MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased today to launch the Australian Government's policy document on
overseas aid and good governance,
Good Governance: Guiding Principles for
Implementation
.
Reducing poverty through achieving sustainable development is the key
objective of Australia's overseas aid program. Of all the activities Australia
supports in achieving this objective, none is more important than our support
for promoting good governance in our partner countries.
Governance is something we in Australia take for granted. It means the ways
through which citizens and groups in a society voice their interests, mediate
their differences and exercise their legal rights and obligations. Essentially
it is the economic, social and political fabric of a country.
A democratic political system, the rule of law, freedom of speech and a free
media are all building blocks of good governance. Where there is corruption,
poor control of public funds, lack of accountability in governmental and
economic institutions, abuse of human rights and excessive military influence,
development will be stifled and poverty prolonged.
The Good Governance policy released today outlines the priority areas in
which Australian development assistance can foster good governance in partner
countries and thus enhance the development process. It addresses the political
and economic principles that underpin successful development. It underlines the
importance of sound management of the private sector as well as the development
of efficient, open and market-based economies.
The policy also outlines the governance assistance activities Australia
undertakes in partnership with governments in the Asia Pacific region. Some of
these include helping the Government of Papua New Guinea reinforce
constitutional checks and balances through support to the judiciary and the
ombudsman; helping the Government of Samoa to introduce accountability
frameworks in its public sector; and providing training for judges at
Indonesia's newly established commercial court.
In 2000-2001, Australia will spend an estimated $245 million through AusAID,
the Australian Government's overseas aid program, on direct assistance to help
improve governance in developing countries. This represents about 15 per cent of
overall aid expenditure.
Media Contacts:
James Baker (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Fionna Douglas (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489
Link to PDF copy of report. [PDF file - 1,689KB]