Australia Boosts Aid to Pacific

Australia's assistance to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific will hit AUD999 million (USD693 million) in 2008-2009, said Rob Tranter, assistant director general at the Pacific Branch of AusAID. The funding, he added, will focus on health, education, water and sanitation, and environment sectors. According to

, Australia's allocation for the region increased by 35 percent over the last three years.