inward-looking and parochial nation” there are many lessons to learn from McCawley’s life-long efforts to bring Australia closer to its immediate region.

Managing the mega-crisis of 2022
This year’s G20 in Bali has a heavy responsibility to address a global mega crisis that threatens to throw a fifth of humanity into poverty, write José Ramos-Horta, Danilo Türk, Laura Chinchilla, and Han Seung-soo, in an appeal signed by more than 100 global political leaders and scholars.

Could COVID-19 provide an opportunity to invest for the future?
As Australia steps up to meet a sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases in neighbouring countries, Ambassador for Regional Health Security, Stephanie Williams, argues the pandemic might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in better health outcomes for the region.

A hermit state? The future of Australian overseas aid
Australian aid spending has reached new lows after cuts in the latest federal budget. Foreign aid expert Peter McCawley argues what we now need is a modern and professional aid program capable of meeting non-traditional security threats at the international level and building Australia’s economic links with Asia.

Australia’s A$1.5 billion COVID-related loan to Indonesia
The Australian Government has unexpectedly announced that Australia will make a $ 1.5 billion COVID-related support loan to Indonesia. Australia’s assistance program to Indonesia has lagged somewhat in recent years. Indeed, the fall in support to Indonesia had begun to attract comment. But in one stroke, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s announcement late last week significantly strengthened Australia’s economic diplomacy in Southeast Asia, writes Peter McCawley.