Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026
Dr ALY (Cowan—Minister for Small Business, Minister for International Development and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (19:23): This year's budget will strengthen our global influence, contribute to a more equitable and peaceful region, deepen our engagement with partners and build our economic resilience through enhanced trade diversification. I don't need to remind anyone that we find ourselves navigating a uniquely challenging global environment.
It is a more uncertain and certainly unpredictable world. It is a world where the rules based framework, which once provided clarity and order and which has helped to safeguard Australia's security and prosperity, is now under unprecedented challenge or, increasingly, ignored. It is a world where conflict is rising with corresponding devastating consequences for civilians, with the risk of spillover across borders, continents and oceans.
Two years on from the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, Australia remembers the 1,200 Israelis and foreigners brutally murdered by Hamas. We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas's horrific actions on October 7 and all its other acts of terror, and we call for the immediate release of all hostages. Right now, the situation in Gaza remains catastrophic.
Since this conflict began, Australia has committed over $130 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, and we are part of the international push for aid to flow unimpeded. We urge all parties to make every effort to bring this terrible conflict to an immediate end, and we welcome President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza.
The Albanese Labor government recognises that in these uncertain, unpredictable and challenging times we must do our part to shape the future we want, and this budget ensures that we can. Our government is rebuilding Australia's international credibility after a decade of budget cuts to our development program under the previous government. Our government is strengthening Australia's relationship with partners in our region after a decade of dismissive attitudes under the previous government.
Our government is restoring our diplomatic capability by investing in our people, our systems and our infrastructure because our nation's frontline is our diplomacy. This budget has made deliberate and disciplined choices to focus our efforts on what matters most to Australia's future—our region, the Indo-Pacific. In an increasingly contested global environment, our development program is an integral part of our nation's statecraft.
At a time where other donors are tightening their budgets, the Labor government here will not abandon our responsibility to shape the peaceful, stable and prosperous region we want. This is why the budget delivers a record $5.97 billion in official development assistance this year. We have repositioned our development program to where Australia's national interests are most at stake and to where we have the greatest impact—the Pacific and South-East Asia.
We now dedicate 75c of every Australian development dollar to our region, the highest share in four decades. While we're working to keep Australia more secure as the world becomes more uncertain and unstable, our support for Australians overseas is also increasingly critical. This enables us to continue to deliver high-quality consular services to Australians around the world and to help Australians safely leave crisis situations.
The 2025-26 budget equips Australia to respond to the regional and global challenges ahead of us in a way that remains true to who we are, true to what we want and true to what we believe in: a democratic nation where every person's dignity and freedom is respected and protected by law; an independent country with the power to decide our own future, free from coercion and interference; and a partner of choice that can be relied upon to be there during a time of disruption and for the long haul.