Australia Maintains Pacific Aid Amid Financial Crisis

The Australian government will not slash its aid to small, cash-starved Pacific countries such as the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati despite the ongoing global financial turmoil. “Australian aid will never change despite the financial crisis,” said Australian aid minister, Bob McMullan. “We will continue to boost our assistance to the Pacific island nations.” (“No Pacific aid cut amid financial crisis: Australia” - Thomson Reuters, Oct. 28, 2008)