29 Mar 2019

Aust govt questioned over use of aid funds for Pacific bank

From , 4:02 pm on 29 March 2019

Moves by Australia to divert aid funds into an infrastructure bank as part of its 'Pacific step up' to counter Chinese influence are being questioned in a new report.

Australia's parliament is considering legislation to push through the two billion dollar financing facility but observers say the ideas of encouraging deeper debt from Pacific nations, the top down approach and a lack of transparency are ringing alarm bells.

Jubilee Australia promotes economic justice in the Asia Pacific region and its director, Dr Luke Fletcher, spoke to Jenny Meyer about the report which was jointly researched with Caritas and the University of New South Wales.

PUBLIC DEBT AS PERCENTAGE OF GDP10 in the Pacific

Photo: Enter the Dragon