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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kumar who wrote (93940)	1/5/2005 7:52:01 PM
From: Neeka	Respond to of 793866

Definitely the "why" is most important, but it would help to understand the reasons behind it by talking to the individual or individuals responsible. They are the one's with the answers to the "why."

To: kumar who wrote (93940)	1/5/2005 10:20:21 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793866

Free fares for volunteers By Samantha Maiden and Patrick Walters January 6, 2005 - The Australian THOUSANDS of Australian volunteers will be offered taxpayer-funded flights, medical insurance and support to travel overseas to help tsunami victims throughout Asia, under one of the biggest peacetime aid operations in the nation's history. As John Howard announced a national day of mourning for Sunday, January 16, government officials were last night also preparing a separate long-term package of direct aid for Indonesia - the worst hit nation - worth more than $1 billion in cash and services-in-kind to rebuild roads, hospitals and schools. As part of Australia's broader response to the disaster that has claimed nearly 150,000 lives across 12 nations, Volunteers International said that public servants, medical professionals, architects and engineers would be invited to join the relief effort. The Prime Minister met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta overnight to finalise a long-term strategic partnership combining aid and technical expertise to assist in our neighbour's massive reconstruction task. Australia's total aid to Indonesia is expected to top $2 billion over the next decade, with the two leaders discussing a broad range of financial and technical measures offered by Canberra to the reconstruction of Aceh, the most devastated area, where about 90,000 were killed in the disaster. Prime Minister John Howard announced the $1 billion aid package today - the largest single donation ever by Australia - to help Indonesia rebuild from the devastating Boxing Day tsunami. The Indonesian province of Aceh - closest to the epicentre of an undersea earthquake which triggered the killer waves - bore the brunt of the destructive natural force, which killed up to 100,000 people in Indonesia alone. Ahead of a high-level international summit tomorrow to discuss relief efforts, Mr Howard unveiled a five-year aid program split equally between grants and long-term interest free loans. The prime minister met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today but had been consulting him over the significant Australian donation over the last few days. Mr Howard said Australia and Indonesia would work in partnership on the reconstruction and redevelopment of Aceh. "(It) is a historic step in relations between Australia and Indonesia," he said. "It will place relations between our two countries on an even firmer footing. "In every way we will be working together as partners and friends." Mr Howard stressed the ultimate responsibility for how the money was spent lay with Indonesia, and Australia would not dictate the terms of the donation. "We see Indonesia's need, we respond to that need, but we respond in a way that respects the sovereignty of Indonesia," he said. The $1 billion is in addition to existing Australian aid to Indonesia, taking the total contribution to $1.8 billion. Mr Yudhoyono was said to be overwhelmed by the gesture from Australia. "(He said) he would never forget it," Mr Howard said. The $500 million in grants will be directed towards areas of high priority in Indonesia and used mainly on small-scale reconstruction, while the concessional finance - interest free loans for up to 40 years - will go towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of major infrastructure. Dr Yudhoyono yesterday promised he would directly control the distribution of aid funds inside and outside Indonesia in order to curb any "deviation" or corrupt leakage of funds away from humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. "It would be very embarrassing if, in the face of such an enormous disaster, there is someone who thinks they can take things that don't belong to them," he said. His comments came as leaders from around the region, including 14 heads of government, together with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell prepare to discuss a co-ordinated response to the crisis in a one-day summit in Jakarta today. Britain's top treasury official, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, said a possible debt freeze would be discussed by the Paris Club of creditor nations next week. Japan has backed the idea, but Mr Howard said: "My overwhelming preference is for Australian aid to be targeted, and for Australia to have a clear role in where it goes and how it goes, because we have a responsibility to those who are providing the aid ... to make certain that it gets where it should." Mr Howard praised the "incredible" generosity of private and corporate donors and the role of Australian volunteers. "The important thing now is to make sure that there is a minimum of distributive gridlock and that the aid gets through as quickly as possible." Today's summit will examine options for co-ordinating aid, including the setting up of a special group of countries and agencies and the appointment of a UN special envoy to help aid flow to the worst-hit areas. Australian Volunteers International chief executive Dimity Fifer said talks were under way to finalise a new long-term aid package for volunteers to "reach out" to tsunami affected regions. "Basically, a volunteer is totally funded, they get medical insurance, flights and a local wage. Some will continue to be paid by employers but will be supported to travel overseas. I think it will create a new culture of volunteering and global understanding in Australia." Australia will soon have more than 900 military personnel in Indonesia working on emergency relief and equipment including C-130 Hercules aircraft and four army helicopters, as well as specialist medical teams, including an army-run field hospital. - with AAP The Australian