It has been 14 years since Australia produced a white paper on foreign aid. In that time, Australia has had five different prime ministers, economies have shifted, concerns have changed and global politics are very different. Which is why Australia is now developing a new white paper for the modern era.
Until Feb. 28, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be receiving submissions from organizations and individuals with ideas on the focus and direction of Australia’s foreign policy — including the aid program — over the next decade and beyond. Australian and international contributions are welcome.
“The public submissions process is primarily aimed at engaging the Australian community on the white paper, but we welcome the views of all interested parties,” a spokesperson from DFAT explained to Devex. “The Australian government will consult a range of international partners as we develop the white paper.”