Fed: Aid to Burma, higher consular fees in leaked budget papers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
Fed: Aid to Burma, higher consular fees in leaked budget papers

CANBERRA, April 19 AAP - Higher consular fees, direct government aid to Burma's military
regime and a cut in overall overseas aid to a 30-year low feature in this year's foreign
affairs budget, leaked papers show.

The items have been revealed in a budget briefing kit for government members obtained
by opposition foreign affairs spokesman Laurie Brereton.

"Why is Australia giving aid to the government of Burma for human rights?" asks one
rhetorical question, confirming Australia is to resume direct government aid to Burma's
military regime for the first time since the 1989 elections were brutally quashed.

"The government will provide $150 million in aid to East Timor over four years, $100
million of which is additional funding," reads the answer to another question.

However, the overall foreign aid budget drops to $1,600 million.

While this is up four per cent on the budgeted figure for this financial year, Mr Brereton
says it's down slightly on the $1.65 billion actually spent this year, due to extra spending
on the crises in East Timor and Kosovo.

"As a consequence of this reduction Australia's foreign aid as a proportion of gross
national product is projected to fall ... to 0.25 per cent in 2000-2001 - the lowest level
in 30 years," Mr Brereton said.

Mr Brereton also denounced the aid commitment to Burma, which will anger the US and
European Union, who are pressuring Australia to break off all aid and trade contacts.

"At best the Howard government's initiative appears naive and unlikely to bring substantive
benefits to the long suffering Burmese people," he said.

"The main consequences may be to give international legitimacy to Burma's military regime."

The briefing kit also reveals Australians living overseas will be hit with higher consular
fees for services, such as witnessing wills and legal papers, and registering births.

No figure is given, but the papers refer to a 10 per cent or $10-$15 million shortfall
in passport fees due to fewer Australians travelling overseas last year.

AAP ss/mfh/adh

KEYWORD: BUDGET FOREIGN

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