Australia

The Australian Government’s official development assistance (ODA) is determined in the annual budget, where it is listed under the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio. AusAID, the main Australian international development assistance agency, sits under this portfolio.
The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June and the budgetary process starts in November/December. In those months the Strategic Priorities and Budget Committee (SPBC) sets budget’s priorities and strategy, on which governmental agencies will base their Portfolio Budget Submissions. This is when AusAID submits its annual proposed allocations to the budgetary authorities.

In March the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) decides which proposals will be funded and by how much. In April/May the Treasurer outlines the budget strategy in an official speech and presents the Budget Economic and Fiscal Outlook Report (also called Budget Paper No. 1) to Parliament.
By the end of January of the following year the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYFO), an update on the economic and fiscal outlook as well as the national budgetary position, is released. In September the Treasurer presents the consolidated final budget in the Final Budget Outcome document.

Availability of forward ODA budgeting

The Budget Paper No. 1 includes ODA spending estimates for the budgeted financial year and projections for the following two years. ODA figures are available under the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio expenditures.
It is estimated that Australian total ODA will be equal to 0.35% of Australian GNI in 2011-2012, going up from 0.33% in 2010-2011. Australian Government has committed to reach the 0.5% of GNI in ODA by 2015-2016.

1.1  Principal development agency

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is the major Australian international development agency. It is estimated that in 2010-11 it has managed 90.2% of Australian ODA and that it plans to manage 90.4% in 2011-2012, as Australian ODA will increase to meet the government’s 0.5% of GNI target. [1]

In July 2010 AusAID became an executive agency, formalising its autonomy under the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio. It reports to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is responsible to advice the Minister on development policy and represents Australia in international development forums. It plans and coordinates poverty reduction activities and humanitarian missions in partnership with other agencies and countries.

In 2011-2012 Australian bilateral aid will be disbursed to around 35 countries while additional 78 will receive support through global and regional programmes. The Asia Pacific region is the focus of AusAID, although Australian ODA also supports countries in Africa and Latin America.

1.2  Other ministries / agencies

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the following agencies ( More information on single agencies’ involvement in international development assistance is available in the Australia’s International Development Assistance Program 2011-2012 ) deliver ODA-eligible resource flows:

• Australian Federal Police
• ACIAR – Australian Center for International Agricultural Research
• Immigration and Citizenship
• Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Treasury
• Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Defence
• Health and Ageing
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Attorney-General’s
• Infrastructure and Transport
• Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
• Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
• Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
• Finance and Deregulation
• Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
• Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
• Australian States and Territories

Charter of Budgetary Honesty Act: the fundamental legislative act that regulates the Australian Government budgetary process and spending.

Budget Strategy and Outlook 2011-2012: also called Budget Paper No. 1, it contains the Treasure’s annual budget speech and the budget.  Dedicated tables outline ODA contributions and AusAID allocations. Released in May 2011.

Australia’s International Development Assistance Programme 2011-12: an informative overview of Australia’s international development assistance. It contains information on the amounts and composition of Australian ODA by agency, country programmes, regions and sectors as well as historical data.

AusAID Annual Report 2010-2011: it summarises AusAID activities and financial accounts. The report is generally presented to the Parliament in October.

Additional information can be found on the following websites:

• AusAID: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/
• Department of Foreign Affairs: http://www.dfat.gov.au/index.html
• Australian Government – Budget 2011-2012: http://www.budget.gov.au/