March 20, 2023
Despite their own financial woes, most Australians are still keen on helping out nations dealing with famine, drought, and natural disasters, according to new data.
A new survey of 1055 Australian voters found a growing majority of Australians — 60 per cent — back the federal government funding overseas aid to developing countries, despite the rising cost of living at home.
Support has risen from 57 per cent in 2021 and 52 per cent in 2019, according to the YouGov poll conducted for the Help Fight Famine campaign.
Sixty-five per cent of respondents said they supported Australia donating more to countries in the Horn of Africa, where the number of children facing severe hunger, thirst, and disease has risen to 20.2 million from 10 million in July.
The Help Fight Famine campaign, which brings together a number of foreign aid organisations such as Oxfam Australia, will make its case to the government when it presents its pre-budget submission to federal parliament on Monday.