Fri, 9th May 2008

Australia's dismal response to cyclone in Burma

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP
Leader of the Opposition

The Prime Minister must act to ensure Australia takes a leading role in the disaster response in Burma.

Australia has offered only $3 million to assist more than one million people displaced by the cyclone. This is dismal.

With the death toll to climb possibly as high as 100,000 after this week's deadly cyclone, we should be doing more.

Australia is well placed and equipped to offer support to the people of Burma in their time of need.

In 2004, the Howard government led a coalition of willing in the response to the Boxing Day tsunami. We should be doing this again.

This is the greatest humanitarian disaster in the region since then.

In the last two budgets, more than $100 million was set aside by the former Government to improve Australia’s response to emergencies in the region.

Mr Rudd's pathetic response comes at a time when he wants to cut more than $100 million from the budget for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Australia's economy is strong. The will of the Australian people is strong. But the response of the Rudd Government is weak.