Australia's aid budget has been declining for years. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has left our Pacific neighbours' health systems in danger of collapse, and the fallout could be massive.
This is part one in a two-part series on Australia’s international humanitarian response to the pandemic.
When COVID-19 struck, Australia quickly restructured its foreign aid budget, redirecting $280 million to assist its Indo-Pacific neighbours -- some of whom were the least pandemic-prepared in the world.
But the money has come from already cash-strapped programs. No new cash has been pledged.
Reporter @AmberMaySchultz
Amber previously worked for Nine News and The Age and created student comedy talk show The Struggle. She was a Young Walkley finalist, Jacoby-Walkley scholar, and won an Ossie Our Watch award. Amber holds a Masters in International Relations and Journalism and is fluent in Spanish.
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