Australia’s development partnership in the Occupied Palestinian Territories costing Australian taxpayers millions, but an audit of the funds is not forthcoming -Meanwhile Foreign Minister Penny Wong continues to indulge in undergraduate politics, with little awareness of the consequences

 by Ganesh Sahathevan 

          Senator Wong 's undergraduate stunt, with no awareness of the real world consequences

Note that the 2022-2023 numbers are still only estimates

Australia’s development partnership in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

2023-24 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$20.0 million

2023-24 UNRWA allocation [budget estimate]

$20.0 million

2023-24 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

32.2 million

2022-23 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$17.1 million

2022-23 UNRWA allocation [budget estimate]

$20.0 million

2022-23 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$28.7 million

The Australian Government will provide an estimated $32.2 million to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2023-24. Australia's development cooperation and humanitarian assistance is a practical demonstration of our genuine commitment to the Palestinian people. Australia remains committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders.

Australia has a long history of supporting Palestinians. The Palestinian Territories COVID-19 Development Response Plan sets out the priorities for the development program in the COVID-19 context. These priorities aim at contributing to health security, stability and economic recovery in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Australia Awards program contributes to the education of future leaders in areas of economic recovery and long-term resilience. We continue to support Palestinians to undertake Masters level study in Australia.

Health Security

We are providing humanitarian support through multilateral humanitarian partners, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). These partners are key to delivering essential services to vulnerable Palestinians.

Stability

Australia’s partnerships with UNRWA, UNICEF and the ICRC support food security, social protection mechanisms, appropriate referral systems for survivors of domestic violence, and access to clean water and sanitation to at-risk populations across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Economic Recovery

Australia’s partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services through the Access Support Unit which supports the entry of humanitarian staff and goods into the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the entry of reconstruction materials into Gaza.

The Australia Awards program will contribute to the education of future leaders in areas of economic recovery and long-term resilience through a range of Masters level study programs.