About

In 2000 the world stood together and envisioned a future in which poverty would be eradicated. On that dawn of the new millennium, there was a renewed outpouring of humanity as collectively we pledged to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected.”

Global goals and targets

Central to achieving this bold plan was the development and agreement by 191 countries of the Millennium Development Goals – 8 measurable targets that would see us move towards realizing a world without poverty by 2015 and true eradication by 2025. Ambitious yes, but unique in that the signatures of 191 countries including Australia’s were affixed demonstrating a global commitment.

Read more about the Millennium Development Goals

Show me the money

In order to achieve the ambitious MDG’s, the rich world would need to come to the party and fund them accordingly. How much would they cost? The work of economist Jeffrey Sachs showed that the MDG’s could be realized at currently pledged levels of aid contributions. If all of the rich countries fulfilled their already pledged commitment to give 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI), the MDG’s could be fully funded. Sounds great – problem solved. Well, no. Unfortunately for the majority of the rich world (all bar 5 countries), those “pledged commitments” have never been realized despite the fact that the pledge to go to 0.7% was first made in the 1970’s. In 2002, realising that the success of the MDG’s turned on the funding levels, all of the same countries re-affirmed their commitments to meet the 0.7% GNI.

“Each economically advanced country will progressively increase its official development assistance to the developing countries and will exert its best efforts to reach a minimum net amount of 0.7 per cent of its gross national product … by the middle of the Decade.”

Despite these pledges and re-affirmations, the rich world is dragging its feet on meeting this required 0.7% target. So, where does Australia stand in all of this?

The Australian Experience

With the recent ascension of the Rudd Labor government there has been a much greater focus placed on international development and Australia’s role as an active global citizen as well as a regional leader. A scan of Rudd’s speeches over the past year are littered with references to the MDG’s, to Australia’s support in the fight against poverty, to addressing the significant challenges in our region and on and on. Despite this rhetoric and a welcomed pledge to increase its aid levels, the Government has only committed to a slow increase from 0.32% (the current level) to 0.5% by 2015/16. To put that in perspective, this would bring Australia back to the levels of the 1990’s; before the boom and the unprecedented growth that we have experienced. Compared to the other developed countries, Australia is 15th of 22 rich nations providing a lower percentage than such countries as Spain, Austria, Belgium and Denmark. And while many rich countries such as the UK, Finland and France have made commitments to meet the 0.7% commitment by 2013, Australia’s promises lag far behind.

The Goal Is 0.7

Australia has a unique role to play in the regional context. We live as an island of affluence in a sea of relative poverty. The Pacific Islands, our closest neighbours are suffering under the weight of poverty. This poses not only a moral dilemma (what more could we do?), but also poses significant risks to our security and common prosperity – failed states make poor neighbours and the cost of intervening is high (just look at the Solomon Islands and East Timor).

Australians are givers. We can be proud that per capita we give more to charity than any other country. But what we are talking about is not millions, but billions; much needed money that will go into health, education and other development activities. Put into real terms, 0.7% represents just 70c for every $100 of GNI. At the current levels of funding, Australia has a long way to go to reach the 0.7% target. If we don’t start acting soon, the goal posts will continue to move further and further away.

There is an opportunity here for Australia to match its rhetoric with action, to reverse the trend of the past and to finally set us on a path to fulfilling our commitments to the global community. It’s the least we can do to give the Millennium Development Goals the best chance of succeeding and demonstrate to the billions living in abject poverty, that we “…will spare no effort …”.

C’mon Australia, Let’s score a goal against poverty!

The Goal is Point 7 Campaign is a collaborative effort of individuals of all ages, working in partnership with GlobalHOME and the Global Poverty Project. This year’s Stand Up events have been organised with support from Micah Challenge, Make Poverty History, World Vision and Oxfam.